1st Team All Pro - TE George Kittle Thread

Originally posted by jcs:

Kittle had a 35" vertical for a 250lb TE. Just for comparison Kelce had a 35" vertical, Gronk 33.5" vertical, Walker 36.5" vertical, Ertz 30.5" vertical, Witten 31" vertical, K.Rudolph 34.5" vertical...

I think his issues had more to do with a lack of experience being a rookie from a college that didn't emphasize the pass game. With time he has the potential to be special in this system.

Dude also battled a ton of injuries too last year but towards the end, you could start to see his explosiveness come back.

Originally posted by okdkid:

Originally posted by jcs:

Originally posted by okdkid:
I think he's okay and I'm happy to have him. He is good between the 20s. But I don't feel confident with him as a TE1. Would prefer to have somebody else in that spot.

Can't judge him on his rookie season, especially one with 3 different QB's tossing him the ball.

Does that include the good and the bad? Or just the bad?

Equally but the good does highlight his potential.

Originally posted by jcs:

Originally posted by okdkid:

Originally posted by jcs:

Originally posted by okdkid:
I think he's okay and I'm happy to have him. He is good between the 20s. But I don't feel confident with him as a TE1. Would prefer to have somebody else in that spot.

Can't judge him on his rookie season, especially one with 3 different QB's tossing him the ball.

Does that include the good and the bad? Or just the bad?

Equally but the good does highlight his potential.

Sure, but I wouldn't avoid taking a TE in round 2 (or trading for one) because of it. If a TE is BPA in round 2 or 3... we should pull the trigger.

Originally posted by AmpLee:

Originally posted by 49erphan:

Originally posted by Bluesbro:

Wow, no one has posted in the Kittle thread since early January. I had to do a search to find it. I wanted to talk about the 'red zone target' topic. Am I alone in thinking this guy could develop into a legit RZ threat? He had some nice flashes when JG assumed the controls.

I think Kittle is probably going to be a good to very good TE in general, but I'm not sure if the red zone will be one of his particular strengths. I recall one pass from Jimmy G where because of the rush he had to get rid of the ball and he decided to go high to Kittle in the middle of the end zone where Kittle was covered in front by at least two defenders. It looked like Jimmy G put it high enough where he thought either Kittle would get it or it would go out of bounds over his head. Kittle was able to get about half a finger length higher than the defenders and was able to touch the ball but it basically went sailing on out of bounds. If he just a couple more inches of vertical leap ability, I think he would have caught that ball over the defenders.

You can't tell much by one play, but his vertical jump height at his combine last year was pretty average for a TE (many of his other numbers are very good though - like a fast 40 time for a TE - 13 fastest ever). In the compressed area of the red zone and especially within the end zone itself, the ability of a TE to elevate higher than defenders is important. I think he also could use some improvement in coming back for the ball and fighting for the ball - not that he's bad at those things, but in the red zone I think they are more critical. Those things lead me to think that he won't turn into a red zone monster, but in spite of that I think he will, never-the-less, probably play a solid role in red zone scoring. If he only had the weird ability of Celek to just get lost from the defenders in the end zone, then he'd be a deadly threat.

But... Shanahan is a genius at scheming players open depending on what's happening with the defense so it wouldn't surprise me if he finds a way to scheme Kittle open in the red zone. Right now I don't expect Kittle to be a big red zone threat but he is a pretty talented TE (tough, athletic and smart) so it wouldn't completely surprise me if he turns out to be one.

If you're talking about this play, I think you're mistaken. Kittle showed, not only, great athleticism to high point the ball, but also great ability to be an end-zone target in a broken down play. He and Jimmy just didn't have enough real estate. This play, btw, was my favorite throw Jimmy made despite being incomplete. 36 yard strike off his back foot to the back of the end-zone where only his guy could make a play? Get outta here...

Forgot about that one. Not much different than Dwight Clark

Originally posted by okdkid:

Originally posted by jcs:

Originally posted by okdkid:

Originally posted by jcs:

Originally posted by okdkid:
I think he's okay and I'm happy to have him. He is good between the 20s. But I don't feel confident with him as a TE1. Would prefer to have somebody else in that spot.

Can't judge him on his rookie season, especially one with 3 different QB's tossing him the ball.

Does that include the good and the bad? Or just the bad?

Equally but the good does highlight his potential.

Sure, but I wouldn't avoid taking a TE in round 2 (or trading for one) because of it. If a TE is BPA in round 2 or 3... we should pull the trigger.

TE is the least of our worries, Kittle was the 2nd most productive Rookie last year and his physical talent is among the best in the league. I can see us drafting one later in day 3 as we need depth but I honestly think KS is planning on Kittle and Celek being his top two guys next year.

Here's my question to you...what is it about Kittle that makes you think he's not the future at the position for this team?

Originally posted by jcs:

TE is the least of our worries, Kittle was the 2nd most productive Rookie last year and his physical talent is among the best in the league. I can see us drafting one later in day 3 as we need depth but I honestly think KS is planning on Kittle and Celek being his top two guys next year.

Here's my question to you...what is it about Kittle that makes you think he's not the future at the position for this team?

lol Because he's not 6'6. If your TE is shorter—you have nothing

Originally posted by jcs:

Originally posted by okdkid:

Originally posted by jcs:

Originally posted by okdkid:

Originally posted by jcs:

Originally posted by okdkid:
I think he's okay and I'm happy to have him. He is good between the 20s. But I don't feel confident with him as a TE1. Would prefer to have somebody else in that spot.

Can't judge him on his rookie season, especially one with 3 different QB's tossing him the ball.

Does that include the good and the bad? Or just the bad?

Equally but the good does highlight his potential.

Sure, but I wouldn't avoid taking a TE in round 2 (or trading for one) because of it. If a TE is BPA in round 2 or 3... we should pull the trigger.

TE is the least of our worries, Kittle was the 2nd most productive Rookie last year and his physical talent is among the best in the league. I can see us drafting one later in day 3 as we need depth but I honestly think KS is planning on Kittle and Celek being his top two guys next year.

Here's my question to you...what is it about Kittle that makes you think he's not the future at the position for this team?

I'm assuming you mean a TE1...because he obviously can be a decent TE. If we're talking about in the context of a TE1 -- then I would say that I have no confidence he can be a consistent threat all over the field. Yes, he is explosive and that helps. I think his hands are subpar. And I have my doubts he can stay healthy -- but happy to have him prove me wrong.

But as you said -- we can't judge him, even the good. So, why not try to improve the position? He should have to beat somebody out. Why gift him TE1 status? Very few players on this roster have earned that right.

Again, I'm not saying he's a bad TE. I'm saying I wouldn't consider the position "set" because we have Kittle. We can do better. I don't think there's a single defense in the NFL that gives a s**t that they have to play against George Kittle.

Originally posted by qnnhan7:

Originally posted by jcs:
TE is the least of our worries, Kittle was the 2nd most productive Rookie last year and his physical talent is among the best in the league. I can see us drafting one later in day 3 as we need depth but I honestly think KS is planning on Kittle and Celek being his top two guys next year.

Here's my question to you...what is it about Kittle that makes you think he's not the future at the position for this team?

lol Because he's not 6'6. If your TE is shorter—you have nothing

What?

i like our tight ends. but yes we could use a upgrade. whether its gronk for a 4th or 5th or a rookie on day three.

Originally posted by cciowa:

i like our tight ends. but yes we could use a upgrade. whether its gronk for a 4th or 5th or a rookie on day three.

Absoluetely. I think goerge kittle can be a 700 yard 7 td guy max. Nothing wrong with another option for 2 TE sets.

I think Shanahan wil rock with Kittle and Celek going into 2018. People want someone dominant at TE, but it's not necessary. Between Kittle and Celek, they are very effective. Although if they upgrade it would be from Celek. They have Kittle who is fast and athletic together with Celek a more traditional role at TE. They are a good combo

Originally posted by gold49er2183:

Originally posted by cciowa:
i like our tight ends. but yes we could use a upgrade. whether its gronk for a 4th or 5th or a rookie on day three.

Absoluetely. I think goerge kittle can be a 700 yard 7 td guy max. Nothing wrong with another option for 2 TE sets.

That is not a bad max for a kid who can block as well. Anyways, ya, the kid from penn state in this years draft looks pretty damn good to me. He's probably too rich for us at this point considering our needs though.

Why mess w/the set of TEs we have?

All are blue collar type of guys.. .they know to play to the max at all time in order to remain w/the team..

We don't need SUPERSTARS on the TE positions who's yet to earned any kinda stripes.

Originally posted by okdkid:

Originally posted by jcs:

Originally posted by okdkid:

Originally posted by jcs:

Originally posted by okdkid:

Originally posted by jcs:

Originally posted by okdkid:
I think he's okay and I'm happy to have him. He is good between the 20s. But I don't feel confident with him as a TE1. Would prefer to have somebody else in that spot.

Can't judge him on his rookie season, especially one with 3 different QB's tossing him the ball.

Does that include the good and the bad? Or just the bad?

Equally but the good does highlight his potential.

Sure, but I wouldn't avoid taking a TE in round 2 (or trading for one) because of it. If a TE is BPA in round 2 or 3... we should pull the trigger.

TE is the least of our worries, Kittle was the 2nd most productive Rookie last year and his physical talent is among the best in the league. I can see us drafting one later in day 3 as we need depth but I honestly think KS is planning on Kittle and Celek being his top two guys next year.

Here's my question to you...what is it about Kittle that makes you think he's not the future at the position for this team?

I'm assuming you mean a TE1...because he obviously can be a decent TE. If we're talking about in the context of a TE1 -- then I would say that I have no confidence he can be a consistent threat all over the field. Yes, he is explosive and that helps. I think his hands are subpar. And I have my doubts he can stay healthy -- but happy to have him prove me wrong.

But as you said -- we can't judge him, even the good. So, why not try to improve the position? He should have to beat somebody out. Why gift him TE1 status? Very few players on this roster have earned that right.

Again, I'm not saying he's a bad TE. I'm saying I wouldn't consider the position "set" because we have Kittle. We can do better. I don't think there's a single defense in the NFL that gives a s**t that they have to play against George Kittle.

He's a 24 year old 2nd year TE with elite athletic ability for the position. I think patience is key, you can't judge someone off their rookie season otherwise you could say the other 1st round TE's in last years highly touted TE class were all busts.

breaking ankles