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This is a copy cat league, so expect a lot of teams to try and copy what the New England Patriots are doing with their two, athletic, 4.6 forty tight ends – Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez.
Opposing defenses just have no answer for them – who is staying in, who is going out. Also, they constantly get these two on linebackers and safeties who can’t cover them.
Look for the Patriots to exploit Ray Lewis, with their tight ends. He is still a terrific run player, but can’t cover well anymore. Lewis doesn’t move as well in space as he did in the past.
Baltimore kind of has a poor man’s version of what New England has at tight end, with Dennis Pitta and Ed Dickson.
All four players went in the same draft. Baltimore had interest in Gronkowski, but they had medical concerns about him (stenosis), that a lot of other teams shared.
The Jets should have a combo like this of their own with Dustin Keller and Jeff Cumberland, coming off injured reserve.
Cumberland is an athletic freak at 6-4, 260 pounds with sub 4.5 speed.
Actually, they might take this a step further, and have three fast, athletic tight ends to mess up opposing defense, with Keller, Cumberland and Josh Baker.
This Baker was an absolute steal as an undrafted free agent in 2011, out of Northwest Missouri State.
You could see pretty quickly last summer that the Jets had something here. He was very good in the Jets first preseason game, hooking up with Greg McElroy three times for 45 yards, including a pretty 22-yarder over the middle.
And then he was so good on the practice squad, the Jets promoted him during the season.
He is 6-3, about 250 pounds, and runs in the 4.6-4.7 area. He started his college career at Delaware, where he was one of Joe Flacco’s favorite targets. He finished his collegiate days at Northwest Missouri State, after getting tossed off the team in Newark, for breaking some team rules. But unless I’m an awful judge of character, this kid seems like he’s learned his lesson, and isn’t a risk.
I mentioned to Baker that he reminds me a great deal of Aaron Hernandez. He liked the comparison, and I don’t think it’s that much of a reach. He can really stretch a defense, and has very good hands. Much like Hernandez, he’s more of an H-Back than a pure tight end, because he’s not built to be a road-grading blocker. But much like Aaron, he gives you everything he as a blocker, even if it’s not always pretty.
Dustin Keller is a free agent, and clearly the Jets want him back.
And if they get him back in the fold, the Jets will be potentially loaded at tight end, with three speedy, dangerous weapons.
Tony Sparano loves tight ends, much like his mentor Bill Parcells.
So in 2012, what you are seeing from New England and Baltimore, there is a good chance you will also see it in Florham Park – tight end-palooza.
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