Falcons Finally Making Use Of Tight Ends

by Dave Choate on Nov 7, 2008 8:00 AM EST in Falcons News

It took the birds in black signing a tight end who could, I dunno, catch the ball. The important thing is that Justin Peelle is ,finally getting more involved in the offense providing an alternative to pure-blocking tight end Ben Hartsock.

The Falcons probably won't need Peelle as urgently this weekend, given that the Saints couldn't cover a Playboy with a nude picture of Ashley Judd. What's so encouraging here is that the Falcons have found an alternative to their receivers, who aren't exactly the finest bunch of pass catchers in the world. That's not to say that Harry Douglas and (maybe) Laurent Robinson couldn't develop, but it's becoming increasingly difficult to survive in this football world without a decent tight end. The Falcon will almost certainly have to upgrade the position if they want to truly upgrade their pass catching, but Peelle will do nicely for now.

Do you guys think having a true pass-catching tight end is valuable, or would you prefer the Falcons simply stocked up on ends who fit the blocking mold they seem to favor?

Tweet Comment 7 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Gotta help your QB

and a saftey valve like a TE is the best friend to a young QB. TE helps in the Red Zone too… where we aren’t overly proficient.

" No, I think I'll sit in the balcony " - Abe Lincoln

by tapate50 on Nov 7, 2008 9:04 AM EST reply actions

Very true

If Peelle turns out to be better than decent for the Falcons, that might just be enough.

by Dave Choate on Nov 7, 2008 12:58 PM EST up reply actions

Both.

Start by scouting the best blocking TEs available. Just because they can block doesn’t mean they have cinder blocks for hands. But the modus operandi of this front office is to pursue blocking TEs. Peele looks pretty good though, and hearing that we’re using TEs more might be all that’s necessary.

I’m a big proponent of drafting a blocker with good hands to compete with Peele for reps, unless Hartsock starts to develop more in the pass catching game as we continue to adjust our scheme.

We’ve heard that a million monkeys at a million keyboards could produce the complete works of Shakespeare; now, thanks to the Internet, we know that is not true.

by iRonin on Nov 7, 2008 10:06 AM EST reply actions

Thanks for the link

I wasn’t posting in the greatest frame of mind last night, so I forgot it.

Those in the know: who are some quality tight ends coming out in the draft next year?

by Dave Choate on Nov 7, 2008 12:58 PM EST up reply actions

So far Ryan doesn’t seem like too much of a TE safety valve guy. All his bail outs seem to go to Norwood. I think having a good pass catching TE develop would be awesome as it would really open up the whole game and if we could get some of those short middle passes to a TE it would open up those Jenkins/White deep balls even more, and those deep balls are awesome.

My Music Blog: DBF

by BVaz on Nov 7, 2008 10:15 AM EST reply actions

I think

If Douglas or L-Rob evolve into constant threats, we won’t even need to bother drafting another WR next year. I still support strengthening the tight ends in the middle rounds of next year’s draft.

by Dave Choate on Nov 7, 2008 12:59 PM EST up reply actions