Position Review: Tight End
Until the start of training camp late next week, we will take a look at the Chiefs 2009 roster and break down the 80 players based on the nine position groups. We’ll also provide perspective on what each position has done in this decade of Chiefs football.
When the Chiefs traded Tony Gonzalez to the Atlanta Falcons back in April, they removed from their roster 916 catches, 10,940 receiving yards and 76 touchdown catches.
As they head to training camp, they have five tight ends on the roster, with three TEs that have played in the NFL. Combined that trio – Brad Cottam (right), Tony Curtis and Sean Ryan – have 20 starts in the league, with 30 catches for 218 yards and three TDs.
Gonzalez had those numbers before the end of his first season.
No NFL team builds an offense or even a passing game around a tight end. But over the last 10 years, Gonzalez was the most reliable receiver in the Chiefs offense year-after-year and the best security blanket available for the team’s quarterbacks.
He’s gone and there’s a big hole at tight end. None of the five on the roster has the skills or background to become the next Tony Gonzalez. That doesn’t mean they can’t make contributions and catch passes for the Chiefs offense in ‘09. They just have very big shoes to fill.
Here’s a look at the tight ends on the roster.
TIGHT ENDS
Brad Cottam (2nd/16 games-7 starts/7 receptions, 63 yards, 0 TDs.) Getting the chance to spend the year working with Gonzalez every day will be a big help for this young man’s future as a receiver. Cottam learned quite a bit last year and one of his biggest lessons was pushing himself in practice. A lot of rookies have that problem coming into the pros; they leave colleges where they are stars and come into the NFL where they usually start at the bottom of the depth chart. Once Cottam learned his intensity needed to increase, he got better. He can provide the physical end of the position and he showed last year he’s a reliable receiver. Cottam will never make the type of catches Gonzalez did, but he can be a factor in the Chiefs offense. He needs to bend his knees more and play with greater power.
Tom Crabtree (undrafted rookie/48 games at Miami of Ohio/40 receptions, 3329 yards, 2 TDs.) He was the other tight end at this college, behind former and current teammate Jake O’Connell. During his four college seasons, Crabtree never caught more than 15 passes in a season. Most of his contributions came on special teams, with 38 tackles. During the off-season program, he showed good hand.
Tony Curtis (4th/36 games-6 starts/11 receptions, 50 yards, 3 TDs.) During the off-season program, there were times when Curtis lined up in the slot, much as Gonzalez used to do in the Chiefs offense. Whether that’s a role he can handle when the games are real, remains to be seen. Certainly there’s nothing in his pro career that indicates he can be much of a receiver, although in 2007 with Dallas he caught three passes, all for TDs. In 22 games at Portland State, he caught only 16 passes. Special teams will have to be big with Curtis if he’s going to make the squad.
Jake O’Connell (seventh-round draft choice/41 games-13 starts at Miami of Ohio/46 receptions, 453 yards, 4 TDs.) The Chiefs obviously saw something special in O’Connell because they traded back into the seventh round to select him in April’s NFL Draft, giving up their 2010 seventh-round choice. In the off-season work, O’Connell showed he can run routes and catch the ball. Whether he can handle the other duties at tight end we will see in training camp.
Sean Ryan (left) (6th/43 games-7 starts/12 receptions, 105 yards, 0 TDs.) A journeyman-type; the Chiefs are his sixth team in the last five seasons. Ryan doesn’t catch much and last year didn’t play much, getting into a game with the Dolphins, a game with the Saints and then six games and one start with the 49ers. He caught just three passes for 15 yards last year. At 6-5, 260 pounds Ryan is more of an H-back than a tight end. In the off-season program, however, he showed pretty good hands. But it’s blocking that will be his ticket to the regular-season roster.
CHIEFS ALMANAC/TIGHT END
Likely number of tight ends on final roster: 3 or 4.
- A pre-camp prediction on the finalists: Brad Cottam, Tony Curtis, Jake O’Connell and possibly Sean Ryan.
Tight ends that started in this decade: 5.
- Tony Gonzalez 145, Jason Dunn 22, Brad Cottam 7, Billy Baber 1, Troy Drayton 1.
Tight ends drafted by Chiefs in this decade: 6.
- Third-round – Kris Wilson 2004, Brad Cottam 2008.
- Fifth-round – Billy Baber 2001.
- Seventh-round – Michael Allan 2007, Michael Merritt 2008, Jake O’Connell 2009.
Tight Ends With Catches In This Decade:
| Receiver | Games | Receptions | Yards | TDs |
| Tony Gonzalez |
143 |
748 |
9,102 |
61 |
| Kris Wilson |
49 |
42 |
345 |
4 |
| Jason Dunn |
119 |
41 |
353 |
7 |
| Mikhael Ricks |
17 |
18 |
252 |
1 |
| Troy Drayton |
16 |
8 |
70 |
2 |
| Brad Cottam |
16 |
7 |
63 |
0 |
| Billy Baber |
29 |
3 |
30 |
1 |
Maybe Rin could talk Fred Arbanas into coming back?
Curtis blew a block on a punt and it was blocked, the punter ended up injured. That’s why the Cowboys made no effort to resign him.
Arbanas is best. He could block and catch, a complete player who did not need to be the all star. Different era sure but a special Chief.
The current TEs look like a bunch of guys. Hope one of them can really block. I doubt any will be the man in the red zone.
Real Rin ® daddy-o sez
No Fred Arbanas - best TE in Chiefs history - be on the roster, but several who can match Tony Gonzalez appears…
Real Rin ® daddy-o sez
By the way Fred Arbanas ‘was’ Pro Bowl 5 out of his 6 seasons as Chiefs TE; the other 4 years later in his career he was slated to become an OT due to his great (unlike a Gonzalez) blocking ability but lack of replacement players progress and injury too made it a necessity to move Fred back to TE.
He was the best, ever, without question.
John Czarnecki say’s ” Some one told me the other day that the Bronco’s internally believe they can win 10 games this season, but when I checked their schedule I didn’t see them playing KC or OAK 10 times this season.”
Sure KC lost Tony , but he was becomming a stand out as playing unfair and was drawing BAD call’s and at level of not just a few. Some team’s took huge avantage of this and it cost KC more than two win’s on close game’s last season, they would talk to the REF.’s before almost every game.
When and if you are throwing half of your passes to one reciever and he is being over watched,and called for slight touches that NO ONE get’s hammered for .
Then you have someone making the unfair call’s that dosen’t have to worry about a coach doing no more than just standing there, like he dosen’t know what to do!!!
It’s almost better that last season went the way it did— because it has inspired everyone from Clark Kent ( the NOT so mild mannered Chief’s owner ) on down , to kick thing’s into gear —- because a little HIGH performance will start a huge run on season ticket’s, as it has in year’s past.
I feel Cottam can be a 40-50 catch guy that blocks very very well…of course he has to stay healthy, but he showed that teams cant just ignore the guy, hes big, hes fast…not going to be a Tony G, maybe 35-40 receptions is more like it, but hes one good blocker.
“a huge run on season ticket’s”
- Lysergic acid diethylamide
That’s my real name ?
- Suppersillieous
My name is Sue. How do you do.
Cottam could be very dangerous in the red zone. It will be interesting to show are recievers respond this season. Maybe we can have the next “Marks Brothers” combo in Bradley and Engram. This will be a complete team without Gonzalez. Players like Jamal Charles, Quentin Lawrence, I think they will all be contributers. Is it September yet? GO CHIEFS!!!!!
There’s the ‘on paper’ gambit where fans and sportswriters avidly speculate about the best case scenarios or go on past performances to gauge the success of their team leading into a new season. You’ve seen those, maybe even, participated in a couple?
Most all of the ‘on paper’ comments and discussions are based on best case scenarios. What about a realty show type ‘on paper’ as one pores over this Chief’s roster of broken dreams, recycled vets and blue sky hopes?
So, contestant #1 is up, that being Rip ‘em a new one and he has to say:
“On paper, this team SUCKS swamp water. It’s going to take a miracle to get all these loose parts to come together to form anything to resemble a cohesive team.
On paper, it looks as if GM Pioli has a guaranteed contract that will pay him regardless for several years into the future, so why the rush to turn this around? On paper it also appears Pioli was not the wunderkind of the Pats, with that title still resting with Belichick who painfully schooled us in this past 2009 draft with a strobe/laser light driving rock concert performance that would make AC/DC envious, while, Pioli treated Chief’s fans to a Jonas Brothers type draft.”
And, on paper, that felt good to get out of one’s system.
“he showed good hand.”
me luv you long time.
Rip ‘em,
I disagree with pretty much everything you said…and usually do.
But I do respect your opinions, and the way you present them. Just wanted to throw that out there.
Now I’m sure someone is going to hijack my name and say something stupid for the umpteeth time today. Rin…you’re up.
Scott and Josh shared the same mother like everyone else.
Okay…so I was only HALF right.
Wy do these fools go to all the trouble of suiting up and playing any games if the outcome is known?
If I was a player on this team———- I think I would feel perty good and looking to make every effort I could to get this messhing.
Most team’s , every year have thouble with the first half of the season.
As a player I would be so thrilled to this huge change in coaching and some high level talent showing up . I would bust my ass to give it chance.
PAPER IS FOR THE BATHROOM TO BE FLUSHED~
All those close games last year for no other reason than no one was really in shape.
When every one get’s in shape it’s different !
Scott,
That’s an excellent way to disagree. My compliments on that. As to the Chiefs?
I’ve been following this team for many decades, have exercised as much patience as most anyone and now? I’m going Howard Beal on them and let it rip until I see genuine evidence of a turnaround.
For all those who see it differently? That’s cool.
Cottam is the supposed future at TE. I am ok with that but I see him as more a Jason Dunn rather than Tony G. JT says he will be dangerous in the red zone, maybe if he is carrying a gun. There is no track record on him. He is fast, during a game? 40 to 50 catches, hope so, I guess he could be better as a pro than a college athlete. We had all better hope he or one of the other TE step up or Cassel may see most of the game from the seat of his pant. Engram and Bradley being something special is just plain scary, why would you say that?
Alright, so here’s a minor error in the article:
“Tom Crabtree (undrafted rookie/48 games at Miami of Ohio/40 receptions, 3329 yards, 2 TDs.)”
I would like to point out that this BACKUP from Miami of Ohio averaged a ASTOUNDING 83.3 yards a catch.
And he only got 2 touchdowns?
I KNEW we picked him up for a reason.
Just messin’ around. But that was good for a laugh, for sure.
4 wins
Bottom line Cottom is no Tony Gonzalez, but so are most tight ends that come into this league. As far as Cottom goes he’s got good speed for a tight end of his size. I watched every single Chiefs game this season as painful as it was, but the few games Cottom played in he looked preety athletic. He’s definately got a little more speed than Tony. He’s no Gonzalez but I think if he can improve his route running and his hands he can be a solid weapon on offense with that big body of his.
Just a prediction (like everything else is this time of year) but I can’t see Cottam grabbing more than 25 catches this year. He’ll be asked to block for the most part and will probably line up outside of McIntosh who has trouble with speed rushers. I know Chan is calling the plays, but I think Haley wants less emphasis on the TE and more emphasis on RBs and WRs who actually have some speed. As of today, my reception break down prediction would be
Bowe 80
Engram 50
Bradley 40 (he’s bound to miss some games)
Charles 40
Cottam 25
LJ 25
That’s 260 catches. Whoever else makes the team is too up in the air for me to speculate at this point but I think there’ll be another 100 or so catches by the rest. Kolby? O’Connell? Darling?
How is 6-5 260 the size of an H-back?
Good question Anon. Sounds like a big mauler to me.