Quote:As I plan to continue to ignore the likelihood of players with 4 years of service being restricted next year, a player who comes up high on our radar is Zach Miller. Yes, the Raiders have offensive players who aren’t running backs. Here is photographic proof.

Does Atlanta really need a tight end? The answer to this requires only a quick glance at our depth chart.

1. Gonzo: 6’5″ 243lbs of future Hall of Famer who is on the wrong side of 30, and in another 9 months will be on the wrong side of 35. He has had a few more drops that I remember seeing, and there is no question he has lost a step. Matt Ryan’s safety blanket had a career low yard per catch, and a low in receiving yards not seen since 1998. Gonzo has been talking off and on about retirement, and his play means in a season or two he may not have a choice.

2. Justin Peelle is a not a bad little weapon, but is 32 and has had more than 159 yards once in his long career. Peelle is short on blocking ability and does not have enough in the passing department to outweigh his deficiencies. My only question is: When he loses a step, how can we tell?

3. Michael Palmer, UDFA last year at 6’5″ and 260lbs, is an unknown. Most expected Colin Peek to make the roster last year, only to see him get nicked up and Palmer get the spot. It is hard to really figure out an undrafted player with 5 catches, but it would be a stretch to say he should be starting at this point.

4. Until free agency, that is all we got. If you look at Michael Jenkins and pretend he is a tight end, he looks pretty impressive.

Behind our aging Gonzo, we have nothing but bigger question marks. We could very well be one minor injury away from having the worst group of tight ends in the league. Luckily for Atlanta, a Pro Bowl alternate should be on the market.
Zach Miller is one of a few great players during a period of terrible drafting for the Raiders. He led the Raiders in receiving yards the past three years. Granted, there wasn’t a lot of competition for receiving yards, but Miller has shown he is one of the better tight ends in the game while catching passes from: Jamarcus Russell, Daunte Culpepper, Josh McCown, Bruce Gradkowski, Jason Campbell, Charlie Frye, and Andrew Walter. None of those were even jokes.

Regardless of whoever was inconsistently lobbing footballs in his general direction, Miller excelled. He has averaged over 750 yards and almost 12.5 yards per catch the past three seasons. A surprisingly good blocker at 6’5″ and 255lbs, Miller’s poor combine showing dropped him right out of the first round on draft day.

Miller has been the one consistent offensive player, and just having turned 25, is a young player who can contribute for years. Against Houston, he notched up an elite 122 yards, a feat that even Michael Jenkins has not accomplished at wide receiver. Miller has the opportunity and skill set to easily be a top 5 tight end in the league, and Atlanta can make that happen for him.

(06-04-2011 10:31 AM)markdzul Wrote:  What kind of asking price are we looking at with this guy???

(06-04-2011 01:49 PM)caver50 Wrote:  Lets see, we need>>> a DE, CB, LT,and a TE all in FA. HMMMM

(06-04-2011 05:34 PM)Sporkdevil Wrote:  I doubt we get either CB or LT in free agency. DE and TE could fit.

(06-04-2011 05:34 PM)Sporkdevil Wrote:  I doubt we get either CB or LT in free agency. DE and TE could fit.

(06-05-2011 08:03 AM)Beef Wrote:  So you're under the impression we're going into the season with only Grimes, Robinsion, Owens, & Franks? Only 4 CB's, one of which is an unproven rookie and the other has proven he's a penalty machine when under pressure in a big game?

CB is a bigger priority than DE right now. We have 3 backups at DE, we have only 1 at CB, a rookie.