(04-28-2019, 01:59 PM)flgatorsandjags Wrote:

(04-28-2019, 10:55 AM)pirkster Wrote: Makes me wonder what people's definition of "small school" is.

Colorado School of Mines, Shippensburg, North Dakota State, and Delaware are examples of small schools.

Schools like Temple, Rutgers, Syracuse, and California are not so-called "small schools."w

Maybe small football program I should of said

(05-23-2019, 12:44 PM)JagFanatic24 Wrote: What was his knock? He seems like a talented TE.

(05-23-2019, 12:53 PM)Dimson Wrote:

(05-23-2019, 12:44 PM)JagFanatic24 Wrote: What was his knock? He seems like a talented TE.

That he was a receiving only TE. Pretty much the same knock all the guys who got drafted around him had.

(05-23-2019, 03:19 PM)JackCity Wrote: He was drafted right where he should have been

Part of it was blocking concerns, and part of it is positional.

TEs have frequently been found in the mid rounds.

George Kittle was drafted in the 5th round.  Mark Bavaro was a 4th round pick.  Jay Novacek was a 6th

Shannon Sharpe was a 7th round pick.

Gates was undrafted.

Travis Kelce was a 3rd round pick, as was Jordan Reed, Jimmy Graham, Jermichael Finley, Chris Cooley, Jason Witten, O.J. Santiago, Rodney Holman, and Doug Cosbie.

Regarding his blocking, I'm not overly concerned about that.

First off, history has proven you can have strong rushing attacks with TEs not considered to be great blockers.  Jay Novacek was anything but a dominant blocker, yet Dallas had one of the strongest running attacks in history while he was there.  Shannon Sharpe was no Kyle Brady in terms of blocking, yet Terrell Davis had a 2000 yard rushing season with Shannon Sharpe at Y.

Secondly, it's easier to develop blocking skills in a pass catching TE than it is to develop route running in a blocking TE.  Blocking and toughness were considered areas of concern for Marcedes Lewis in the pre draft discussions, and he turned out great in those areas.

Finally, how could Oliver have developed his blocking skills (or at least shown them off) when he was on a team that was always behind?

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