I must be too worried about our situation at TE. I saw two disturbing trends over the past two weeks, one obvious, one not so. Jordan Cameron's drops are the obvious. But it's part of a not-so-obvious trend of leaving us in un-managagable down and distance. As better as this offense is, right now it is not very good at 2nd and 3rd and 10. Right now if we throw to Cameron, it would have to be in a manageable down, where if he drops it, we still live for another play. So maybe 1st and 5 or 2nd and less than 5. Right now, a drive killer could be throwing to him on 1st or 2nd down and 10 to go or just plain overall on 3rd. Apparently Cameron caught an amazing pass on Aikens yesterday, but mentally he has to catch against an opponent. I hope he plays a lot this week. I can't believe we are worried about his drops, when all of his career before this , the debate was could he stay healthy enough to actually be on the field
We keep hearing that TEs are vitally important to Gase's offense. My guess is that they serve the dual function of spacing (middle seam routes keeping safeties from doubling outside) and as chain movers providing easier short, middle throws for the QB. But none of that works if the TEs drop the ball. I wonder about Cameron's strength? I think that injuries and difficulty making contested catches is suggestive of low functional strength. I heard that they wanted him to improve his ability to make contested catches, but I don't know what they did towards that end. It could just be a matter of focus if he is making the catches in practice but not in the games (consistently, not just occasionally). I'm sure Gase is hoping it's just in Cameron's head.
The dropped passes are almost ancillary to all the other issues. If he were just dropping passes in camp/preseason it would be one thing, but you're holding out hope he matches a career season years ago that may very well likely have been a fluke situation. Meanwhile, he's a risk to suffer season or career-ending and rehabilitating injury, and he can't block worth a ****.
I agree with you about inportance. That is why Gase is not giving up. No doubt about ability, just his head is not right. Maybe afraid of a concussion again. If he can get on track, man this offense could open up the play book more Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
We also don't have anything better behind him. So we have to hope he's at least decent this year. Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk
Take a look at the 2013 and 2014 highlights from Peyton in Denver. You'll get a good sense of what Julius Thomas is doing. He's much bigger than Cameron or so it would seem which might indicate we're over-rating Cameron's value, particularly in the red zone. Remember, Thomas didn't make a lot of noise between the 20s. It was as a red zone mis-match that made him dangerous. I remember Thomas on my FF team. He would catch 2 balls but at least one always seemed to be for a score, lol. It was insane for awhile. Just checked the stats. Thomas averaged 4 catches a game. He also scored 24 times in his 27 games in Denver. By way of comparison, Cameron last year grabbed about 3 balls a game. He had about the same YPC as Thomas had in Denver. The difference is in scoring. While Thomas scored 12 times a season, Cameron only scored twice. In fact, Cameron has only scored 12 TDs in his entire career! He's just not as big as Thomas and not as much value in the red zone. In his only big year (2013 Cle) he scored 7 times. Still way under Thomas who scored 24 in his two years starting in Denver. Thomas still scored 5 times last year with the Jags in 12 games.
If the line blocks like we all hope it can, can the lack of a good pass catching TE be mitigated with a combo of Foster, Grant and maybe Caroo?
I'm wondering if Jordan Cameron is a bit messed up from past injuries and/or concussions. In the 2 years before arriving in Miami, he had 3 concussions, as well as a few other minor injuries. And since arriving in Miami, he hasn't been the same player. http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...rdan-cameron-say-concussions-arent-a-concern/
He looks extremely hesitant when it's a play down the middle.. maybe if you line him up outside he is a little more confident but the guy is definitely hearing footsteps first, looking at the ball second..
Take a look at the 2013 and 2014 highlights from Peyton in Denver. You'll get a good sense of what Julius Thomas is doing. He's much bigger than Cameron or so it would seem which might indicate we're over-rating Cameron's value, particularly in the red zone. Remember, Thomas didn't make a lot of noise between the 20s. It was as a red zone mis-match that made him dangerous. I remember Thomas on my FF team. He would catch 2 balls but at least one always seemed to be for a score, lol. It was insane for awhile. Just checked the stats. Thomas averaged 4 catches a game. He also scored 24 times in his 27 games in Denver. By way of comparison, Cameron last year grabbed about 3 balls a game. He had about the same YPC as Thomas had in Denver. The difference is in scoring. While Thomas scored 12 times a season, Cameron only scored twice. In fact, Cameron has only scored 12 TDs in his entire career! He's just not as big as Thomas and not as much value in the red zone. In his only big year (2013 Cle) he scored 7 times. Still way under Thomas who scored 24 in his two years starting in Denver. Thomas still scored 5 times last year with the Jags in 12 games. good post. you actually make a good case for a TE out of the blue, like Julius Thomas, to emerge. Maybe Sims, maybe Duarte Just checked the stats. Thomas averaged 4 catches a game. He also scored 24 times in his 27 games in Denver. By way of comparison, Cameron last year grabbed about 3 balls a game. He had about the same YPC as Thomas had in Denver. The difference is in scoring. While Thomas scored 12 times a season, Cameron only scored twice. In fact, Cameron has only scored 12 TDs in his entire career! He's just not as big as Thomas and not as much value in the red zone. In his only big year (2013 Cle) he scored 7 times. Still way under Thomas who scored 24 in his two years starting in Denver. Thomas still scored 5 times last year with the Jags in 12 games.[/QUOTE]
According to Wikipedia, both Cameron and Sims are 6'5" and 250 lbs. I would never have guessed Cameron was as big as Thomas. Maybe that's wrong? Wiki says Sims is 265. Based on footage, Thomas seems way bigger. Credit to his play I guess. He does have a basketball background. I wish Miami had a better selection of weapons in the red zone. Parker and Cameron are the only guys with size advantages. Both need to step up.
I was talking strictly about receivers that (with their size) can create mis-matches. RBs don't fit that mold although I believe Foster can be productive both as a runner and receiver. Ideally, we'd get to see Jordan Cameron flourish in the red zone. Ideally, the TE comes to life in that area because size is critical (particularly when you don't have Peyton knowing exactly where to go at all times!). Unfortunately, Cameron has not be a spectacular red zone weapon at any point in his career. His strength lies more in how much like a WR he looks between the 20s. As far as Sims and Duarte, I think we're both hoping they emerge. Sims is a little more stout than Cameron and (I think) has the ability to box-out DBs as well if not better than Cameron. Duarte, IDK, we'll have to wait and see on that one.
