(11-29-2021, 03:18 PM)TheO-LineMatters Wrote:

(11-29-2021, 03:12 PM)Bullseye Wrote: I agree completely there are lots of quality TE prospects in this draft.

You hear about TEs being taken in the 3rd round like Celek, etc.  This is one of those classes you can get a quality TE prospect in the 3rd if you have a GM that knows how to identify talent.

Of course, as I think about it, even if Likely is a legit 6-4, he still wouldn't be a Y in the truest, traditional sense of the word, because he isn't a great blocker.  But with his ability and that height, he would more than compensate by being a matchup nightmare in the passing game.

At this point, I don't care about blocking at all. I just wanna give Lawrence a receiver that can actually catch the doggone ball. I agree about him being a match up nightmare. Those kind of athletic, receiving TE's are rare in the NFL.

I think a TEs receiving ability generally has more value to a modern offense than his blocking ability.  When you consider TL's need to have credible receiving targets, we are in lockstep agreement on that point. 

My primary concern about blocking is that with UM/Bevell, we're  still not too sure what identity this offense will have.

After ignoring the running game early on, the team seems more bent on running the ball.  If this continues (and there is reason for it to continue even assuming TL has better targets/more speed at WR next year), a true Y who can block, catch and run might be preferable.  Also, having a good all around Y can have formation benefits.  In other words, with a Y that can block, you can give a run look be convincing you may run, yet still pass, whereas a TE that isn't a viable blocker doesn't give that benefit much (though Jay Novacek shows that you can have that and still be a successful, even dominant running game).

All that said, a primary goal should be to give Trevor Lawrence guys who can win in the passing game, and reliably catch his passes.  Any blocking benefit is gravy to me.

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