Dustin Keller

sigh... Did either clark or gate's actually see much playing time their rookie season?

 

Numbers aside, he looked like a good WR today, which is all you can ask of his type of tight end. Lots of potential there.

 

They started 10 and 11 games respectively.

 

Keller hasn't been our #1 TE this year (until now?) so tho plasticsloth made a decent point, Kris 15 really made the better one.

It's funny how excited people were for Gholston and how nervous people were about Keller. Now it looks as if the tables have turned.

 

Although he makes mistakes on routes sometimes and his blocking leaves something to be desired, Dustin has played pretty darn good for a rookie. Dustin had a great game today. Maybe they started some games with 2 TEs, but Marcus Pollard was the true Colts starter in Clark's rookie year. Gates was a converted basketball player.

 

The problem is that he is a huge liability in the running game, hence, Turner being on the field so much.

He is obviously a huge threat in the passing game, but it will be nice to have him being more well rounded.

 

Loved this kid the minute he was drafed because i knew how good he was.... I projected 40 catches for the kid on the season, he'll fall just short of it.

As long as he has a good QB to throw to him, he'll tear defenses apart.... he can only get better.

 

Is he a true TE though? What's the evaluation of his blocking?

 

Blocking is 3/4 technique though. It's possible for him to become a good blocker.

 

What I don't understand is, if he can't block, why don't they just use him as an H-back?

 

Gates and Clark do not block.... get over the fact that he can't block well.

 

So what's the difference between Gates/Clark and WRs?

 

total mismatches. thats why they are drafted.

CBs are too small, LBs aren't fast enough.

 

The difference is that they often block. Poorly. And they rarely line up off o-line. That's really it.

 

his blocking is not as bad bad as people make it out to be...call it fooling the D if you want, but he was/is in there on alot of running plays with two tight end sets...Turner is not brought in because Keller is a "bad" blocker...

 

Minus the project, this sums up my thoughts.

I'm not sure he'll be a TE in the true sense of the word, but I don't really care. He'll be a weapon on offense for years.

Now if we can replace this bunch (Baker/Franks/Turner) with one guy that's talented, that would kick ass. I liked Baker alot, but he seems to have really fallen out of favor.

Once he gets more experienced, we'll see the Keller we drafted. If you think he's doing nice now...wait until he realizes that they let you run after you catch the ball in the NFL. IMO an older, more experienced but similarly talented player would have had a 3 TD day today, but Keller did the right thing and secured the catch first anyway...can't really knock him for not being older and more experienced.

This guy's upside is through the roof. He'll be yet another star talent brought in by this regime.

 

Dustin Keller > Vernon Davis

And, I wouldn't say Keller is a "huge liability" in the running game. He is getting more and more snaps on running plays. Next year, he will be an every down TE. I saw Keller line up in the goal line formation few times today, which I had not seen before. This tells me that the coaching staff is getting more confident about Keller's blocking.

But, his main asset is his receiving skills of course. I am pretty sure he can out run Cotchery. We should use him more to stretch the field.

 

I'd love for the 49ers to cut Davis. I bet Mangini could make something out of him. He'd compliment Keller perfectly too, because he's a top run blocking TE.

 

Thats one aspect of this regime no one can disagree with. They find some damn good players.

The next draft is pretty deep, I think they could use all of their draft picks like in 06 and continue find the core/depth they did that year next April.