NFL 2010 Preview: Antonio Gates, TE San Diego Chargers
Antonio Gates, TE San Diego Chargers

In today's NFL, more teams are factoring the tight end into the offense.

In 2009, NFL tight ends broke the single-season records for the most receptions (2,249), receiving yards (24,659) and touchdown catches (189) for the position.

A record 14 tight ends caught at least 50 passes last year, eclipsing the previous high of 12 in 2005.

"It's a position of importance now as scouting departments put teams together," says Houston Texans head coach GARY KUBIAK. "They are weapons now. Tight ends used to block and catch 35 balls a year; now these guys are catching 80 balls and gaining 1,000 receiving yards. It's a premium position in football."

General managers and scouts have picked up on the trend. A record 21 tight ends were selected in the 2010 NFL Draft, including nine in the first four rounds. Four teams drafted two tight ends apiece.

Few are in a position to understand the value of the tight end better than Baltimore Ravens general manager and executive vice president OZZIE NEWSOME, who is one of seven tight ends to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Newsome's Ravens selected a pair of tight ends in back-to-back rounds of the 2010 NFL Draft: Oregon's ED DICKSON (Round 3, No. 70 overall) and Brigham Young's DENNIS PITTA (Round 4, No. 114 overall).

"There are a number of reasons that tight ends are catching so many balls right now," says Newsome, who played 13 NFL seasons (1978-1990). "We are getting a lot of good, young tight ends who are ready to play because of the pro-style offenses colleges are running these days. These players have the right size. They are 6-4 and weigh 260-270 pounds, and they can run. They can line up tight and block and you can split them out as a big receiver. And they do all of it well."

The versatility of today's tight ends causes matchup problems for the defense, which is crucial in the NFL's never-ending chess game between offensive and defensive coordinators.

"A record number of tight ends were picked partly because that is where the league has gone -- the athletic, all-around kind of player who gives you value on special teams and on offense," says Cleveland Browns scout BOB MORRIS. When an offense trots out a two-tight end, two-receiver personnel group, the defense must be ready for anything, particularly when one or both of the tight ends is a receiving threat.

"You can run out of that formation, but you can also split out one of those tight ends and have a mismatch on a linebacker," says Morris. "That is the value of those guys. If a defense is worried about the pass, that will naturally open room to run the football."

The 14 tight ends that caught at least 50 passes during the 2009 season:

NFL Tight ends that caught at least 50 passes during 2009 season

Player Team Receptions Yards TDs
Source: NFL
Dallas ClarkIndianapolis1001,10610
Jason WittenDallas941,0302
Tony GonzalezAtlanta838676
Antonio GatesSan Diego791,1578
Vernon DavisSan Francisco7896513
Kellen WinslowTampa Bay778845
Brent CelekPhiladelphia769718
Heath MillerPittsburgh767896
Zach MillerOakland668053
Greg OlsenChicago606128
Visanthe ShiancoeMinnesota5656611
Jermichael FinleyGreen Bay556765
Todd HeapBaltimore535936
John CarlsonSeattle515747

 

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NFL 2010 Football: NFL Tight Ends Making Bigger Impact