View Full Version : The Broncos have the best Trio of TEs in the NFL??
Atlas
05-31-2006, 01:55 AM
Broncos' tight end trio among league's elite
By Connor J. Byrne on May 24, 2006 02:36 AM
SoCals link: http://www.realfootball365.com/nfl/articles/2006/05/denver-broncos-tightends240506.html
These days, an NFL team having three promising tight ends on its roster is a complete anomaly. However, the Denver Broncos are fortunate enough to achieve this rare feat, as their triumvirate of tight ends can match up against any other in the league. Its potential is arguably the best in football.
Along with a proven veteran, the Broncos have two youngsters at the position with enormous upside.
The veteran, Stephen Alexander, has quietly pulled in 229 receptions over the course of eight seasons with the Washington Redskins , San Diego Chargers , Detroit Lions and Broncos. He's had three seasons of catching over 40 passes, but has become more of a prototypical blocking tight end in the Broncos' system. In fact, the 250-pounder is even trying to bulk up this offseason in order to become a more skilled blocking stalwart to aid in the running game and pass protection. Assuming he adds the 10 pounds of muscle he's aiming at, the 30-year-old will be a great help to Denver's offensive line, which seems to perform tremendously every year.
With Alexander comes a project for the Broncos, Wesley Duke. Last year was Duke's rookie season, and it was also his first year of football since high school. The former Mercer College basketball standout signed with the Broncos over a year ago, hoping to emulate the San Diego Chargers ' Pro Bowl tight end, Antonio Gates, who didn't play college football, either. Gates, however, did sign with the Chargers in 2003, and that has turned out amazingly well thus far for both sides.
The 6-5 Duke only appeared in three games last season, but he did catch a late-season touchdown against the Buffalo Bills. Although Duke's by no means a well-known commodity at this stage, he's a prospect worthy of keeping an eye on.
Last but not least, the Broncos have rookie Tony Scheffler to complete their solid stable of tight ends. The Broncos' brass, led by head coach Mike Shanahan and GM Ted Sundquist, see a lot of upside in the 23-year-old. That was evidenced by them using the 61st overall pick on the former Western Michigan star.
The 6-6 Scheffler, who ran a terrific 4.54 at February's scouting combine, has the athleticism to be one of the league's better tight ends. Although the Michigan native has a lot of work to do on his blocking, he has the rare ability from the tight end position to stretch opposing defenses.
Over the last two seasons, Scheffler quietly caught 110 passes and 12 touchdowns. Had he gone to a more prominent football school, Scheffler might have been a first-round pick, a la former Virginia All-American Heath Miller, who went to the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2005's first round.
The Denver Broncos ' tight end strength might not manifest itself early next season, but it'll happen eventually. The position has the perfect mix of an accomplished veteran and a pair of green, yet boundlessly talented young players. Under Alexander's tutelage, Duke and Scheffler could one day become household names.
Atlas
05-31-2006, 01:56 AM
Hey, They Forgot Nate Jackson!!!!!!
Hercules Rockefeller
05-31-2006, 02:00 AM
Whatever. Denver's TE trio is in the bottom 8 teams, and probably towards the bottom of that group. Decent Alexander, rookie Scheffler, and 2 career catch Wesley Duke. Potential doesn't come close to teams with proven TEs on their roster.
Ha, this is idiotic.
Neither Duke or the rookie have proven anything.
Alexander is a journeyman who did little to nothing last year.
Granted he wasnt starting, but seriously, what team is gameplanning for him?
Offseason fluff.........isnt it great?
Atlas
05-31-2006, 02:26 AM
Ha, this is idiotic.
Neither Duke or the rookie have proven anything.
Alexander is a journeyman who did little to nothing last year.
Granted he wasnt starting, but seriously, what team is gameplanning for him?
Offseason fluff.........isnt it great?
POTENTIALLY Denver could have a very good TE corp. I think the author here is trying to not so much state a fact:I.E. Bob is a dipsh!t: but instead make a prediction for the upcoming year. I think he is saying this knowing at the end of the year he'll be able to pat himself on the back and say "See, I was right."
BroncoBuff
05-31-2006, 02:33 AM
I thought that guy was half-an-idiot when I read his RB article in your other thread, Atlas ... now I know he's a COMPLETE idiot.
TE is the weakest position on the Denver Broncos roster. Period.
Atlas
05-31-2006, 02:43 AM
I thought that guy was half-an-idiot when I read his RB article in your other thread, Atlas ... now I know he's a COMPLETE idiot.
TE is the weakest position on the Denver Broncos roster. Period.
His next article is going to state why Denver will lead the league in sacks this year, and how the Bronco D is going to hold opponents to a total of 34 yards rushing for the whole year.
Kaylore
05-31-2006, 02:45 AM
Last but not least, the Broncos have rookie Tony Scheffler to complete their solid stable of tight ends
That is pretty funny. I can't believe he used the word "triumvirate". Try triumvirate of mediocrity. Tight end is the worst position on this offense. Maybe on our team.
loborugger
05-31-2006, 06:14 AM
Well, Atlas, if our TEs turn out to be anything more than ho-hum, you can point back to this thread as your proof of clarivoyance. Otherwise, TE is our big hole on the field.
eddie mac
05-31-2006, 06:21 AM
That guys a tool. A decent trio would be Sharpe, Chamberlain and Carswell not the current 3, they've done nothing in a Broncos uniform and dont deserve those accolades yet.
This Connor J. Byrne fella you keep quoting is quite the hack by the looks of these two articles you've posted. Questions our running game, but thinks we have a great stable of TEs? Try a veteran scrub who shouldn't even be in the damn league anymore, a second year UDFA who's just coming back from backing up in NFLE, and a 2nd round rookie. Ho damn! The league better watch out for this fearsome trio!
We'll be seeing a WR heavy passing attack this year, I think both Scheffler and Duke have real potential, but I don't expect either one to realize it immediately with their fist taste of NFL action.
****, I have a Tony Scheffler av. on here and I don't buy this junk.
BroncoInferno
05-31-2006, 07:19 AM
That is pretty funny. I can't believe he used the word "triumvirate". Try triumvirate of mediocrity. Tight end is the worst position on this offense. Maybe on our team.
From a proven, known commodities stand point, you are probably right. But I think at the end of the season we will be pleased with what this group produces. I have a very little doubts that this group will be an improvement on the Putz/Alexander duo of a season ago. How much of an improvement is the only thing I wonder about.
plummershelper
05-31-2006, 08:12 AM
I'm hoping Landon Trusty can make an impact. He's a big boy with blocking potential. I read that the Bolts fans were upset to have him go. Hopefully that can be good for us.
eddie mac
05-31-2006, 08:40 AM
I'm hoping Landon Trusty can make an impact. He's a big boy with blocking potential. I read that the Bolts fans were upset to have him go. Hopefully that can be good for us.
Who Rusty Trusty???
Gcver2ver3
05-31-2006, 08:44 AM
I'm excited about our prospects at tight end....
then again i'm excited about all of our prospects at every position...
but i'm objective enough to know we aren't "stacked" at TE...at this point TE is a position of weakness for us...but things could change of course...
alexander is a bit glorified in the article....first off...he was not a great blocker for us last year...i saw him blow assignments and get beat by rushers often last year....sadly he may be our best blocking TE....
eddie mac
05-31-2006, 08:46 AM
I dont know how on earth anyone can be exicted about our TE corps. Not one has done jack in this league/proven anything and yet we're left to rely on someone's idea of potential. I'm pretty sure every player drafted/signed as undrafted has a potential upside of some sort otherwise why would they even be considered to be among the 1500-1600 or so NFL players that play every regular season???
This is the weakest the Denver Broncos have been at TE in years. Jeb Putzier may not have been able to block but he could catch the ball and get open, neither Scheffler, Alexander or Duke have proven than in my eyes so I'll just wait and see how they do before calling them world-beaters.
Dukes
05-31-2006, 08:47 AM
Where did Putz end up anyways?
BroncoInferno
05-31-2006, 08:47 AM
Where did Putz end up anyways?
In Houston with Kubiak.
Paladin
05-31-2006, 08:54 AM
Tough audience.
DrFate
05-31-2006, 09:00 AM
Herc's got it right. This is a puff piece of titanic proportion. TE and RB are the weakest areas on this team (even more so than DLine).
Tom A Hawk
05-31-2006, 09:33 AM
I don't claim to know that much about who the best 3 in the NFL are, all I can say is that if a good vet, a project and a rookie are the best trio of any team in the NFL, everyone must have TE problems. But, who am I to judge?
RaiderH8r
05-31-2006, 09:34 AM
Can we hawk all of our potential for one Vernon Davis? Nope. Well sh!t.
bendog
05-31-2006, 09:58 AM
A long time ago, I heard this funny piece on a guy imitating a coach saying essentially, "it's true that we don't have a true no. 1 quartback, but we're really deep at the position overall."
Ballhawk
05-31-2006, 02:32 PM
I do like that Stiffler and Cutler are bunking together and hope they form a great connection in the future ala Bledsoe and Coates the early years.
As for our TEs as a whole, I still think Duke is raw with nothing happening so far to even say he has potential. Alexander is a decent blocker and most players do not seem to get better at anything on the other side of 30. Nate can not stay healthy and the rest ar scrubbish.
Dr. Broncenstein
05-31-2006, 02:54 PM
We have a journeyman, a project, and a crapshoot.. how can we possibly be considered "elite" in this position?
Atlas
05-31-2006, 04:43 PM
We have a journeyman, a project, and a crapshoot.. how can we possibly be considered "elite" in this position?
You just have to homer it up a little that's all. Once Gates and Duke get going they won't be stopped..... or so I keep telling myself.
SoCalBronco
05-31-2006, 07:51 PM
This article is a joke. Its the type of thing I would expect from the team site. The TE situation is probably the worst in the league. At best, it is maybe the 3rd or 4th worst. The starter is not respected at all as a pass catcher. The current primary backup did not start in Europe, the high draft pick does seem to have excellent hands and is a good athlete but, as with every other pick in the draft, has proven nothing and finally the last member of the rotation is always hurt and has not contributed anything substantial except for dressing up as Santa Claus for Eddie Mac's kids.
The situation as it stands is terrible and thats not reasonably in dispute. Basically, so far as TEs being a weapon in the passing game goes, we have to pin our hopes on a speedy development by Scheffler. We'll see alot of Double Bracket this year.
ludo21
05-31-2006, 07:56 PM
Tough audience.
LOL right
The upside is their, im going to go optimistic and say that the TE position will be fine this season.
OrangeShadow
05-31-2006, 07:57 PM
i think they have the POTENTIAL to be one of the best but its certainly premature at this point.
MechanicalBull
05-31-2006, 08:11 PM
When I read this article when it first came out I just thought this guy can't be serious. We have one vet and pretty much 2 rookies and Duke didn't even start in Europe. I know its a copy cat league and now every team is trying to turn the bball player into a TE, but we are more towards the bottom than the top of the league in the TE dept. I actually have more confidence in Scheffler and even Marshall if he does convert.
Tombstone RJ
05-31-2006, 08:12 PM
Ok, the article is a bit over optimistic, but the backlash here is just as overdone.
The Putz was nothing special. Period.
As for Alexander, he's a good role player.
The real question mark is Carswell, how will he play, what will he play?
As for Duke and Scheffler, jury is still out, but I like their potential.
watermock
05-31-2006, 08:13 PM
This Connor J. Byrne fella you keep quoting is quite the hack by the looks of these two articles you've posted. Questions our running game, but thinks we have a great stable of TEs? Try a veteran scrub who shouldn't even be in the damn league anymore, a second year UDFA who's just coming back from backing up in NFLE, and a 2nd round rookie. Ho damn! The league better watch out for this fearsome trio!
We'll be seeing a WR heavy passing attack this year, I think both Scheffler and Duke have real potential, but I don't expect either one to realize it immediately with their fist taste of NFL action.
****, I have a Tony Scheffler av. on here and I don't buy this junk.
It's not a trio, it's a triumverate! I want some, pass the pipe! I agree with everyone here...while Chef has obvious talent, it's totally hypothetical what impact he will have not only this year, but in two or three years. Alexander is a journeyman and Duke with all the hype of Billy Miller couldn't crack the starting lineup in NFLE. I hope this guy doesn't get paid.
The real question mark is Carswell, how will he play, what will he play?
Carswell MIGHT play backup tackle if he continues to progress, but it's 50/50 IMO.
wabbit
05-31-2006, 09:29 PM
Alexander is a journeyman. I'm not sold on this Wesley Duke kid at all, AND rookie Scheffler HAS to produce right away.
No, our TEs are a gamble at best...beefy WRs at worst.
I thought that guy was half-an-idiot when I read his RB article in your other thread, Atlas ... now I know he's a COMPLETE idiot.
TE is the weakest position on the Denver Broncos roster. Period.
many here said the same thing about the corner back position last season look how that turned out. This guy has just as much chance at being right about the tight-ends as you nay-sayers have of being correct in your negative assessment.
This time of year it is popular to talk down the team because many think it equates to not being a homer and shows large football knowledge. In reality no one here has a clue as to the quality of this years team but one thing is for certain Shanahan will field a better team that most here are predicting, he always does....