Of all the top TE's in the draft Cj is by far the best blocker. It's not even close. He not only stands players up, he drives them backwards. CJ can block DE"s. You can use him on the goal line. He is a NFL ready blocker.
He is underrated as a pass catcher. HE has good hands,runs good routes and is sneaky fast. He can stretch the field. He can run the 30 yard seam pass. Good red zone target.
At the combine CJ put up numbers that match or beat all TE's except for ebron.He had the best 3 cone drill 7.10, which is outstanding for his size.
This is the TE i want the giants to draft.
Weaknesses - Builds to average speed. Fairly straight-linish athlete. Not elusive after the catch. Can improve as a move blocker and develop more of a mean streak to finish blocks. Average production. Could stand to adopt a more blue-collar work ethic when people aren’t watching -- is not a self-starter and has been able to cruise on his rare size and natural ability."
Most projections have him as either 3rd or 4th round.
When I say he is stiff I mean he doesn't have that wiggle to make people miss. He is not going to really make defenders back off of him in the passing game. However, I don't mean that as a negative. When I say he is very stiff I am basically saying he is no Ebron or any of the smaller, split TEs. He is going to be a big target, who can run a little. But, once he gets going in one directions he isn't going to make anybody miss. He will just run through you. That can be viewed as a positive.
I agree that he will go earlier than people expect (possibly the second round) and I see a little resemblance to Gronk in him. Gronk is stiff, imo, but is still a tremendous athlete at the position.
j/k
CJ's measureables are actually comparable to Gronk's.
Although it is very hard to predict later round picks, I would not be surprised to see the Giants take CJ. Especially if he is there in the 4th. Not sure if they take him with a third rounder.
Is he Jimmy Graham - no but he's not Jake Ballard either.
He has really good hands and is arguably the top in-line blocking TE in the draft. Hawkeyes just didn't throw the ball his way as much as they should have.
Fiedorowicz may not get the attention of the other tight ends in this year's class, but he moves extremely well at 6-foot-5, 265 pounds. His case is reminiscent of when former Virginia tight end Heath Miller came out of school in 2005. Like Miller, CJ may not generate the buzz of the other tight ends because he simply didn't get as many touches or stretch the seams deep in the secondary. In the NFL, we feel he has a chance -like Miller- to be a box-out third down threat who will keep the chains moving. He's the best blocker in this year's class, and his experience in this facet under former NFL and Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz will prove valuable in his NFL transition.
Scott, I can. I love Amaro. You cannot say that CJ was not used in the pass game that often and expect him to do that but then discredit Amaro because he wasn't asked to block a lot. Amaro, himself, said that he has done whatever the coaching staff asked of him. He did block as an inline blocker prior to this year. The coach asked him if he would be open to splitting out wide more and he said yeah. He can block but he is going to have to work on it too. However, if you watch him block DBs I don't think there is a better stalk blocker in this draft than Amaro. He destroys CB and S as well as LBs too. He is a nasty player who gives it his all every play. I love his style of play.
The wildcard for me is Niklas in Round 2. I've been waiting to hear if he'll be running again before the draft. He wasn't at full speed for the Combine and skipped ND's Pro Day after his hernia surgery. I like what I see on tape. If he could confirm his speed in a positive way he becomes a real contender for me #43.
The measureables are there as far as size/weight/length. He's more of a playmaker up the field than CJF. He's a plus blocker. IMO could wind up as the best TE out of this class when all is said and done.
Anish - do you like Ebron at 12? I'm really not sure - if he's going to be Jimmy Graham or Vernon Davis, of course I do
Why are we not allowed to be successful without a run blocking TE? Why not have our TE, who can be a threat, arc release and block a backer or safety? Why does he have to only block a DE?
I'd have him shiver at line and block 2nd level flow or 3rd level safety. I'd like to run the ball, god knows we suck at it. However, you still accomplish that AND get a TE who can be highly productive in the passing game.
Even though DraftNasty rates Fiedorowicz a bit higher than Amaro, like Robbie I would rather draft Amaro (which is something of a pipe dream). I think his ceiling is much higher, frankly, and when I watched him destroy WVU I was sold. He reminded me of Jason Witten in that game.
Quote:
TE who can create mismatches and be a weapon. Not a glorified OL prospect, who can catch passes every once in a while. Now that the old system is canned, I am hoping that Ben M. gets a TE who can be a weapon for us.
Anish - do you like Ebron at 12? I'm really not sure - if he's going to be Jimmy Graham or Vernon Davis, of course I do
If and only if we don't go Lewan or Martin, who I want before Ebron. If not, then I been on the Ebron train. I'd settle for a Shockey early years.
Let's see what Ben M. would do and how he would use Ebron. But that's all extra, I'd go OL with lewan or martin who I think should help the OL big time.
Agree.
p.s.-- Ballard was good enough that Belichick signed him off waivers knowing he would spend the year on IR and Coughlin threw a temper tantrum when he left. The Giants would be happy to draft someone with Ballard's potential!
We see so much about creating match-up problems. But really outside of Graham, Davis and Thomas, who is really doing this.
T. Gonzolez last 5 years never avg more than 10.9 per catch, but caught 80+ passes every year.
Witten has a career 11.1 ypc and never had over 11.9, but catches 90 passes per year
Gates has had the worst 2 years in terms of YPC his last 2 but has catch 130 passes
Greg Olsen who is pretty athletic has a career YPC lower than Witten
The majority of TE are in the 11-11.9 range of YPC and many of them are not athletic wonders wonders who cause match up problems. The middle of the field is open to all TE's
That echoes what Boylhart had to say...
alot of NFL has met with him..
Round two WR or OL (if WR in first)
Round three TE (CJ)or C
Round four TE or RB
5 and 6 BPA
Quote:
Is he Jimmy Graham - no but he's not Jake Ballard either.
That's quite the indictment. Neither the athlete that Graham is nor the achiever that Ballard is. So what the fuck does that make him? Completely useless?
p.s.-- Ballard was good enough that Belichick signed him off waivers knowing he would spend the year on IR and Coughlin threw a temper tantrum when he left. The Giants would be happy to draft someone with Ballard's potential!
I meant in terms of athleticism. I thought it was obvious. Apparently it was not.
Great idea!
So...ummm...XAVIER GRIMBLE! The X-MAN!
Ruh Roh...
I could seriously see the drafting of 2 or more tight ends, a classic like CJF and one of the flashy offensive ones as well, assuming that the later can at least block some or is a great enough athlete to invest time into.
I leave it up to y'all to sort out the who is who.
Quote:
so we can avoid having to accept the idea of Ebron is the pick.
Great idea!
So...ummm...XAVIER GRIMBLE! The X-MAN!
Ruh Roh...
Grimble is horrible... Please pass on him.
Amaro, Niklas, or CJF in the 2 or 3rd depending on what falls to you at in the second round. If there is a receiver we like a lot I say go receiver and draft CJF in the 3rd. If they are high on Amaro and Niklas and either is there then draft them in the second and go WR in the 3rd.