Originally posted by NinerGM:
Originally posted by SanDiego49er:
Originally posted by Shaj:
how is it some people here think VD doesn't have agility? Isn't agility the rate of change of speed? He has the unique ability to shift gears for someone his size, giving him a competitive advantage over both CBs and esp LBs, whichever have the dubious distinction of covering him. Not sure what these posters are seeing that I'm not.
They overanalyze him. He's one of the best TE's in the leauge. But they think he is TEH SSUUUXXOOORRSSS....
2009: 965 yards, 13 TD's.
2010: 914 yards, 7 TD's.
2011: 792 yards, 6 TD's. (double coverage in every game in 2011)
3 years total = 2,671 yards, 26 TD's.
3 year average = 890.33 yards per year, 8.67 TD's per year.
That's TEH SSUUUXXOOORRSSS... Wish we had a good TE.
Perspective. TWO TE broke records this year, one was a 2nd year player. I noticed this was remarkably absent from your list of stats:
Drops: 18t Vernon Davis SF 6
Clutch TE statistically better than Davis are:
Jimmy Graham
Rob Gronkowski
Brandon Pettigrew
Tony Gonzalez
Aaron Hernandez
Jason Witten
Kellen Winslow
The point I'm making here is that saying he's the best TE in the league anymore and actually seeing the stats are two different things ....
lol, notice what the common factor on that list is? high level QB. Brady, Brees, Stafford, Romo, Ryan. and Kellen Winslow is NOT better than Vernon Davis.
if you put Vernon Davis on the Saints, hes the best TE in the NFL by a mile.
Dont get me wrong, i like Alex Smith, but hes not the kind of QB that elevates pass catchers numbers to the elite level. So much of being a productive TE is how much your QB looks to you. often times youll see Jason Witten become a blocker for an entire game. other times, hes a pro bowl receiving TE. you cant just point to Gronkowski and say hes better because of this season. Belichick calls a brilliant offensive gameplan, and a HOF QB throws the ball 40-50 times a game. he has to be good, but hes benefiting from the system.
you have to look at each TE and say "would they be BETTER than Davis in his place on the 49ers? or, would Davis be able to do as well as they do if he played on their team instead of SF".
VD would at least match or exceed every one of those TE if he took their place on those teams, and its hard for me to beleive any of those guys would outperform Davis in our current offense scheme.
Im usually down on VD because of his knack for penalties and drops, but in this case I think its unfair to call those TE better.
were talking about a 6'3, 250 lb. guy who benches 465 lbs. and runs a 4.38 forty. hes easily the most gifted TE in football, and in a more pass friendly offense he would be Antonio Gates in his prime.