Will Reggie Kelly Beat Out Michael Palmer For Backup Tight End?

by Dave Choate on Aug 18, 2011 7:30 AM EDT in Falcons News

Editor's Note: I wrote this before I realized James would be breaking it down. Make sure you read his take by, you know, scrolling down.

Tony Gonzalez is the unquestioned starter at tight end for the Atlanta Falcons. But who will be behind him?

I had my theories, as of just a scant week or so ago. Justin Peelle would likely ride out one more season as Gonzo's direct backup, working that pass-blocking magic and catching the occasional Matt Ryan throw. Michael Palmer would spend one more season growing in the third tight end role, and then assume the backup job. All that made sense.

A week later, things have changed a bit. Justin Peelle suffered what D. Orlando Ledbetter characterized as a severe knee injury, one that could keep him out for a long time. I have no idea just how long that is, but Kelly apparently wasn't signed to be a camp body. He was signed to be a blocker for the team's fancy new passing offense, something he excels at even at age 34. And just like that, Palmer's been passed over for the new guy.

According to DOL, Kelly is already practicing as the second tight end, even though he was just signed yesterday. It's a nod to his status as a veteran, certainly. But it's also a clear sign that Palmer is not going to be the backup to Gonzo this year. Period.

Michael Palmer is the guy I'd most like to see as there, given his youth and his well-rounded skill set. I don't believe Palms of Fury will ever be an elite tight end, but he's talented enough to warrant a few snaps in this offense. Even as the third tight end, he'll get some, because Kelly cannot catch a cold at this point in his career. He had 10 catches for 42 yards in 2010 with the Bengals.

What do you think?

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to soon to judge imo

i looked at kellys numbers and I too noticed that ugly 10 beside last season, but then i considered what went on in cin last season. Palmer had 2 cry baby receivers pitching a fit if he didnt throw to them. In all honestly playin with the bengals may mean he has a little extra milage stored up lol (jk). Either way i saw that team as such a toxic environment that i have a hard time judging someone based on last year with them. And he was out for a year b4 that? I think i remember seeing a gap in his stats. In all though I am taking a wait and see before I make up my mind how I feel about this one.

by Amy Evans on Aug 18, 2011 7:41 AM EDT reply actions

I agree.

Its hard to judge 8 TA and 5 completions with 29 Yards and a TD.

It's all about Process...

by Vishnu_falcon on Aug 18, 2011 11:02 AM EDT up reply actions

Aggh My phone!

Why Can’t I edit the posts.

It's all about Process...

by Vishnu_falcon on Aug 18, 2011 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions

Even as the third tight end, he’ll get some, because Kelly cannot catch a cold at this point in his career. He had 10 catches for 42 yards in 2010 with the Bengals.

M. Palmer is hardly a better option, he played in 14 games and only had 5 catches for 29 yards in 2010. Also note that J. Peelle only had 10 catches for 96 yards as the backup tightend which means in this offense the number two tightend is mainly asked to do exactly what R. Kelly does best, block, block, block, and block some more.

"I don't want to be the next Michael Jordan, I only want to be
Kobe Bryant"

-Kobe Bryant

by waltbabyluv on Aug 18, 2011 8:57 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

I agree, to a point

But I like to have backups who can catch, in case Tony has to miss some time. Palmer is far from a starter in the wings at this point, but he’s a better pass catcher than Kelly.

by Dave Choate on Aug 18, 2011 9:14 AM EDT up reply actions

I can’t really see how he’s proven to be a better pass catcher than R. Kelly with only 14 career games and 5 receptions.

"I don't want to be the next Michael Jordan, I only want to be
Kobe Bryant"

-Kobe Bryant

by waltbabyluv on Aug 18, 2011 9:21 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

More or less by default

by Dave Choate on Aug 18, 2011 9:23 AM EDT up reply actions

Meier as an option

Given Meier’s size and good hands, he would be a suitable receiving backup for Tony G.

by The DW on Aug 18, 2011 9:52 AM EDT up reply actions

He's 225 pounds

He would get destroyed at the line.

by Mosugo on Aug 19, 2011 8:16 AM EDT up reply actions

Do you know how many snaps he played in 14 Games?

I am not ready to Judge Palmer yet because we haven’t seen enough of him. He might be bad or he might be good, only coaching staff would know.

It's all about Process...

by Vishnu_falcon on Aug 18, 2011 11:03 AM EDT up reply actions

The fact that they signed a 34 year old tightend to play in front of him should let you know exactly what the coaching staff knows or thinks about him.

"I don't want to be the next Michael Jordan, I only want to be
Kobe Bryant"

-Kobe Bryant

by waltbabyluv on Aug 18, 2011 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

It could mean Palmer is not a good blocker.

If Peelle had ton of catches we could make an assumption that Palmer is not good enough for the coaching staff. At this point all the interviews/articles I have seen talk about Kelly being a blocker.

It's all about Process...

by Vishnu_falcon on Aug 18, 2011 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Kelly might be in front of Palmer

right now but it might not be that way by the end of preseason.

It’s hard to gauge what kind of TE Palmer is because of his lack of opportunities. That is always the case for the guys behind TG. Palmer’s number out of college were pretty good. Only opportunites will tell if Palmer is a good receiving TE or not.

by mwalex on Aug 18, 2011 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I noted in the other thread

I am just not impressed with Palmer’s pass catching ability.

I’m also under the, apparently old school, philosophy that any TE needs to block well. Especially in our system. TG isn’t a blocking machine, but he is better than average. We absolutely do not have use for a TE that can’t block in this system. It’s way too important in our scheme.

and again, I’m not sold Palmer will even be a pass catching TE type. I’ m just not impressed with his ability to separate himself from LBs, nor in his pass catching skills. Since he doesn’t block well, I don’t see the point.

by BabyGoatEater on Aug 18, 2011 9:36 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

The blocking TE

is slowly becoming a thing of the past. If you look at the strong passing teams most of their TE’s aren’t required to be strong blockers.

by mwalex on Aug 18, 2011 10:24 AM EDT up reply actions

No matter how...

you slice it, this situation is not good for the Falcons with Peelle going down for most (or possibly all) of the season. This position was considered by many to be thin before the injury to Peelle…now it’s in critical condition. Props to the FO for finding someone fast and being a veteran who can block is a definite plus (and I am not sold on the idea that Kelly choose us over the Steelers, probably gave him more money considering our situation).

If what DW said above about Meier is true then maybe we will see him get some snaps at TE…if it’s viable, why not??

Just my thoughts and opinions on this….

I always turn to the sports pages first, which records people's accomplishments. The front page has nothing but man's failures.
--Earl Warren, Chief Justice of the United States.

by Blood_Talon on Aug 18, 2011 10:00 AM EDT reply actions

It's not viable

He’s 30 pounds too light.

by Mosugo on Aug 19, 2011 8:18 AM EDT up reply actions

The way I see it

If you look at most rosters, the blocking TE is either 1st or 2nd on the depth chart. If TG goes down, I don’t think the Falcons will have Reggie Kelly running his routes. Instead, they’re going to throw Palmer or Meier out there. End of story. Doesn’t matter where he is on the depth chart.

by ndnpride8806 on Aug 18, 2011 10:26 AM EDT reply actions

These are my thoughts too.

However I, for one, think Palmer is a decent backup. He’s obviously not TG but he’s serviceable. They’ll probably look to get another TE with our 2nd round pick next year.

by Fear Me on Aug 18, 2011 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions

Why do people assume the KM

would be a fit at TE? He is way to small even for a receiving TE. He is 6’2" and 224 pounds. That is 20 pounds lighter than TG and even TG is light for the new generation of receiving TE’s. JGraham is 6’7" and 260, AHernandez is 6’2" and 250, Grankowski is 6’6 and 265 pounds.

The only way KM could play TE is if he never engages a DL or LB at the line.

by mwalex on Aug 18, 2011 12:37 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Brain Finneran took snaps as TE

If KM is his replace he better play TE too..

It's all about Process...

by Vishnu_falcon on Aug 18, 2011 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions

How many snaps did Finn take as a TE

I’d bet is was very few. I doubt KM taking snaps as a “true” TE will make or break his staying with the team.

by mwalex on Aug 18, 2011 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions

When Finneran lined up inside

which was only a couple of times, he wasn’t very effective. If memory serves, it was only to get another body to block for a run formation (I don’t think he was ever targeted out of those sets).

by KMarch on Aug 18, 2011 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Finneran lining up at TE for a few plays

If it ever did happen, is very different from Meier being the backup/replacement to Gonzalez. He’s too light and has never played the position.

by Mosugo on Aug 19, 2011 8:20 AM EDT up reply actions

agreed

and they definitely lined Finneran up on the line. Can’t remember if he was next to an OL or a TE, but he def lined up inside to block. Can’t remember the game(s); obviously, it didn’t work too well b/c it was seen only extremely rarely.

by KMarch on Aug 19, 2011 10:35 AM EDT up reply actions

Turning Sunshine into a legit TE would be a very long-term project...

At 6’2", he could add about 30 pounds to his frame, but adding that much muscle (w/o steroids) takes time. Even if it were possible to pack on the weight overnight, there is an even bigger problem: as a QB-turned-WR, Meier has never had to block anyone on the line.

Just ain’t gonna happen.

by GritsBlitz on Aug 18, 2011 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm thinking only as a receiving TE

No way TM can be a true sub for TG. As you said, he’s just not big enough. But, he is big enough to run the routes and he has good enough hands to pull those balls down in traffic. Long term, we do need a true replacement for TG.

by The DW on Aug 18, 2011 4:03 PM EDT up reply actions

He would still be a small receiving TE

KM would be so easy to disrupt because he’d have a hard time disengaging from a DL or LB at the line.

by mwalex on Aug 18, 2011 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions

There's no such thing as a pure receivng TE

Tight Ends have to chip players before going into their routes or have option routes based on blitz pickups. If you had a TE who only came in to run routes and never block, the defense would know you were passing on that play. That makes the pass so much easier to defend.

by Mosugo on Aug 19, 2011 8:21 AM EDT up reply actions

The only thing that we can read into this is that we needed another

TE because Peelle is injured. This is in no way a reflection of Palmer. After Palmer on the depth chart there is no one and we’re obviously planning on keeping 3 TEs. by them getting a 34 year old blocking TE that can’t catch simply sounds like they need a solid veteran that can come in on short yardage plays. Please don’t believe that the Falcons don’t like Palmer and Kelly is automatically the No. 2 TE. They have to get him some reps.

by Fear Me on Aug 18, 2011 1:59 PM EDT reply actions

No love for Robbie Agnone?

6’6", 260 lbs.

Of course, I can’t say I’ve ever seen #48 catch a pass, even at camp…

by Mnemonic on Aug 18, 2011 4:14 PM EDT reply actions

he was cut

really early in camp after another injury.

If there’s a sleeper it is Marquez Branson, who the FO and coaching staff must have zero confidence in, even after having on the PS for a year. Look for him to get cut this year.

by KMarch on Aug 18, 2011 5:09 PM EDT up reply actions