Packers to use TE's more today with Robinson out... (1 Viewer)

[gbill2004]

Based on this article, what are your thoughts on the Packer TE's today? Who has more value, Bubba Franks or David Martin?

Without Robinson, Packers to use tight ends more By COLIN FLY, AP Sports WriterOctober 20, 2006GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) -- The Green Bay Packers are scouring their roster for help at receiver after finding none in free agency. "I don't want to call it panic mode, but when you're lacking receivers and you wonder 'OK, what are we going to do downfield?"' tight end David Martin said Thursday. "Just go out there and take it play by play. Things will happen, the game will fill out itself." The Packers are looking anywhere for help with receiver Koren Robinson suspended for a year and Robert Ferguson's lingering foot injury. Without a proven No. 3 receiver, the Packers are likely to get their tight ends more involved in the passing game. Martin, a former college receiver, and starting tight end Bubba Franks each have more career receptions than the remaining healthy Packers wideouts -- a group that includes No. 2 receiver Greg Jennings, a rookie, and first-year player Ruvell Martin, who will likely become the Packers' No. 3 receiver. "David's a pretty natural receiver and a pretty good route runner," tight ends coach Ben McAdoo said. "A lot of that has to do with his experience." The Packers kept four tight ends on the roster this year with the expectation that they would learn to play other positions. The tight ends were trained to play fullback, and with injuries to linebackers Abdul Hodge and Ben Taylor, they also will be expected to contribute on special teams against Miami on Sunday. "They're receivers, they're fullbacks, they're tight ends," offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski said. "Those guys do it all, and that's the way we trained them." But so far, they haven't really been used to catch passes. Martin is averaging less than two catches for a total of 10 yards a game, while Franks has 11 catches for 105 yards this season -- and no touchdowns. "Bubba, he would be the first to admit that he is not the type of guy that stretches the field," Brett Favre said. "But in space, the corner of the end zone with two guys around him, he can go up and get it. It's nothing that he's done. It really isn't, and I know he's probably gotten that question a lot lately and it's probably frustrating to him." Packers coach Mike McCarthy said Franks has done everything they've asked so far, even if his offensive statistics are down. "Bubba's more of an inline player and has done a really good job with the number of fullback responsibilities and movement things we've asked him to do," McCarthy said. "So, we feel real good about the flexibility we have in the tight end unit." McCarthy said the offense is designed to adjust to losing players to injury -- or, in this case, suspension. "Everything we do out of three wide receivers (sets) we also can do out of two tight ends and three tight ends," he said. "It's all carry-over. We don't teach plays by personnel. We teach concepts." Favre said each of the tight ends -- a group that includes Martin, Franks, Donald Lee and Tory Humphrey -- brings something different to the offensive scheme. "We could line up Bubba and David inside and Donald and Tory Humphrey outside and you've got a mix of speed and blocking there that I think is a great threat," Favre said. "But it's easier said than done." But McAdoo said it'll be easier for Franks and Martin to adapt because of their experience, with nearly 300 catches and 36 receiving TDs between them. "All productivity isn't measured by numbers, it's by a lot of hidden things," McAdoo said. "We're able to ask them to do things that maybe they haven't done before, but they've seen a lot of great players do and you're able to give them a couple of pointers, a couple of techniques and they're able to go out and do a nice job."

 

[Fla\/\/ed]

Neither one is a viable fantasy starter.

 

[comfortably numb]

I didn't think anything Robinson did actually effected the Packers Offense.

 

[packersfan]

Neither one is a viable fantasy starter.

Consistently? No. Today? I think Franks is worth a look - especially in PPR leagues. I wouldn't be surprised to see Franks catch 3-4 passes today for 30-40 yards or so.

 

[Fla\/\/ed]

Neither one is a viable fantasy starter.

Consistently? No. Today? I think Franks is worth a look - especially in PPR leagues. I wouldn't be surprised to see Franks catch 3-4 passes today for 30-40 yards or so.

So you'd be happy with 6-8 points from a tight end?

 

[gbill2004]

Neither one is a viable fantasy starter.

Consistently? No. Today? I think Franks is worth a look - especially in PPR leagues. I wouldn't be surprised to see Franks catch 3-4 passes today for 30-40 yards or so.

So you'd be happy with 6-8 points from a tight end?

As a bye week fill in? Absolutely.For me, I need to decide between, Mercedes Lewis or Franks or Martin.

 

[Aaronstory]

Neither one is a viable fantasy starter.

Consistently? No. Today? I think Franks is worth a look - especially in PPR leagues. I wouldn't be surprised to see Franks catch 3-4 passes today for 30-40 yards or so.

So you'd be happy with 6-8 points from a tight end?

Happy? No. Content on a big week for byes? Sure.Look, Bubba is most likely on the WW in most leagues, and with the Packers WR situation, it stands to reason he will get more opportunity than he has up to this point. Will he become Gates? No. But the point is to take the chance now before he does something and is a waiver favorite on Tuesday morning..

 

[Fla\/\/ed]

Neither one is a viable fantasy starter.

Consistently? No. Today? I think Franks is worth a look - especially in PPR leagues. I wouldn't be surprised to see Franks catch 3-4 passes today for 30-40 yards or so.

So you'd be happy with 6-8 points from a tight end?

As a bye week fill in? Absolutely.For me, I need to decide between, Mercedes Lewis or Franks or Martin.

So this really was a WSIS post.

 

[Aaronstory]

Neither one is a viable fantasy starter.

Consistently? No. Today? I think Franks is worth a look - especially in PPR leagues. I wouldn't be surprised to see Franks catch 3-4 passes today for 30-40 yards or so.

So you'd be happy with 6-8 points from a tight end?

As a bye week fill in? Absolutely.For me, I need to decide between, Mercedes Lewis or Franks or Martin.

So this really was a WSIS post.

 

[packersfan]

Neither one is a viable fantasy starter.

Consistently? No. Today? I think Franks is worth a look - especially in PPR leagues. I wouldn't be surprised to see Franks catch 3-4 passes today for 30-40 yards or so.

So you'd be happy with 6-8 points from a tight end?

I take it you're not a Tony Gonzalez owner. If I could get 4/40 from Gonzalez that'd be cause for much celebration. Franks is sitting on my WW and I'm giving strong consideration to grabbing him and starting him over Gonzo this week. I probably won't do it but I'm definitely thinking about it.

 

[Fla\/\/ed]

Neither one is a viable fantasy starter.

Consistently? No. Today? I think Franks is worth a look - especially in PPR leagues. I wouldn't be surprised to see Franks catch 3-4 passes today for 30-40 yards or so.

So you'd be happy with 6-8 points from a tight end?

I take it you're not a Tony Gonzalez owner. If I could get 4/40 from Gonzalez that'd be cause for much celebration.

No just a smart Packer fan that knows not to have to depend on any Packer TE for fantasy football.

 

[packersfan]

Neither one is a viable fantasy starter.

Consistently? No. Today? I think Franks is worth a look - especially in PPR leagues. I wouldn't be surprised to see Franks catch 3-4 passes today for 30-40 yards or so.

So you'd be happy with 6-8 points from a tight end?

I take it you're not a Tony Gonzalez owner. If I could get 4/40 from Gonzalez that'd be cause for much celebration.

No just a smart Packer fan that knows not to have to depend on any Packer TE for fantasy football.

You're not telling me anything about the talent at the TE position in Green Bay that I don't already know. Trust me. But this is fantasy football where even the most pedestrian of talents can be of value. And today for this game I think Franks is someone worth considering - especially in a PPR league. And like I said, I'm considering him over Gonzalez although I likely won't have the stones to actually make that move. But I wouldn't be surprised if Franks outperforms him today. He's in a decent spot and Gonzalez has been pathetic in three of his past four games.

 

[Hairy Snowman]

I actually think the packers might try to exploit Z Thomas in coverage (as opposed to locking in on their TEs).

Thomas will most likely be in zone coverage most passing situations (if he isn't blitzing). I wouldn't be surprised to see the Packers force some isolation issues by spreading the field and forcing him to commit. Should all work fine IF Favre has time to throw........

 

[Stinger Ray]

Neither one is a viable fantasy starter.

Consistently? No. Today? I think Franks is worth a look - especially in PPR leagues. I wouldn't be surprised to see Franks catch 3-4 passes today for 30-40 yards or so.

So you'd be happy with 6-8 points from a tight end?

I take it you're not a Tony Gonzalez owner. If I could get 4/40 from Gonzalez that'd be cause for much celebration.

No just a smart Packer fan that knows not to have to depend on any Packer TE for fantasy football.

But I wouldn't be surprised if Franks outperforms him today. He's in a decent spot and Gonzalez has been pathetic in three of his past four games.

:X

 

[mr. furley]

Pack has FOUR tight ends on the roster. FOUR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

coming in to the season they talked about how they noticed the TE had been under-utilized in Green Bay the last couple years and how they were going to turn that around.... the Pack would run the ball more and use the tight ends so as to grind clock.

TE's combined for THREE ####ING CATCHES TODAY. all four of them together had THREE CATCHES.

through six games they have a grand total of TWENTY-TWO CATCHES.

this with a rookie starting WR (Jennings). a free agent in Robinson (no longer playing). a past starter (Ferguson) who might be out for the season.. a rookie (Ruvell Martin) and a guy they just brought up from the practice squad (Francies).

why are they saying these things when they have no intention of following up on them?? that's got to be the most maddening part of this season so far.

 

[Bri]

Pack has FOUR tight ends on the roster. FOUR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

coming in to the season they talked about how they noticed the TE had been under-utilized in Green Bay the last couple years and how they were going to turn that around.... the Pack would run the ball more and use the tight ends so as to grind clock.

TE's combined for THREE ####ING CATCHES TODAY. all four of them together had THREE CATCHES.

through six games they have a grand total of TWENTY-TWO CATCHES.

this with a rookie starting WR (Jennings). a free agent in Robinson (no longer playing). a past starter (Ferguson) who might be out for the season.. a rookie (Ruvell Martin) and a guy they just brought up from the practice squad (Francies).

why are they saying these things when they have no intention of following up on them?? that's got to be the most maddening part of this season so far.

I didn't read them saying it. The presser I saw at Packers.com had McCarthy saying that the players learn a system not a position. (In theory)The TEs and FBs could line up wide and know what to do.I think the reporters "read into" that and formed their own conclusions.

As mentioned in the Jennings thread and sleeper WRs thread, they had several veteran WRs in and like the one's they have better than those available. If I was going to read into McCarthy's comments I'd figure he said he'd rather play his TEs wide than put Todd Pinkston and David Boston out there.

 

[mr. furley]

well, hell, then THROW THEM THE ####ING BALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

the team is down to ONE wide receiver. today would have been a good day to utilize your fullbacks and tight ends in the passing game.

 

[Fla\/\/ed]

well, hell, then THROW THEM THE ####ING BALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!the team is down to ONE wide receiver. today would have been a good day to utilize your fullbacks and tight ends in the passing game.

Furley.......the Packers won.

 

[Mr Anonymous]

well, hell, then THROW THEM THE ####ING BALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!the team is down to ONE wide receiver. today would have been a good day to utilize your fullbacks and tight ends in the passing game.

Is it me or did Green Bay do just fine today not throwing more to TE's and FB's. Besides a TE caught a TD pass and TE/FBs combined for 5 of Favre's 19 completions. Nothing wrong with that ratio.

 

[mr. furley]

doesn't gloss over the flaws for me.

i've been a McCarthy supporter from the beginning but i'm starting to have my doubts. it's little things that i'm seeing this season. for example not calling timeout when Miami was lining up for their FG with 2 minutes left in the 1st half.

that killed 40+ seconds. and ultimately they wound up with the disastrous multiple-penalty/multiple timeout/confusion w/ 4 seconds left instead of having circa 45, a T.O. and a shot at a TD.

 

[Bri]

well, hell, then THROW THEM THE ####ING BALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!the team is down to ONE wide receiver. today would have been a good day to utilize your fullbacks and tight ends in the passing game.

Favre threw 35 passes to 7 different guys4 to Franks4 to D. Martin3 to Miree(not counting anymore)Ruvell had 4 or 5Driver had 10 catches, guess 15 targets?Francies had a coupleJennings had a few before he left.Aside from Driver, he spread it around. I thought that was quite expected. The O put up 34 points and Favre fumbled on the first couple posessions so IMO that's pretty darn good.I'm guessing you wanted Franks with 8 targets but I don't see that happenning. IMO Favre likes D Martin a little more than Franks(so if I had to I'd grab him) but as far as TE targets they've been splitting em' for years

 

[mr. furley]

well, hell, then THROW THEM THE ####ING BALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!the team is down to ONE wide receiver. today would have been a good day to utilize your fullbacks and tight ends in the passing game.

Is it me or did Green Bay do just fine today not throwing more to TE's and FB's. Besides a TE caught a TD pass and TE/FBs combined for 5 of Favre's 19 completions. Nothing wrong with that ratio.

the numbers wind up looking fine and they did win.. but it shows up in short yardage & 3rd down situations.they aren't utilizing the TE or FB (now that they've opted to de-activate William Henderson) in those situations and it's costing them. yes, they won today. they beat Joey Harrington and the Traveling Circus that is the Dolphins this season. they should have had 6 turnovers not just 3. and they still had some nervy moments down the stretch.thye wound up 4-15 on 3rd down conversions.on at least a couple occasions i remember them plunging an RB right up the middle on short yardage situations... though running the ball between the guards was totally ineffective all day long. and then they ran a REVERSE on 4th and 1. guh. yes, a TE caught a touchdown today.. but that doesn't make up for them having 22 total catches through 6 games. that's 22 catches out of 134 total completions from Favre this season. that's 16%. is that a common # across the league? more to the point, a common # for a team that says they want to utilize the TE more in the passing game?

 

[mr. furley]

well, hell, then THROW THEM THE ####ING BALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!the team is down to ONE wide receiver. today would have been a good day to utilize your fullbacks and tight ends in the passing game.

Favre threw 35 passes to 7 different guys4 to Franks4 to D. Martin3 to Miree(not counting anymore)Ruvell had 4 or 5Driver had 10 catches, guess 15 targets?Francies had a coupleJennings had a few before he left.Aside from Driver, he spread it around. I thought that was quite expected. The O put up 34 points and Favre fumbled on the first couple posessions so IMO that's pretty darn good.I'm guessing you wanted Franks with 8 targets but I don't see that happenning. IMO Favre likes D Martin a little more than Franks(so if I had to I'd grab him) but as far as TE targets they've been splitting em' for years

don't own any Packers in fantasy.. so i only have fan interest. don't really care much for Franks in the passing game.. he's more of a blocking sled.. these other guys are supposed to be pass-catchers though. the team has been talking about using David Martin in the slot and saying he's more of a receiver in a TE-body since 2001. and Donald Lee is supposed to be the same.i'd like to see them use them as such. Favre can only throw the ball to Driver so many times per game. it's great when he's catching them and making plays but everyone knows it's coming.. it just increases the difficulty of completing passes & moving the ball.i get sick of this staff paying lip service to "running the ball more" and "using the TE" when, well, there's not a lot of evidence to point to it. they did show more balance w/ running the ball today but.. wow.. was it really really really uncreative and ineffective. yes, Green had a 70-yd TD run (which was an off-tackle play) and that counts towards the total.. but they repeatedly ran the ball right up the gut when it proved to be a horrible idea. they simply could not move those interior D-Linemen out of the way.. yet there they were, running the same play over and over again to no effect.