Odd Tight End Standards
July 10th, 2016
Joe can’t believe a seasoned Bucs reporter/analyst would think Austin Seferian-Jenkins has been a solid receiver when on the field.
Maybe Joe needs new glasses, or should lay off the vodka, or must watch more film.
Tampa Bay Times Bucs beat writer Greg Auman was talking on WDAE-AM 620 last week and was rather bullish on ASJ. Host Ron Diaz asked him whether Cameron Brate will have more of an impact this season or if ASJ will stay on the field.
“I think if Austin Seferian-Jenkins is healthy and focused, if you will, I think he’s definitely their No. 1 tight end,” Auman said. “You did put a second-round drat pick into him. When he’s been healthy, he’s been, you know, a productive pass catcher; he’s got like 40 catches in two years missing half the games.”
Maybe Joe’s misguided, but ASJ’s 42 catches in 16 games (most of them starts) isn’t very productive. ASJ snagged those 42 balls while targeted 77 times. That’s a pretty gruesome percentage (54.5 percent) for a tight end.
A glance at the NFC South last year shows Saints tight end Ben Watson snagging 67.2 percent of balls thrown at him, (74 of 110), and the Falcons’ Jacob Tamme grabbed 72.8 percent of his targets (59 of 81). Carolina Pro Bowler Greg Olsen pulled in 62.1 percent (77 of 124), despite defenses giving him a ton of attention. Brate hauled in a whopping 76.6 of the balls thrown his way (23 of 30) for Tampa Bay. Kellen Winslow as a Buccaneer (2009-2011) caught 62.6 percent (218 of 348).
No, Joe doesn’t think ASJ has proven to be a productive pass catcher by NFL standards. The guy is a serious talent, but it has yet to register.
July 10th, 2016 at 1:12 pm
ASJ is just as likely to have a meltdown as he is to have a productive season. Until he stays healthy he’s a liability. He surely has not proved himself. Great talent but mentally weak.
July 10th, 2016 at 1:15 pm
Look for WR and TE to be drafted next year!!!
July 10th, 2016 at 1:18 pm
Really?
You want to condemn ASJ for the garbage McClown was throwing at him? How many times have you condemned McClown for his abysmal ply? ASJ had the same catch percentage with McCown-Glennon as he did with Jameis. –Joe
The stat is badly misleading. I’d suggest it be broken down according to which QB was throwing to him. THAT would be a more accurate measure of ASJ’s performance.
Watson had Brees, Tamme had Ryan and Olsen had Newton throwing to him. ASJ had McClown & Glennon his rook year, and Winston last year.
Winslow had Freeman throwing to him before Freeman went off the deep end.
Brate ONLY had Winston throwing to him, and then mainly after ASJ badly hurt his shoulder. Had ASJ never gotten hurt, likely we’d never see what Brate could do, and many of those catches may possibly have been going to ASJ.
July 10th, 2016 at 1:24 pm
That stat your reference often should not even be a stat. It certainly should never be used by a writer with at least a basic understanding of football. C’mon Joe, you say you’re not a stat guy and then you use probably the most meaningless stat in football to bolster your argument. I won’t even bother to state the obvious as to why that stat is so dumb to use in your statement regarding ASJ.
That’s funny. Mr. Derrick Brooks values that stat. https://www.joebucsfan.com/2016/01/derrick-brooks-thats-not-good-at-all/ –Joe
July 10th, 2016 at 1:30 pm
Even though ASJ had 42 rec. at 54.5 % of catches, Of those 42 catches ASJ had a 20% CAC ( celebration after catch) which led all TE’s in the NFC South!!!!!!
July 10th, 2016 at 1:42 pm
No need to draft a tight end, we have all the different types of tight ends we need on this roster, it time to let this ALL/WORLD STAFF coach them up, I don’t see a need to draft a tight end……. unless ASJ can’t follow what the JAMEIS IS COOKING!!
July 10th, 2016 at 2:11 pm
Every quarterback and offensive football team needs a grinder.
A grinder is the guy who gets the tough yards, when they’re most needed and reliably makes the important catches in the end zone usually while falling down, reaching out with one hand and dragging his toes to stay in bounds. He’s usually a FB with hands or a TE. He’s usually the 54th guy on a 53-man roster, who makes the team because the coaches let someone else go so they can keep the grinder just in case and he’s usually the QBs on-field best friend. The grinder is the guy the quarterback can throw to without looking because he knows without a doubt the grinder will be in the one open spot on the field when the #1 WR fell down, everyone else in the pattern is covered, the protection has broken down and an angry DE is breathing down his neck.
Earnest Graham was a grinder for the Bucs as was Mike Alstott at times. For the Patriots several guys fill the grinder role with Wes Welker first among equals and Danny Amendola coming to mind today and Julian Edelman filling the role from time to time.
ASJ is no grinder. But Cameron Brate and Luke Stocker fill the role admirably.
July 10th, 2016 at 2:43 pm
So the rumor was that Dominik and Co would have taken Tyler Eifert with our 2013 first round pick had he not blown it on trading for Revis and his 16 mil a year contract for a team that started 0-8 with him and only got worse without him.
To think there’d be no ASJ headache to deal with! And a Pro Bowl TE on this roster instead we will forever have the picture of Revis and McCoy at the Pro Bowl that one year :\
July 10th, 2016 at 3:03 pm
“if Austin Seferian-Jenkins is healthy and focused, if you will, I think he’s definitely their No. 1 tight end.”
This is the bottom line and the whole premise of this person’s statement. (which I happen to strongly agree with).
Unfortunately – the statement must start with the qualifying “IF” which has been the problem with ASJ for his entire short NFL career.
IF Jenkins can stay healthy…..
IF Jenkins can get his head straight…
IF those things happen – the payoff could be massive for the Bucs.
ASJ has all the talent in the world for his position. But does he have the passion and desire to be great? To work extra hard and study his ass off in order to be as prepared as possible. – AND does he have a body that will hold up to the physical extremes of life in the NFL?
This season will go a long ways towards answering those questions I believe.
You better believe I am rooting for this young man to “come around”. ASJ playing like he’s capable of week in and week out would take the Bucs offense to a whole nother level of dangerous.
July 10th, 2016 at 3:23 pm
Agree with Pickgrin. Also agree the the stat used can be misleading sometimes……the context of the missed % is what matters……in ASJs case the stat is not misleading. He missed a lot of throws last year that are expected to be caught, just like with Evans it gets worse when you factor in the timeliness of his misplays. Much too often ASJ choked at a pivotal moment………the two of them combined to let opposing defenses get some cheap stops on us. You can’t hand out freebies in pro sports and expect different results then a pile of losses.
All that being said……love or hate ASJ we should all do the sensible thing and draft him to our fantasy teams.
July 10th, 2016 at 3:51 pm
Agreed Joe, 55% average over a 2-year period for a TE is unacceptable. And I don’t give a hoot who’s throwing to him, it’s unacceptable. TEs should be possession-receivers … get the ball near them and they should be expected to haul it in. Personally I think 65% – 75% is a decent range, with the top TEs nearer the 75% mark. ASJ is capable of doing MUCH better than he’s shown. Catch the @#$%& ball and keep the sticks moving.
July 10th, 2016 at 3:55 pm
Joe-you stated ASJ had the same stats with Winston as with McClown & Glennon.
Can you link the source to that stat?
Pro Football Reference provides the target/catch info, so does ESPN.com.–Joe
July 10th, 2016 at 4:06 pm
I wonder what we could get for ASJ on the trade market if he has a decent, but not great year?
July 10th, 2016 at 4:26 pm
I fully expect ASJ to produce an upcoming season result similar to the past. What you’ve seen pretty much is what you’ll get. If better, call in the marching band of Buc fans.
July 10th, 2016 at 5:08 pm
McCoy got hurt his first two years, now he has become a four time probowler, Luke Socker stayed hurt and we just kept on waiting until he found his niche, so now “Bucs fan” wants to get rid of talent. Let’s see the talent that’s gone on to win rings: Michael Benett, Darrel Revis, Aqib Talib… My point is we will let him go, he will be signed by a contender and contribute to their ring, i.e., this guy has talent, can we at least see what he can do this year before we send him packing
July 10th, 2016 at 6:18 pm
I like Cameron Brate. In 2016 it takes more than just talent and willpower. It takes brains as well. Do you think #84 is going to make mental errors or forget a play? He has the build, the talent, and a Harvard brain on top of it. That guy will be the #1 TE for the Bucs by the end of 2016.
July 10th, 2016 at 6:22 pm
Brate should start
July 10th, 2016 at 7:11 pm
If ASJ’s 54% is gruesome, what is Mike Evan’s 50%?
Is mike a productive player despite that atrocious catch percent?
Injuries have obviously hindered ASJ’s prodcution and his ability to be a play maker. But he has shown flashes of what he could do. I haven’t given up hope on him. I hope he can turn his head around and stay healthy. 2 things he hasnt proved he can do, but call me an optimist i guess.
July 10th, 2016 at 7:20 pm
How about 6 TDs in 16 games is that productive? No he won’t be confused for gronk, but in his limited playing time, he has done decent. His talent and potential should be considered when talking about what to expect from him in the future. Having a terrible qb is first season, injuries and a rookie qb his second season. He hasnt exactly had much of a chance to develop on the field.
July 10th, 2016 at 8:01 pm
BigHog, what makes you think that this is an ALL/WORLD STAFF??
July 10th, 2016 at 10:48 pm
Big Hog is being facetious even though he doesn’t know how to spell it.
July 10th, 2016 at 11:09 pm
When someone parses dry stats like TE catch/targets % without a hint of context, you know it’s a Slow News Day.
I can’t wait for Training Camp for actual football news.
July 11th, 2016 at 7:46 am
NO LIVES MATTER!!!!
July 11th, 2016 at 7:48 am
@ joe
Look up catch rate definition from a stats site.I did it is exactly the same thing as completion percentage.Meaningless,in the sense that all factors are
not in control of QB,such as drops, poorly run routes or miscommunication between receiver- Qb and even tipped balls. .By the same token the receiver can not control inaccurate passes,passes defensed or intercepted.
the realist’s celebration percentage is probably more accurate than catch rate %.
Not saying ASJ is played up to expectation,but catch rate is not a fair and accurate way of evaluating a receiver.
July 11th, 2016 at 8:45 am
Even if ASJ doesn’t pan out I highly doubt the bucs will draft another TE when they have Stocker n Brate, not to mention they have a guy on the practice squad they like in former Gator Tevin Westbrook who is more of a pass catching TE. Look for him to get sum playing time in preseason.
July 11th, 2016 at 10:15 am
The biggest concern I have with ASJ, outside of his inability to stay healthy, is not his ability to catch the ball but his seeming unwillingness to block. Take a look at games he played last year and nearly every time he was on the field was in a passing situation. The beauty of having a tight end is that the defense can’t automatically prepare for the pass or the run because you have an additional blocker on the field. When ASJ was on the field the Bucs always threw the ball, if I can pick that nuance up I am sure defensive coordinators are more than capable of doing the same.
July 11th, 2016 at 12:01 pm
Lol @ cac percentage.
July 11th, 2016 at 7:17 pm
It’s really simple.
ASJ has unrealized potential. Anyone who thinks he has done ANYTHING worthwhile thus far is mistaken.
If he is ever going to reach his potential, he needs to prove it this year. I’m hoping he does, but props when props are earned.
July 11th, 2016 at 7:19 pm
Brate has to prove he can do something too.
Neither of them is proven yet.