The tight end position is on the rise in the NFL as more teams like find two tight end sets to be an effective variation of three receiver sets and allo for greater rushing versatility. Do the Jags have a group of tight ends that can measure up to what the opposition can bring?

1. 

   Two tight end sets have become powerful in the modern NFL. Will they last for 2012? Source: David Butler II-US PRESSWIRE

   Rob Gronkowski/Aaron Hernandez, New England Patriots:  It’s very tough to argue against the production of Hernandez and Gronk.  The Patriots’ high flying tight ends don’t have to block well for runners because they are too busy catching touchdowns.  Used more like heavy receivers than anything else, the Patriots have the most talented tight ends in the league.

2. Jermichael Finley, Green Bay Packers:  Like the Patriots the Packers have a very strong receiving target at the tight end position.  Finley can make al the grabs, can block effectively, and forces defenses to scheme to him.  He is missing a second component for 2012 but will have plenty of relief from the outside receiving targets that stock the Packers roster.
3. Owen Daniels/Garrett Graham, Houston Texans:  The Texans don’t have to use two tight ends to beat you, but they can take their pick from a position with some good depth.  The real force behind the strength of their tight end position is that both players fit very well with their passing attack and zone blocking scheme – allowing Ben Tate and Arian Foster to run wild while still presenting a legitimate receiving threat.
4. Brandon Pettigrew/Tony Scheffler, Detroit Lions:  Pettigrew is a great target for Matt Stafford and presents a big red zone threat against opposing defenses.  Tony Scheffler has a strong reputation the league over and helps to take some of the heat off Pettigrew when needed.  The Lions have Calvin Johnson on the outside, but don’t overlook what they have at tight end or the opposition gets beat.
5. Dustin Keller, New York Jets:  Keller has quietly put together some very good seasons for the Jets.  If Tebow ends up making the field at any point, look for Keller to be heavily involved.  He is the outlet for Mark Sanchez that somehow keeps them in playoff contention.
6. Jared Cook, Tennessee Titans:  Cook could have a big year if Jake Locker ends up starting for the season.  He blocks very effectively (when CJ2K feels like running) and also presents a nice target for the quarterback.
7. Jermaine Gresham, Cincinnati Bengals:  Jermaine Gresham will be joined by ex-Packer Donald Lee this season but will undoubtedly overshadow the journeyman tight end.  Gresham has become a favorite of Andy Dalton and helped to make Cedric Benson look like a real running back last year.
8. Marcedes Lewis, Jacksonville Jaguars:  Lewis could have been two or three on this list if he had replicated his 2010 numbers in 2011.  With the struggling Blaine Gabbert at quarterback, Lewis has failed to become the outlet a young quarterback needs.  A strong blocker, his help on the line can’t be overlooked in light of Maurice Jones-Drew’s rushing title season.  He needs to get better at the little things.
9. Anthony Fasano, Miami Dolphins:  I like Fasano though a lot of people could disagree with me.  He isn’t the most productive tight end in the world but he gets it done on the field when called on.
10. Kellen Davis, Chicago Bears:  For a pass-heavy team, Davis doesn’t accumulate many yards or many receptions. He isn’t the best target off the line and isn’t great in pass protecting.  I also suspect that Matt Forte’s success on the ground comes more from his skills than blocking contributions from Davis.
11. Scott Chandler, Buffalo Bills:  Chandler has done little to separate himself from the pack of tight ends in the NFL.  If his blocking contributes to a breakout season for C.J. Spiller then this conversation may go another way.
12. 

    If Rudolph ups his game in 2012 he could be a powerful force for the Vikings and could aid Christian Ponder as he grows. Source: Brace Hemmelgarn-US PRESSWIRE

    Kyle Rudolph, Minnesota Vikings:  Essentially asked to block for the Vikings’ running backs, Rudolph does decently in that regard.  Like Lewis though he has failed to become the outlet that Christian Ponder needs as he develops.

13. Brandon Myers, Oakland Raiders:  Myers is a depressing starting option for the Raiders.  Tight end should be a position of need heading into the season for Oakland.
14. Coby Fleener, Indianpolis Colts:  Coby Fleener was a very, very good prospect in the 2011 draft.  He teams up with fellow Stanford draftee Andrew Luck to try and replicate their college success in the NFL.  I don’t think that is  a good thing.  I like Fleener’s skills and hope to be surprised but am not expecting anything.

The Jaguars play some really good tight ends and some very….mediocre tight ends throughout the season.  Marcedes Lewis needs to prove he’s worthy of being the top target for the Jaguars again because his 2011 season was a major down year.  It will be curious to see if the two tight end set is as effective in 2012 as it was in 2011 now that some teams are taking more steps to address the attack.

- Luke N. Sims

Check out our other roster strength analysis: QB, RB

Feel free to leave comments on here or visit us at Facebook or Twitter!

You can also find me on Twitter @LukeNSims

For years the Texans were the joke of the AFC South.  Heck, they were the joke of the NFL.  Ok, maybe not that bad, the Lions were still playing then too.  But this year they finally came alive and lived up to the potential that had been building for the past three seasons.  I recently said that Houston should have won the Superbowl this past year, and would have, if they had Matt Schaub under center.  It’s really unfortunate that they were forced to start a rookie, T.J. Yates, that wasn’t expected to contribute for a very long time, if ever at all.

The Texans are loaded.  They have a very good receiving corps in Andre Johnson (arguably the best receiver in the NFL), Kevin Walter, and Jacoby Jones; a strong (and under-appreciated) tight end in Owen Daniels; Matt Schaub (would he have hit 5,000 yards last year?); and a strong tandem running duo in Arian Foster and Ben Tate.

Oh, and that was just the offense.

Yes, I did just say you were awesome. Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

This past year, the perennial achilles heel of the Texans was fixed by Wade Phillips and his transition to the 3-4.  Suddenly the defensive backs knew how to cover wide receivers, the outside linebackers were creating pressure, the front three held their gaps and allowed plays to be made, and the team was able to come together to create turnovers and capitalize on them through the explosive offense.  J.J. Watt, Brooks Reed, Brian Cushing, Mario Williams, Johnathan Joseph, everyone has become a star in the new system.

They appear almost completely dominant.

So how can the Jags beat the Texans in 2012?

• Pass Often – In the Texans’ seven losses, counting playoffs, during the 2011 season, five of them occurred in games where the opponent attempted 33 or more pass attempts.  The outliers being the Panthers with Cam Newton (166 yards rushing from their unique offense), and the second game against the Ravens in the playoffs.  Even when a team was inefficient in passing, like the Raiders (15 of 35 for 190 yards), the opposition still manages to win.  It may be because the defensive backfield of the Texans isn’t as stellar as their front seven, or it may just be that the constant running back and forth is exhausting for a defense that isn’t conditioned well enough.  Who knows?  But even when not efficient, it appears to work.  Even the anemic Colts offense won their first game agains the Texans behind 41 pass attempts, only completing 23 of them.
• Pass Efficiently – The teams that beat the Texans, usually, had efficient passing games.  The Raiders, when they connected, brought themselves into field goal range (Janikowski had four in the game), the Saints rocked a 70% completion percentage, Joe Flacco put up 60% in the regular season, and even the Colts managed above 50%.  Meanwhile, Blaine Gabbert completed 30% and 50% in his two match-ups against Houston.  The only team to beat Houston while completing below 50% of their passes was Oakland, and they managed to set up their special teams to win in that game, despite the 416 passing yards the Texans put up.
• Get Scobee Kicking – Janikowski was able to lead the Raiders to victory behind four field goals.  But even more impressive is the 92% of kicks that Scobee sends through the uprights.  He only missed two kicks all year, both above forty yards away and one beyond fifty.  The team needs to take points when it can, and if the offense isn’t working, it’s worth sending out the kicker to give it a go.  If he misses, the defense will have to be relied on, but really Scobee has proven he is a crutch that the Jags can lean on when need be.

Is it possible that this is all a long shot?  Of course.  But the Jags have two games a year to focus solely on the Texans.  Worst case, they get swept by Houston again.  But I’d go out swingin’.  Maybe the defense won’t be as strong in 2012, or maybe Maurice Jones-Drew won’t be nursing a secret injury.  A lot of things could change.

I’m counting on Blaine Gabbert’s arm to pull us out of the hole.

- Luke N. Sims

Welcome to the last installment of Taking the Division, a feature on the weekly What’s Next.  Last week we took a look at how the Colts will finally fall to the Jacksonville Jaguars, two weeks ago we looked at how the Tennessee Titans will also fall beneath the power of the Jags.  This week, we’ll be looking at how Matt Schaub and co over in Houston will valiantly try to overthrow the Jags in their battle red uniforms, but will ultimately fail.

Follow the jump to find out how the Jacksonville Jaguars take the division!

(more…)