🏈 Should OJ stay or should he go?

Now this guy could block as well as catch the ball.

th
 
I would like to see someone on here ask a NFL coach why blocking isnt as important as it used to be. Would love to see the look on his face. Response would likely put a CNS rant to shame. haha

Yeah if you worded the question like that he would look at you like you are stupid because that would be a stupid ass question... blocking for a TE is nowhere near as important as it once was because of the spread offenses and the fact that tight ends spend more time lined up in the slot than they do with their hand in the dirt.
 
I would like to see someone on here ask a NFL coach why blocking isnt as important as it used to be. Would love to see the look on his face. Response would likely put a CNS rant to shame. haha
In my opinion, you're missing the point of the TE position changing in the league. No one is saying "blocking isn't as important" though it's easy to paint with that broad of a brush. Well, I'm not saying that's the case annd I think there's a few others that think the same way I do.

We are saying the position has changed over the last decade; dramatically. And, due to that change, the type of tight end drafted has changed from more of a lineman to more of a receiver. A large part of that can be credited to the contact rules (defenseless player penalties) that the league keeps adding.

Numbers?

Looking at 2015 you'll find three or four TE's in the top 20 for reception yards. If we go back to 2011-2012 you'll see that same number found in the top 15. However, if you go back a decade it was an anomoly to see a TE there ... if you did, it was one, maybe two on an odd year.

It's a Brandon Greene versus OJ Howard type athlete that's changed. If you stop and think about it for a minute, you'll see that position has changed with your Tony Gonzalez type guys, your Sterling Sharpe type receivers ... Kellen Winslow comes to mind.

Then we saw Jason Whitten ... Hernandez ...
 
In my opinion, you're missing the point of the TE position changing in the league. No one is saying "blocking isn't as important" though it's easy to paint with that broad of a brush. Well, I'm not saying that's the case annd I think there's a few others that think the same way I do.

We are saying the position has changed over the last decade; dramatically. And, due to that change, the type of tight end drafted has changed from more of a lineman to more of a receiver. A large part of that can be credited to the contact rules (defenseless player penalties) that the league keeps adding.

Numbers?

Looking at 2015 you'll find three or four TE's in the top 20 for reception yards. If we go back to 2011-2012 you'll see that same number found in the top 15. However, if you go back a decade it was an anomoly to see a TE there ... if you did, it was one, maybe two on an odd year.

It's a Brandon Greene versus OJ Howard type athlete that's changed. If you stop and think about it for a minute, you'll see that position has changed with your Tony Gonzalez type guys, your Sterling Sharpe type receivers ... Kellen Winslow comes to mind.

Then we saw Jason Whitten ... Hernandez ...
Shannon Sharpe was the TE. Sterling, his brother, was a wr.
 
@T&B, just look at the NFL game now in short yardage situations. They bring in extra offensive linemen, Vikings used Austin Shepard and Bills used CK two weeks ago. The Detroit Lions drafted Michael Williams several years back and converted him to an OT. The game has changed where they want a "threat " in the passing game. If you pay close attention, the TE often is flexed out 3-4 yards from the OT or gets split wider like a WR. This allows him an easier release into his route. His blocking comes into play only when used like a H back and he is motioned to get the angle on the defender.
 
In my opinion, you're missing the point of the TE position changing in the league. No one is saying "blocking isn't as important" though it's easy to paint with that broad of a brush. Well, I'm not saying that's the case annd I think there's a few others that think the same way I do.

We are saying the position has changed over the last decade; dramatically. And, due to that change, the type of tight end drafted has changed from more of a lineman to more of a receiver. A large part of that can be credited to the contact rules (defenseless player penalties) that the league keeps adding.

Numbers?

Looking at 2015 you'll find three or four TE's in the top 20 for reception yards. If we go back to 2011-2012 you'll see that same number found in the top 15. However, if you go back a decade it was an anomoly to see a TE there ... if you did, it was one, maybe two on an odd year.

It's a Brandon Greene versus OJ Howard type athlete that's changed. If you stop and think about it for a minute, you'll see that position has changed with your Tony Gonzalez type guys, your Sterling Sharpe type receivers ... Kellen Winslow comes to mind.

Then we saw Jason Whitten ... Hernandez ...

When Gonzalez retired so did the great blocking/receiving tight ends. Now everyone is "specialized" at each position.
 
Alabama set to return Jonathan Allen, Reuben Foster and O.J. Howard in 2016

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Alabama set to return Jonathan Allen, Reuben Foster and O.J. Howard in 2016
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By Kevin McGuireJan 16, 2016, 4:02 PM EST
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There are just a couple of more days left for underclassmen to make their decisions on whether or not they will enter the NFL Draft with a year of college eligibility left on the table. On Saturday, three Alabama players had reportedly made up their minds to stay with the Crimson Tide for another year.

Defensive lineman Jonathan Allen, linebacker Reuben Foster and College Football Playoff championship game breakout star tight end O.J. Howard are all set to return to Alabama in 2016 to provide quality depth at three different positions.

Foster was Alabama’s second-leading tackler in 2015 with 73 tackles in all 15 games Alabama played en route to a national championship. Foster had 48 solo tackles and a sack along with eight tackles for loss. Allen led the Crimson Tide in tackles for loss with 14.5 and 12.0 sacks and two forced fumbles. The returns of Foster and Allen will help make one of 2015’s top front sevens in the nation one of the best once again in 2016.

Howard was Alabama’s third-leading receiver in 2015 with 602 yards and two touchdowns, but he seemed to fly well under the radar in Lane Kiffin‘s game plan for much of the season. After recording no more than 70 yards in any one game during the regular season and having 10 games with 40 or fewer receiving yards, Howard had a huge impact on Alabama’s national championship victory by breaking out for 208 receiving yards and both of his touchdown catches of the year against Clemson. Given his impact on the championship game and with the early departure of Heisman Trophy-winning running back Derrick Henry, perhaps Howard is going to see a bigger role designed for him in 2016.

Underclassmen have until Monday at 5 p.m. eastern to declare themselves eligible for the 2016 NFL Draft.
 

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