2011 Starter: Dustin Keller – 4th Year: Keller has shown continuous progression developing into a more complete Tight End. His blocking, with help from D’Brickashaw, has steady improved to a point that he is no longer a liability when run blocking and is able to stay on the field full time. He still isn’t and probably never will be a devastating run blocker, but the important thing is that he is good enough to stay on the field so that the opposing teams cannot key on him. As a receiver, I would like to see more consistency from Keller, he still drops too many balls and it seems to be a streaky receiver, there are some stretches where he almost disappears from the offense. He will need to work on improving his hands, and rout running ability as well as continuing to improve his blocking. I am hoping that the addition of Tom Moore to our staff, that Keller's productivity can increase closer to Dallas Clark's; there is no reason, with his talent, that he shouldn’t be a pro-bowl caliber TE, this is also the last year of his current contract. 2011 Backups: Matthew Mulligan – 3rd Year: Mulligan is more of a blocking TE than a receiver. He is also the team’s back-up long snapper and plays regularly on special teams. I don’t know how much upside he has as a TE, but the coaching staff seems to like what he has to offer, did show some ability to catch the ball the last two preseason games after dropping one early in the preseason. Jeff Cumberland – 2nd Year: Cumberland had a great preseason, he really show cased his receiving ability. Rex has also talked up how much he has improved his blocking since last season, Rex said that we would now categorize him as an "average blocker". Rex does tend to talk up his players a bit, so you have to take it with a grain of salt. He has improved enough where he should be on the active roster giving Sanchez another large receiving weapon in 2 TE formations. He also provides some security if Keller is lost for any time. 2011 Practice Squad: Josh Baker, H-back: Baker, at 6 feet 2 inches at 243 pounds, provides interesting versatility as an H-back. He’s a good athlete, running a 4.66 40 yard dash at his Pro Day. He has good athletic ability and a nice feel for the game. http://www.nyjetsdraft.com/2011/07/jets-rookie-free-agent-signings/ Outlook: I am expecting the addition of Tom Moore to the offense to have a big impact on the Jets TE's. I am looking for Keller to have a career season and Cumberland to have a break-out season. Both of them will be tough match-ups of the other teams LB's and Safeties.
I like DK being another threat in our passing game. What the Pats did this year with all their receiving threats should be copied by us. And we have better WR corps too...
this kid has really improved quite a bit as a blocker. that was always the big concern with him and he has proven himself at this point. he disappears i am sure in part to game plan and sanchez looking to the outside receivers, there are only so many footballs. he did drop quite a few passes this year but overall you really cant complain about the kid he has done well and improved year after year.
Excuse my ignorance but! We have one "could be elite" TE right. Why do we need another who can catch? Have both in on run and pass plays. Have one pass block. Run block to his side or Kellers. It cant work that way? Our backups are pretty good blockers, like you say. We are ground and pound a lot. Need good blockers.
right, but having a set of players to only play in positional situations means, we are predictable. which isn't ideal. having another TE who can block AND catch means more options, which in turn means more possibilities for exploitation. again, this is a great thread topic for the offseason. i'm interested in reading the writeup for the next "state of the franchise".
Look at Dustin Keller's stats for this year and you'll know why we need a second TE with good hands - and can block. Keller improved his blocking this year, but not as much as a lot of people want to believe. We still had Hartsock on the field a lot late in the season, and he was nearly ineffective. We need 2 valid options at TE to throw the ball to in twin TE formations because teams were able to take Keller out of the game way too easily. Plus - we have gotten pretty lucky as far as Keller's health. But this is the NFL, that kind of thing never lasts, especially when it's a guy that goes across the middle all day on Sunday.
Jeff Cumberland was a TE at Illinois, not a receiver. He was a pretty damn good blocker, too - His problems are that he can't run routes and he can't catch.
hartsock makes to much money to be a blocking only tight end we should cut his ass bring someone in for the minimum and use the cap space
My bad, I seemed to remember it the other way around, Maybe it was that he was recruited as a WR and outgrew the position, I will have to look it up later when I have more time.
Couldn't agree more, I always like having options and depth at every position, otherwise one injury can really humble a team quickly.
Here is an analysis I found for Cumberland online, it was done at the beginning of this last season: Analysis: Cumberland is an enigma as he’s bumped back and forth between TE and WR during his time at Illinois and started just 12 games in college, finishing his career with 59 receptions for 1,001 yards and 11 touchdowns. During his 2010 Pro Day, Cumberland ran a 4.46 40 yard dash and had an impressive 35.5” vertical – not bad for an undrafted player. So why was he undrafted? Cumberland’s size and ups present a tantalizing target. There’s questions among scouts as to whether he’s a body or hands catcher, but it sounds like he does well in traffic, making tough catches in a crowd and using his frame to shield away opponents. As far as his blocking, Cumberland needs to up his game quickly as a blocker, and scouts have knocked him since he “doesn’t live up to expectations” of someone with his physical skills.
