The Definitive TE Thread
 

What does definitive mean here? I don't know...so what! Let's get right to it...here's the stats for our three TEs on the roster:

[url=http://www.nfl.com/player/freddavis/216/profile]Fred Davis, TE for the Washington Redskins at NFL.com[/url]
[url=http://www.nfl.com/player/loganpaulsen/2507828/profile]Logan Paulsen, TE for the Washington Redskins at NFL.com[/url]
[url=http://www.nfl.com/player/nilespaul/2495211/profile]Niles Paul, WR for the Washington Redskins at NFL.com[/url]

My question for all Warpathers is whether you have confidence in this group (as is) going into the regular season?

Re: The Definitive TE Thread
 

Fred Davis is going to have a monster year IMO.

Paul may yet turn out to be very good at TE.

Re: The Definitive TE Thread
 

I'm still unsure about Paul but I can see him working out. I really like Davis and Paulsen. Davis is an absolute beast as a receiving threat and Paulsen is basically a throwback TE. He's been getting better as a receiver every year too.

Re: The Definitive TE Thread
 

Paul < an injured 30 year old CC. imho.

Re: The Definitive TE Thread
 

[quote=CrustyRedskin;935264]Paul < an injured 30 year old CC. imho.[/quote]

Eh. I haven't seen enough of Paul to make that assumption yet. Davis has basically morphed into Cooley in his prime, even bigger and better. I mean I dunno... Cooley IS pretty banged up and I'd say has less than 3 years left in the tank due to just getting hammered on the field these past few years.

That being said, I wouldn't be surprised if Paul ended up being a lemon.

Re: The Definitive TE Thread
 

Paul is a monster on special teams too tho .. as much as im gonna miss cooley and am pissed hes gone

Re: The Definitive TE Thread
 

[quote=The Goat;935256]What does definitive mean here? [/quote]
[url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/definitive]Definitive | Define Definitive at Dictionary.com[/url]

BOOM {microphone drop}


[SIZE="1"]Also, if Davis keeps his head straight I could see him making the Pro Bowl this year, especially since young QBs tend to lean on their TEs.[/SIZE]

Re: The Definitive TE Thread
 

^^ LOL thanks!

I agree Davis is ready for a monster season and more. Last year he was on track for about 1060 yards prior to the suspension, and that's with Rex/Beck under center hehe...we can laugh at our QB situation the last two years right (now that we have RGIII)? Davis is our best downfield target and I hope both coaches and RGIII realize it and go to him constantly.

Paulsen is actually our biggest receiver now at 6-5 and 260 + lbs. He's our best blocking TE and has shown excellent hands in limited work. I hope we integrate him into the offense more! He's a so-far reliable, big target who will punish DBs, hopefully softening them up for our RBs and WRs. I'm gonna call him Lunchpail Logan!

Pretty hard to evaluate Paul at this point. It's curious he didn't get more looks at WR because we lack a bigger/stronger guy at the position who can run through contact prior to the pass and then break tackles etc. Maybe Paul can be a mini Davis...but you kinda hope he never sees the field then, right?

Re: The Definitive TE Thread
 

Every time I see Paul he's dropping a pass. Jury is still out.

Davis is a stud

Re: The Definitive TE Thread
 

[quote=The Goat;935276]^^ LOL thanks!

I agree Davis is ready for a monster season and more. Last year he was on track for about 1060 yards prior to the suspension, and that's with Rex/Beck under center hehe...we can laugh at our QB situation the last two years right (now that we have RGIII)? Davis is our best downfield target and I hope both coaches and RGIII realize it and go to him constantly.

Paulsen is actually our biggest receiver now at 6-5 and 260 + lbs. He's our best blocking TE and has shown excellent hands in limited work. I hope we integrate him into the offense more! He's a so-far reliable, big target who will punish DBs, hopefully softening them up for our RBs and WRs. I'm gonna call him Lunchpail Logan!

Pretty hard to evaluate Paul at this point. It's curious he didn't get more looks at WR because we lack a bigger/stronger guy at the position who can run through contact prior to the pass and then break tackles etc. Maybe Paul can be a mini Davis...but you kinda hope he never sees the field then, right?[/quote]

I want to see 2 TE sets. It's clear Shanny has tried to add speed and athleticism to the offense, so they should exploit that. If Paul can learn to catch, him and Snoop Dog Davis are going to be tough to handle.

Re: The Definitive TE Thread
 

I think we have a solid group.

Re: The Definitive TE Thread
 

This group has alot of potential & the fact that some of them can play multiple spots is great IMO. These 3 guys will be active every game.

Re: The Definitive TE Thread
 

Good grief, if Cooley was willing to take backup money he'd be on the roster not Paul. People acting like it came down to Paul just being picked over Cooley, are forgetting how much money Cooley makes.

Re: The Definitive TE Thread
 

[quote=44Deezel;935284]Every time I see Paul he's dropping a pass. Jury is still out.[/quote]

Agreed! I just don't see TE material.

But as Meks said, he's a monster on teams.

Re: The Definitive TE Thread
 

[quote=backrow;935366]Agreed! I just don't see TE material.

But as Meks said, he's a monster on teams.[/quote]

Maybe he can be the new Ade Jimoh.

Re: The Definitive TE Thread
 

paul may be gone next year. paulsen is okay, but nothing special, fred is a get pass catcher but horrid blocker. it's a flawed group, but not a bad one. if paul doesn't learn to catch real quick though he'll be 3rd string on bench warming for most of the year.

Re: The Definitive TE Thread
 

There was very little evidence in the preseason that showed that Niles Paul has great potential as a TE. His hands are weak. Paulsen seemed to outperform him from what I remember in catching the ball.

Keeping Niles Paul is all about creating mismatches. But a mismatch cannot make up for drops. No way is he better than Cooley at this point, no way...could he be?...sure...but so could paulsen or any other young TE for that matter. I always prefer a bird in hand though. To me, Niles Paul is a 3rd string TE after paulsen at this point, primarily due to his drops...which is appalling considering he was a WR!

Re: The Definitive TE Thread
 

The positive thing about Niles Paul is he's very strong. For a tight end, he would be faster than most. OLBs will not be able to stay with him in coverage. That works out as an advantage for the Redskins offense. Mike Shanahan knew what he was doing when he made Paul a TE.

Re: The Definitive TE Thread
 

[quote=skinsnut;935381]There was very little evidence in the preseason that showed that Niles Paul has great potential as a TE. His hands are weak. Paulsen seemed to outperform him from what I remember in catching the ball.

Keeping Niles Paul is all about creating mismatches. But a mismatch cannot make up for drops. No way is he better than Cooley at this point, no way...could he be?...sure...but so could paulsen or any other young TE for that matter. I always prefer a bird in hand though. To me, Niles Paul is a 3rd string TE after paulsen at this point, primarily due to his drops...which is appalling considering he was a WR![/quote]

Agreed. All that weight he put on must have been in his hands. And he was drafted as a Receiver? Carlos Rogers has better hands.

Re: The Definitive TE Thread
 

Been watching Paul more closely. He had solid blocks every time I watched last night. Jury is out on his hands, but I have seen enough to think he's no Rod Gardner. Bottom line, I don't think he is nearly as bad at TE as some make him out to be. He's had four preseason games at the position - I suspect he will improve in all aspects of his game at the position as the season rolls on.

Unfortunately, I think Paul suffers from the perception that the team kept him rather than Cooley when, from all reports, Cooley's end here was pretty much a given before camp even started - Paul or no Paul.

Re: The Definitive TE Thread
 

Actions speak louder than words, and if the coaches are comfortable releasing Capt. Chaos in week 4 of the preseason, then they obviously are very comfortable with the overall talent we have at the position.

Re: The Definitive TE Thread
 

[quote=skinsnut;935381]There was very little evidence in the preseason that showed that Niles Paul has great potential as a TE. His hands are weak. Paulsen seemed to outperform him from what I remember in catching the ball.

Keeping Niles Paul is all about creating mismatches. But a mismatch cannot make up for drops. No way is he better than Cooley at this point, no way...could he be?...sure...but so could paulsen or any other young TE for that matter. I always prefer a bird in hand though. To me, Niles Paul is a 3rd string TE after paulsen at this point, primarily due to his drops...which is appalling considering he was a WR![/quote]

He had a bad game of drops in one preseason game. He said it was b/c, in learning a new position, he got away from his routine of catching 50 balls before practice and 100 after. Last night, he had one drop on three targets (one bounced off a defenders head). Are his hands suspect? maybe. I think, however, they are not nearly as bad as being made out to be and will improve. He is faster and stronger than Cooley and a ST demon. My bet is that he will be, by season's end, a significant contributor.

Re: The Definitive TE Thread
 

It can't be denied that Paul has shown suspect hands in the preseason. However, his hands are better than he has shown. Perhaps he is just adapting to his new position and is thinking too much. Methinks that he needs the game to slow down for him. Then he can play more naturally and his hands will improve.

Re: The Definitive TE Thread
 

Fred Davis is our clear pass-catching TE. Niles Paul had good blocking skills as a WR, so I think that will be his role more than receiving. Blocking is the strength of his game at the TE position.

His speed is exceptional for a TE, so there will be some big plays, but I don't think we coverted Paul to TE to catch passes, it was to block.

He'll do fine in the role.

I'd love to see him return some kicks too. He can just run people over with his size and speed. Look how hard he hits when playing kick coverage. It will be the same on returns, only he'll have the ball in his hands.

Re: The Definitive TE Thread
 

for the record, i like paul, i think he's one of the top 53 players we have in camp, so he deserves a spot.

that said, this season, i think he's basically a good special teamer that will throw a block or two for the offense. anything else is a bonus. and maybe he does get it figured out and stud it up (it is his first attempt at TE), but if he doesn't (and we shouldn't expect it just as a generality), he's still going to help the team this year and be a solid player, just maybe not with the breakout performance that was hyped.

Re: The Definitive TE Thread
 

I'm surprised there isn't more discussion on Paulsen now that Cooley is gone...

Re: The Definitive TE Thread
 

I agree, Davis should be a beast this year if he stays off the weed.

Any concerns that he hasn't been targeted much in any preseason games?

Re: The Definitive TE Thread
 

[quote=ethat001;935691]I agree, Davis should be a beast this year if he stays off the weed.

Any concerns that he hasn't been targeted much in any preseason games?[/quote]

Yeah at first take I was worried, but I think more of the theme in pre-season has been getting the ball to the newer guys. That's what I hope anyway.

Re: The Definitive TE Thread
 

I honestly don't think we should be comparing Cooley vs Paul the real comparison is with Paulson. In the last few years we have seen Paulson keep improving and now he as at a point in which he has surpassed Cooley at that position. Add in the fact that he is a hell of a lot cheaper and they you go, the reason Cooley had lost his job.

From what we have read in the training camp coverage Paul was backing up Davis, meaning there are two different TE positions.

Paul also possess something else a 3rd string TE has to have, great special teams play.

Re: The Definitive TE Thread
 

I would love to see the skins use Fred Davis more like Aaron Hernandez. I feel like they are similar players, both are basically large wide receivers who don't block well. Doesn't New England generally use him as a slot receiver? I guess we'll still need someone to take the basic TE role.

Re: The Definitive TE Thread
 

[quote=44Deezel;935284]Every time I see Paul he's dropping a pass. Jury is still out.[/quote]

This. His hands are terrible.

Re: The Definitive TE Thread
 

[quote=44Deezel;935284]Every time I see Paul he's dropping a pass. Jury is still out.[/quote]

Well, then you haven't been watching b/c he is tied with Briscoe this preseason as the 4th WR (behind Garcon, Morgan and Robinson - and ahead of Hankerson, Banks, Austin and Armstrong).

He has dropped a couple, but he has also caught a fair share.

Re: The Definitive TE Thread
 

Saying Paul has been targeted regularly doens't address drops, it just means coach/QB is trying to get him as much work as possible.