I was in the pool
Footballguy
There has been some discussion about tight ends that aren't the best blockers or that don't block very often when they are on the field recently here in the shark pool.
Part of my very large spreadsheet on each position has statistics about how tight ends are used. One stat I like is Routes/Snap, basically does the player run a route or block on a particular play. Here are some highlights at the tight end position in that category (for reference sake, not all the tight ends in the NFL are used in terms of ranking a particular statistic, mainly just the fantasy-relevant ones in a deep league, so tight ends go about 30 deep in general):
Routes/Snap (the reverse would be blocking %) of TEs in 2010:
#1-Winslow - 71%
#2-Tamme
#3-Keller
#4-Gates
#5-Hernandez - 62%
In the top 5 I was surprised that Gates was that high (especially above Hernandez, who is thought of as a non-blocker in the shark pool from what I can gather).
Another interesting note: Tamme was 2nd at 67%, but Clark, whom he replaced, is all the way at 13th, 52%.
Gronkowski is all the way down at 27th, 34%. If anything, I think it says that he is a glorified 6th O-lineman that can catch on occasion. He is below guys like Pettigrew (another glorified O-lineman) and Heath Miller by wide margins (almost 20% each).
I think it's easier to think that a receiving talent at TE can find ways to be effective blocking (crack-backs, 2nd level blocks, etc.) than a blocking guy can turn into a big-time receiving threat on a consistent basis on 3rd downs, etc.
One other stat I like in terms of tight ends is Gold Zone (inside the 10) target%. Basically what percent of the team's total receiving targets that player gets. Not many TEs break long catch/runs for scores, so the meat and potatoes of their chances are inside the 10. It also shows what the pecking order is for them in terms of other GZ targets on the team.
Here are a few highlights:
#1 - Gresham - 40%
#2 - V.Davis
#3 - Keller
#4 - T.Gonzalez
#5 - M.Lewis
Gronkowski - thought of as a huge GZ guy is 16th at 20%. Hernandez (thought of as little GZ value because of Gronkowski's GZ prowess), not far behind at 15%. A difference of 1 total GZ target on the entire season.
Also, you have to think that Gresham's # falls with AJ "jump out of the stadium" Green in the mix in CIN. If Braylon leaves, Keller could actually rise. Gonzalez could be hurt with Jones. Lewis has no other threats on the roster at this time in the GZ.
Part of my very large spreadsheet on each position has statistics about how tight ends are used. One stat I like is Routes/Snap, basically does the player run a route or block on a particular play. Here are some highlights at the tight end position in that category (for reference sake, not all the tight ends in the NFL are used in terms of ranking a particular statistic, mainly just the fantasy-relevant ones in a deep league, so tight ends go about 30 deep in general):
Routes/Snap (the reverse would be blocking %) of TEs in 2010:
#1-Winslow - 71%
#2-Tamme
#3-Keller
#4-Gates
#5-Hernandez - 62%
In the top 5 I was surprised that Gates was that high (especially above Hernandez, who is thought of as a non-blocker in the shark pool from what I can gather).
Another interesting note: Tamme was 2nd at 67%, but Clark, whom he replaced, is all the way at 13th, 52%.
Gronkowski is all the way down at 27th, 34%. If anything, I think it says that he is a glorified 6th O-lineman that can catch on occasion. He is below guys like Pettigrew (another glorified O-lineman) and Heath Miller by wide margins (almost 20% each).
I think it's easier to think that a receiving talent at TE can find ways to be effective blocking (crack-backs, 2nd level blocks, etc.) than a blocking guy can turn into a big-time receiving threat on a consistent basis on 3rd downs, etc.
One other stat I like in terms of tight ends is Gold Zone (inside the 10) target%. Basically what percent of the team's total receiving targets that player gets. Not many TEs break long catch/runs for scores, so the meat and potatoes of their chances are inside the 10. It also shows what the pecking order is for them in terms of other GZ targets on the team.
Here are a few highlights:
#1 - Gresham - 40%
#2 - V.Davis
#3 - Keller
#4 - T.Gonzalez
#5 - M.Lewis
Gronkowski - thought of as a huge GZ guy is 16th at 20%. Hernandez (thought of as little GZ value because of Gronkowski's GZ prowess), not far behind at 15%. A difference of 1 total GZ target on the entire season.
Also, you have to think that Gresham's # falls with AJ "jump out of the stadium" Green in the mix in CIN. If Braylon leaves, Keller could actually rise. Gonzalez could be hurt with Jones. Lewis has no other threats on the roster at this time in the GZ.
I just thought that you might enjoy the article, since you are interested in TE blocking statistics.
atriots TE Snap Count
