Falcons: Recruiting Tony G to return.

[Aftermath]

(01-28-2013 09:26 PM)Beef Wrote:  I had already ready it and didn't feel like commenting. But now that I think about it....

I think it's a catch-22 situation with TG. Yes, he does hold us back from maxing out the vertical passing game and spreading the field out even more, but his hands, route running, body control, and damn near sure thing go-to possession receiver ability is off the charts and this extends drives and keeps the offense on the field.

He just makes catches and converts to first downs better than anyone in the game IMO. We're talking about replacing an overwhelmingly invaluable comfort factor and ultra high percentage of success receiving option for something that reduces all that for the potential of more big plays that usually revolve around lesser percentages of success, but obviously potential for moving down the field further on a single play.

I don't know. I honestly don't have a preference. A part of me says I'd rather have a guy who spreads the field out more because logically I think this helps every other offensive aspect more. Tony keeps defenders closer to the line and middle and makes things a good bit more predictable. But dude simply catches everything and then does that move that gets him 5 more yards and he just gets us down the field with great reliability.

I guess I'm just afraid of the possibility of missing on a new TE draft pick. We want a Gronk/Graham/Hernandez type TE. We'd be happy as hell if that's what we ultimately get to replace Tony. Who wouldn't be? But if we don't get that, or at least something even just half decent or close to that, then we have to rely on HD to fill the gap and sorry, but HD isn't reliable enough to give us that comfort and level of success back.

I don't know if we draft a TE or not if TG doesn't come back. We might try to nab a FA but honestly most of the FA TEs seem to be average at best. I like the TEs in the 1st or 2nd round but think that D is a more pressing need and burning a 1st or 2nd rounder on a TE probably isn't going to happen this year. Part of me thinks we would be better off using more 3-4-5 wide sets to spread the D out a bit. As you said TG has the best hands ever but he does tend to make things a bit more compact past the LOS.

If we do use more 3-4-5 wide sets we will probably need to get another WR on the roster that can compete for the 3rd spot and help to replace Julio if/when he gets hurt. Ultimately I'd prefer to bring in a FA WR for the 3/4 spot or grab one with a 3rd round pick more than I would burning a top pick on a TE or settling for an average & overpaid TE in FA.

Ideally we would find a great TE in the latter rounds of the draft, bit it hasn't worked so far.