The Gopher
04-17-2006, 08:29 PM
A CURTain Call Exclusive Report
An interesting trend is beginning to develop in the NFL. Senior Power Forwards with little NBA future are crossing over to the NFL. These tall powerful and quick athletes are the prototype of the new NFL Tight End. The Tight End is a position that undergoes a lot of changes. Before the emphasis was on dual threat, blocking and receiving, but recently the emphasis has been on breakaway speed, leaving linebackers in the dust. This article will examine the growing trend of basketball players in the NFL.
To better understand our present, we must first understand the past. The Tight End is one of the league's most changed positions over the years. In the beginning, pass catching from the tight end position was an afterthought. Tight end's needed to be big, strong blockers. Then an evolution began, and pass catchers like Kellen Winslow emerged, changing the position. Then came the versatile TE's, Mark Chumura, Jay Novacek. These guys could do it all, run, catch and block. But recently, the trend for Tight Ends has been for athletic, speedsters. These big and fast pass catchers have created huge problems for defenses. No longer can most linebackers be trusted to cover the league's premier tight ends. Guys like Tony Gonzalez and Antonio Gates have created huge match-up issues.
This new Breed of Tight End is hard to come by. Most of the players fast enough to fit this mold become wide receivers. Many college programs still use throw-back styles of play, forcing the tight end to be primarily a blocker, and at best an afterthought in the passing game. Teams are constantly looking to find themselves the next Tony Gonzalez, or Jeremy Shockey.
Many of these new Tight Ends are former basketball players. Tony Gonzalez is one of the most prominent football players with a passion for basketball. But the poster child for college basketball player turned football player is Antonio Gates.
http://images.tsn.ca/images/stories/20050823/gates_52496.jpgAntonio Gates' dream was to go to Michigan State, and play both basketball and football, but Coach Nick Saban told Gates he had to choose. At heart Gates was a basketball player so he chose to go to Eastern Michigan to play basketball there. He played less than a full season there, and spent his next two years playing for junior colleges. Eventually he found his way to Kent State where he started at Power Forward and led the Golden Flashes to an Elite 8 appearance and a MAC title. Scouts told him he did not have the size necessary to play in the NBA (6' 4"). Despite being away from football for more than 4 years, Gates arranged some workouts for pro scouts.
The Chargers took a chance on the youngster, and were quickly rewarded. After a decent rookie season (24 catches, 389 yards, 2 TD's) Gates exploded in 2004. 81 receptions, 984 yards and 13 TD's were his 2004 stats.
With the success of Gates, the copycats of the NFL are looking to find the next Power Forward who can succeed in the NFL.
http://media.scout.com/Media/Image/31/311312.jpgPower Forwards are the ideal athletes for the new TE. They are tall, they have a lot of quickness and speed and are well conditioned. They have great hands, and with a little adjustments could be taught to catch the pigskin. There are some disadvantages to this, most basketball players do not know real toughness until they are hit for the first time by an NFL linebacker. They are unaccustomed to the speed of the NFL and will have to learn how to avoid getting clocked.
Who are the next Power Forwards to hit the NFL? Uconn's Ed Nelson is receiving some interest from the Vikings and Browns. Nelson could be signed as a street free agent, and will not be draft eligible because he did not play a year of college football. Last season Corey Lampkin made the crossover to the NFL and is currently on the Jets Roster. Lampkin played his college career at PF for Texas A&M.
Is what we are currently witnessing a growing trend, or will power forwards in the NFL go the way of the track star trying to play WR. At this point, who really knows? All that can be said is it makes for an interesting crossover between two exciting sports.
An interesting trend is beginning to develop in the NFL. Senior Power Forwards with little NBA future are crossing over to the NFL. These tall powerful and quick athletes are the prototype of the new NFL Tight End. The Tight End is a position that undergoes a lot of changes. Before the emphasis was on dual threat, blocking and receiving, but recently the emphasis has been on breakaway speed, leaving linebackers in the dust. This article will examine the growing trend of basketball players in the NFL.
To better understand our present, we must first understand the past. The Tight End is one of the league's most changed positions over the years. In the beginning, pass catching from the tight end position was an afterthought. Tight end's needed to be big, strong blockers. Then an evolution began, and pass catchers like Kellen Winslow emerged, changing the position. Then came the versatile TE's, Mark Chumura, Jay Novacek. These guys could do it all, run, catch and block. But recently, the trend for Tight Ends has been for athletic, speedsters. These big and fast pass catchers have created huge problems for defenses. No longer can most linebackers be trusted to cover the league's premier tight ends. Guys like Tony Gonzalez and Antonio Gates have created huge match-up issues.
This new Breed of Tight End is hard to come by. Most of the players fast enough to fit this mold become wide receivers. Many college programs still use throw-back styles of play, forcing the tight end to be primarily a blocker, and at best an afterthought in the passing game. Teams are constantly looking to find themselves the next Tony Gonzalez, or Jeremy Shockey.
Many of these new Tight Ends are former basketball players. Tony Gonzalez is one of the most prominent football players with a passion for basketball. But the poster child for college basketball player turned football player is Antonio Gates.
http://images.tsn.ca/images/stories/20050823/gates_52496.jpgAntonio Gates' dream was to go to Michigan State, and play both basketball and football, but Coach Nick Saban told Gates he had to choose. At heart Gates was a basketball player so he chose to go to Eastern Michigan to play basketball there. He played less than a full season there, and spent his next two years playing for junior colleges. Eventually he found his way to Kent State where he started at Power Forward and led the Golden Flashes to an Elite 8 appearance and a MAC title. Scouts told him he did not have the size necessary to play in the NBA (6' 4"). Despite being away from football for more than 4 years, Gates arranged some workouts for pro scouts.
The Chargers took a chance on the youngster, and were quickly rewarded. After a decent rookie season (24 catches, 389 yards, 2 TD's) Gates exploded in 2004. 81 receptions, 984 yards and 13 TD's were his 2004 stats.
With the success of Gates, the copycats of the NFL are looking to find the next Power Forward who can succeed in the NFL.
http://media.scout.com/Media/Image/31/311312.jpgPower Forwards are the ideal athletes for the new TE. They are tall, they have a lot of quickness and speed and are well conditioned. They have great hands, and with a little adjustments could be taught to catch the pigskin. There are some disadvantages to this, most basketball players do not know real toughness until they are hit for the first time by an NFL linebacker. They are unaccustomed to the speed of the NFL and will have to learn how to avoid getting clocked.
Who are the next Power Forwards to hit the NFL? Uconn's Ed Nelson is receiving some interest from the Vikings and Browns. Nelson could be signed as a street free agent, and will not be draft eligible because he did not play a year of college football. Last season Corey Lampkin made the crossover to the NFL and is currently on the Jets Roster. Lampkin played his college career at PF for Texas A&M.
Is what we are currently witnessing a growing trend, or will power forwards in the NFL go the way of the track star trying to play WR. At this point, who really knows? All that can be said is it makes for an interesting crossover between two exciting sports.