Spencer Carraher asked;
I'm a bbi member and I saw your post about any draft questions.Sy'56 posted his tight ends review and didn't seem to be high on George Kittle. I've seen his tape on YouTube (unfortunately NDSU) and really liked him and his measureables. My question: is he good value in round 4? Can he be an in line blocker? What current NFL player would you compare him to?
From Dave Te;
Kittle could sneak into the third, as Pittsburgh is looking to add depth at TE, looking more for a #2 type of guy with short area receiving skills. Injuries have hampered him earlier in his career. He's sort of an enigma as a blocker though - excessive force is seen when leading on traps, pulls and blocking in the second level, but he is better when feet are churning. When he has to block in-line or out of his stance, he takes a few extra steps and then gets too narrow in his base. I like his hand grasp on the ball and he has the arms to scoop the low ball. He also has valid speed to challenge linebackers & safeties. Hmm, comparing him to somebody - possibly more in the lines of the guy who just ran over his daughter, Todd Heap. More recent types? The kid with the off-field troubles last year, Tyler Higbee, as both are aggressive route runners, but Kittle has much better short area quickness and movement skills to create separation consistently (4.52 on Pro Day). Still, the two things that could cause teams to let him slip into the fourth round are concerns that his foot issues will linger (lisc franc) and it is obvious that his in-line blocking technique needs work, even though he makes solid effort to deliver with intensity.
QUICK TIGHT END CLASS THOUGHTS
Best (need motivation)-OJ Howard
Others in Top 3-Engram & Njoku (sucks as a blocker)
My favorite-Engram
Best small college-Shaheen
most underrated (look for him more for receiving)-Bucky Hodges
most overrated-Cole Hikituni-Louisville (however, I feel his backup, Keith Towbridge will be a camp find)
offfield concern-Sprinkle
Day Three Finds-Eric Saubert-Drake, Mike Roberts-Toledo, Kittle
Free Agent Finds-Jacob Hollister-Wyoming, Towbridge, Jon Dorsey-Alabama A& M, Sean Culkin-Missouri, Zach Conque-SF Austin (possible fullback)
Basketball note-while Virginia Commonwealth's Mo Alie-Cox is the "flavor" of the month, the most impressive BKB/turned FB player I worked out was DJ Johnson-Kansas State, clocking 4.66 at 6:08.5-237 with a 38-inch vertical. Also feel Najeal Young-Texas Wesleyan might end up in Texans camp, but the 6:06, 220-pounder needs a dining room table
Howard reminds me of Martellus Bennett. And not in a good way.
NOW-MY 2018 DRAFT TE STUDS
1-Troy Fumagali-Wisconsin (would have been the best TE in the 2017 class if he declared)
2-Mike Gesicki-Penn State
3-Adam Breneman-UMass
4-Durham Smythe-ND
5-Deandre Goolsby-Florida
SMALL COLLEGE FINDS
Dallas Goedert-South Dakota State & Weber State's Andrew Vollert
Should thrive with Coach Chryst and the Frosh qb now a soph with good experience.
Others I really like are Oklahoma's Mark Andrews (would be 2nd TE taken if in this draft) & Stanford's Dalton Schultz, but like friend, I question Schultz's maturity.