2011 Season in Review: Tight End

by Sander on Feb 5, 2012 12:00 PM EST in Player Analysis

The tight end position was supposed to be a strength in the 2011 season for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but somehow it turned into a weakness.

What happened in 2011

The Bucs went into the season with essentially two tight ends: Luke Stocker and Kellen Winslow. They carried a number of completely interchangeable tight ends on the roster like Zach Pianalto and Collin Franklin. In effect, though, the Bucs' fourth-round pick Luke Stocker wasn't exactly any better than Pianalto or Collin Franklin, either. He produced next to nothing in the passing game, while being a lackluster blocker. In part that can be blamed on injuries - but just in part.

Kellen Winslow, on the other hand, did produce. He caught 75 passes for 763 yards and two touchdowns. That production was pretty decent, but not outstanding. Those statistics do miss something, however: Kellen Winslow was the most-targeted Buccaneer on interceptions. That's because Josh Freeman kept honing in on Winslow, while Winslow failed to haul in the tough catches and failed to separate from any player not a linebacker.

Kellen Winslow is still a useful tight end and certainly the best tight end on the roster, but his liability as a blocker combined with his losing any speed he once had is causing his effectiveness to drop off a cliff.

2012 outlook

The Bucs have a problem at tight end next season. Kellen Winslow has lost a step and isn't a dynamic tight end anymore. That doesn't mean he's not valuable, but the offense can't be built around him as it has been in recent years. Luke Stocker was supposed to be the versatile tight end - but he has done next to nothing in his rookie year, and if he can't improve next season the Bucs will be extremely limited in what they can do offensively - especially with the rise of the tight end as a major offensive weapon in the NFL.

2012 Options

The 2012 draft isn't filled with productive tight ends, sadly, and the Bucs may have too many holes to draft one anyway. While Coby Fleener, Dwayne Allen and Orson Charles could be available for Tampa Bay in the second round, none of them look like dynamic weapons.

That's different in free agency, however, where two specific players could greatly help the Bucs' production at the tight end position: Jermichael Finley and Fred Davis, both scheduled to hit the market this season. Both of them are still young, and both of them fit the profile of the kind of free agent the Bucs go after.

Projected depth chart

Kellen Winslow, Luke Stocker, new addition, Zach Pianalto

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Comments

Harsh

With Olson being the OC last year, it is hard to evaluate anything player related on offense. How much of the failure is due to poor play choices and play design, and lack of proper adjustment during the game? First off, TE’s don’t really suffer as much when they “lose a step” compared to WR’s and RB’s. Speed is not nearly as important as positioning and boxing out a defender and using that big body. I’m nowhere near as close to you on giving up on Winslow, not that you said you were giving up – you are just closer than I am.

As far as Stocker goes, there is not much you can do when you are not targeted. I saw a lot of good in Stocker when he did receive some love from the OC/QB.

What confused the heck out of me in the preseason was the release of Daniel Hardy. I saw him make some impressive catches, and if I recall correctly, he did some good running after the catch. Due to my lack of faith in the previous administration, I would love to see him return to the squad this year for a fair opportunity to rejoin the club.

Why we let John Gilmore get away bothers me. I was beginning to like the guy the previous year. All in all, TE may just be the one position the coaches and administration screwed up on the most in 2011.

by jrscott on Feb 5, 2012 12:42 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

But k2 relies soley on speed

He can’t block or do anything in the run game

by Carlitin1988 on Feb 5, 2012 12:53 PM EST via Android app up reply actions

k2 is a very good possesion reciever.

i know he was fast he may have slowed down but can still be effective. freeman was very inaccurate and made k2 look bad at times.

ALL ABOARD THE TRENT RICHARDSON TRAIN!!!

by dcbucsfan on Feb 6, 2012 9:33 AM EST up reply actions

No Argument on That

We’ve had receivers that were better run blockers.

by jrscott on Feb 7, 2012 4:16 AM EST up reply actions

I'm willing to give Stocker a pass, esp in the passing game.

I think he’ll improve there. I suspect the Bucs will go out and look for a vet blocker, esp since Schiano emphasizes the run.

Follow me @worldwidemaldo.

by jMagic09 on Feb 5, 2012 1:13 PM EST reply actions

i like Fred Davis he can produce but.... he's another Tanard Jackson if you know what i mean.

ALL ABOARD THE TRENT RICHARDSON TRAIN!!!

by dcbucsfan on Feb 6, 2012 9:35 AM EST reply actions

Unfortunately yes.

One more drug strike and he’s out for an entire season. That’s a big red flag. If we can bring him in for less money than he would normally get if he DIDN’T have that red flag, I’d say sure….we would just need to make sure we had another option in place just in case.

by KRoa on Feb 6, 2012 11:02 AM EST up reply actions

Two words: "Behavioral Clauses"

by Cracker Ball on Feb 6, 2012 11:10 AM EST up reply actions

true

ALL ABOARD THE TRENT RICHARDSON TRAIN!!!

by dcbucsfan on Feb 6, 2012 6:30 PM EST up reply actions

Very True

If it were written into his contract that if he were suspended again he’d forfeit the remainder of his pay for that season and also have to pay back a pro-rated portion of his guaranteed money (roughly 1 season’s worth of his signing bonus, for example), I’d be ok with that. Davis is a very talented TE who would be likely to earn every dime we pay him….as long as his off the field habits don’t keep him off the field.

by KRoa on Feb 6, 2012 11:28 PM EST up reply actions