Yardbarker: Todd Heap

Who Will Be the Ravens’ Go-To Receiver in 2008?

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 11:29:21 -0500

There's much talk in the city regarding the Baltimore Ravens' quarterback situation, and rightfully so. A town that's never boasted a reliable starting quarterback deserves to clamor about regarding the new age movement at the position. But at some point, that question will be answered and a new question will take its place; who will be the team's go-to receiver? The obvious answer would be a tested veteran, and quickly lends itself to the portfolio of Todd Heap. But while he's been one of the most talented tight ends in the NFL, he's also been among its most injured. There are no statements from him or from the team that indicate he is back to 100 percent. Don't be surprised if this season, Todd Heap is again sidelined for a considerable amount of games. And then there's Derek Mason. The most reliable of the receiving corp, Mason led the team in catches, receiving yards and touchdowns in 2007. But Mason is also the oldest member of the corp, and the potential to lose a step is present in the minds of those clamoring for an offensive outbreak in 2008. Mark Clayton and Demetrius Williams offer the best potential for big play output, but have been limited in their opportunities by subpar quarterback play.They combined for 68 catches and 821 yards receiving, but zero touchdowns in 2007. Hard to gauge individual ability in such a small amount of exposure. So what's the answer? It's a veritable toss-up, but the nod goes to Derrick Mason. There's no telling the true scope of Heap's injuries, and the tandem of Clayton and Williams just haven't had the chances to show what they are all about. Look for Mason to continue being a deep threat for the Ravens, along with his ability to be a possession receiver.

Fantasy Football Tight End Ranking Breakdown: 1-10

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 08:07:29 -0500

It's come down to this – the ten best fantasy tight ends in the league. These are the guys you want on your roster, the guys that you plug in and forget about the position for the rest of the season (except on bye weeks, of course). So when the fourth or fifth round comes up, instead of picking up that second wideout, or grabbing a mid-tier QB, maybe start thinking about one of these guys. A good TE can make a lot of difference. So let's check out the ten best, after a short recap of 11-30.

Top 10 High Risk and High Reward Players

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 06:50:34 -0500

The top 10 of high risk and high reward players looks at players who have great potential this season but who have either had injury problems in the past or whose role could be reduced this year. Find out who made our list.

Fantasy analysis: Shockey to New Orleans

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 15:51:33 -0500

A bright future is ahead for Jeremy Shockey moving to New Orleans and playing with Drew Brees, predicts Roger Rotter. Jeremy Shockey's value increases with his expected trade to New Orleans. He jumps from 12th to seventh ahead of Todd Heap and behind Chris Cooley in my tight end rankings. Shockey arrives at a high-powered offense led by one of the game's most proficient quarterbacks, Drew Brees. Expect Shockey to be heavily featured in last year's Saints' No. 3 passing offense. He will likely be Brees' second-favorite target behind Marques Colston, offering a big target across the middle and serve as the Saints' best possession receiver. Read more by clicking the link.

War Room Scouts: Ranking the top 20 NFL tight ends

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:18:05 -0500

The modern NFL tight end can no longer get away with be a plodding, one-dimensional, nice-sized blocker and expect to stay on the field often for his team. Instead, the position has evolved as one for premier, basketball-style athletes whose teams hope they can change the entire dynamics of their passing offense. It's all about an impressive combination of size and speed that's hard to stop in both close quarters and on intermediate routes: 1. Antonio Gates, San Diego Chargers. Gates is the best receiving tight end in the business. He is a physical specimen who creates mismatches all over the field. 2. Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys. Became a certified superstar in 2007 with an awesome 96-reception season. He's a vertical threat and also Tony Romo's favorite target underneath, but Witten also has become a very effective blocker, which aids the Cowboys' running game. 3. Kellen Winslow, Cleveland Browns. With 171 receptions over the past two seasons, Winslow has finally become the star everyone projected him to be. His rare combination of size, speed, and athleticism makes him a matchup nightmare, and his ability to align just about anywhere on the field opens up several options for the Browns' offense. 4. Tony Gonzalez, Chiefs. Gonzalez is called upon to do more blocking in the latter stage of his career as the Chiefs' current offensive line is a shell of its former self. So while that curbs his statistics, he remains a consummate pro who can still change a game with his receiving skills when given the chance and is as good as most offensive tackles in taking on run-blocking assignments. 5. Jeremy Shockey, New York Giants. Shockey's greatest weaknesses are his head and his mouth. If he would just stop complaining long enough, he would be recognized for the outstanding receiving threat he is. He is also a better blocker than most think -- he just doesn't like to block. 6. Dallas Clark, Indianapolis Colts. Clark, an athletic pass-catcher, owns the middle of the field because of his ability to outrun linebackers and outmuscle safeties, and his football IQ allows him to excel in the Colts' read option system. Clark can stretch the seam and does enough as a blocker to allow the team to keep him in any game situation. 7. Heath Miller, Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers' change to a more pass-oriented attack in the red zone has created more opportunities for Miller. He is a top-flight end zone target, creates mismatches with his size in short and intermediate zones, and uses his body well to shield defenders. And because he plays for the Steelers, it's a given he excels as a run blocker. 8. Todd Heap, Baltimore Ravens. Injuries have gotten the better of Heap in two of the past four seasons. While he can't help the team from the sidelines, the fact that the Ravens already meager passing attack falls apart without him speaks volumes of his talents. Hands, speed, route-running, field vision -- he has it all. If Heap can somehow remain more durable, Cam Cameron's offense will be a boon for him. 9. Chris Cooley, Washington Redskins. More H-back than traditional tight end, Cooley is great around the ball, showing soft hands and the ability to find open field in zone coverage. He has deceptive speed, gets on defenders quickly and is underestimated as a deep threat. Cooley also blocks best in t he open field, as he lacks the strength and bulk to hold up as a physical inline blocker. 10. Alge Crumpler, Tennessee Titans. Crumpler comes to the Titans with some injury history and hasn't been an impact player with anyone other than Michael Vick under center. However, he has great size and can make plays in the open field. In the confines of the red zone, he also shows strength and power as a blocker. Vince Young relies heavily on his tight end, which could signal a needed rejuvenation for Crumpler. Winslow has finally become a star. 11. Randy McMichael, St. Louis Rams. McMichael is a big target in the middle of the field with great hands and enough speed to get behind linebackers in coverage. He is a strong blocker when aligned next to the tackle, but he is better sealing off linebackers in open field. Look for a bigger role for him in '08 as the Rams' wideout corps isn't what it used to be. 12. Benjamin Watson, New England Patriots. The arrival of wide receiver Wes Welker in the Patriots' spread sets has stolen some of Watson's thunder, but he remains a dangerous receiving threat in the middle of the field. 13. Desmond Clark, Chicago Bears. Clark's strength is his ability to read coverage and either find open field against zones or take routes deep on seams. He has all the tools to be a dangerous red zone threat and moves remarkably well for a 250-pounder. Greg Olsen is the Bears' heir apparent, and Clark needs a better QB, but he's still worthy of this ranking. 14. Owen Daniels, Houston Texans. Daniels is all pass catcher, capable of making plays both on deep balls to the perimeter and intermediate routes over the middle. He has great hands with which to make tough catches, but his blocking struggles and limited after-the-catch prowess keeps him in the middle of the pack. 15. Vernon Davis, San Francisco 49ers. An unbelievable athlete and an absolute physical stud who passes the eyeball test with flying colors. He has top-tier speed as a receiver, capable of stretching the field vertically. He also has an understanding of coverage beyond his years. He wins most one-on-one matchups, and is a strong inline blocker who has enough strength to set the edge in the running game. If Davis can stay healthy, he will break into the elite ranks. 16. L.J. Smith, Philadelphia Eagles. Smith was a top passing option for Donovan McNabb prior to '07 -- when he was healthy. He makes his home in the middle of the field and uses a soft pair of hands to catch most balls thrown his way. Smith isn't strong in traffic and lacks power as a blocker, but he is adequate in both areas. 17. Chris Baker, New York Jets. Baker has proved himself as both a receiver and a blocker in his time with the Jets, but his battle with team management and the arrivals of rookie Dustin Keller and former Packer Bubba Franks signal an end is near. Baker can still be a solid starter elsewhere. 18. Zach Miller, Oakland Raiders. There is little question about Miller's receiving skills, and his speed and quickness allow him to find openings in coverage unavailable to lesser athletes at his position. He's a 'tweener, however -- he can be an effective blocker only in open field. 19. Alex Smith, Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Smith is full of potential and natural physical tools for the position, but despite his blocking abilities, both in close quarters and at linebackers, his athleticism has not been on display in the passing game. 20. Michael Gaines, Detroit Lions. Is equal parts blocker and receiver, though he doesn't excel at either. The former Panther and Bill could flourish in the Lions' more balanced offensive scheme in '08. Maybe next year? The top breakout candidate to crack the top 20 for '09: Ben Utecht, Cincinnati Bengals. Utecht brings his knowledge and experience of working in multiple tight end sets to the Queen City. Critics say a viable receiving threat at the position has been something Carson Palmer has sorely missed. Talking to Palmer recently, he raved about what Utecht can do for the Bengals' offense and the opportunities he will help open up for the their talented perimeter receivers. If Palmer has reason to be excited, so do we.

Ravens Miss Deadline on Signing Terrell Suggs

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 12:44:45 -0500

Okay, no need to panic about the Baltimore Ravens missing the Tuesday deadline to ink franchise tagged Terrell Suggs to a deal. No need to worry, right? Or is there? Ravens' GM Ozzie Newsome says they'll have a deal in place, and Suggs has said he wants to be in Baltimore, but what about when other big time players come up for renegotiation? It's a question Newsome himself subconsciously entertained: "We view him like Ed Reed, Todd Heap, Ray Lewis and Jonathan Ogden," Newsome said. "He is one of those guys that we want to keep a Raven." Exactly. And that's the exact reason why more than a 'serious' offer should have been floated his way. And then Suggs himself is questioning how serious he is about a deal. "At this point, I don't know," Suggs said five months ago. "I love my teammates, and I want to be there for them. Before I make a decision, I'll talk to a lot of people. I'll confide in Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, see what they think I should do and what is best for everybody." He didn't sign the offer, so apparently there's a lot of thinking going on. It's clear that money is on players' minds more than ever, with revelations about pending strikes and money woes from the mouths of owners, they have to look out for their long term interests. Perhaps if Newsome wasn't so good at spying defensive talent, there wouldn't be a question of balancing the books between several sure-fire Hall-of-Fame players on the current payroll.

The Ravens’ Declaration of Dependence

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 11:49:37 -0500

When you think about the short history of the Baltimore Ravens, and weigh that against the long-standing relationship the City of Baltimore has with professional football, it's reasonable to say that this season means everything to the direction and future of this franchise. That's not to say that the Ravens should or could go to the Super Bowl, but they shouldn't be far from it. This is a team in flux at its most important position. It is a team that has seen its first Hall of Famer in Jonathan Ogden retire, with Ray Lewis' big goodbye soon to come. The Ravens are a team with a new direction in coaching, which owner Steve Bisciotti has promised is a direction to be taken on a long, steady path. This is a team with defensive identity, mirroring the blue collar essence of its fans, but not quite out of the shadow of its AFC North rival in Pennsylvania and Ohio. And its a fan base that thirsts for more. It's do or die time for the Ravens. Either the franchise determines its quarterback of the present and future, or it will face wavering support from the city. Either they get an offense good enough to keep close, or face blowout defeats courtesy of injured and aging superstars. Its easy to remember 2000, that magical year of the Ravens Super Bowl run. But since then, the squad has won one playoff game in three appearances. It's easy to remember Steve McNair's first season and the 13-3 record, but it's often forgotten that the 2006 season was only the Ravens second winning season in the last four years, and only the fifth winning season in the team's 12-years history. The Ravens are unique, in that they are straddling a fence between league obscurity and national prominence. A generation of fans have grown up knowing names like Ogden, Lewis and Todd Heap. The Pro Bowls speak for the individual accolades, but they haven't translated into annual contention for the Super Bowl. Perhaps you can thank Peyton Manning and Tom Brady for that, or you can blame the Ravens' lackluster effort to take their place among the elite. Everything depends on this season for the Ravens. And for a team to have everything depending on one season, you have to wonder about the body of work created by the other 11.

tcbailey24's Top 20 Tight Ends

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:48:36 -0500

With the 4th of my 7 part NFL series, I will give you my top 20 tight ends today. Tight end is a very unique position in today's NFL, as they are now a huge part of the offense in both blocking and receiving. Some are mainly blocking oriented, some are receiver oriented, and some can do both. Anyway, tight ends can really improve an offense immensely. 1.Antonio Gates, Chargers: Gates has been a premier TE in the game for a few years now, and he shows why every Sunday. His combination of size and athleticism make him very hard to cover and tackle, and therefore he records many TD's. 2.Jason Witten, Cowboys: Witten is a physical TE who puts up receiver-like numbers. His size helps him plow through defenders and his toughness does the rest. 3.Kellen Winslow, Browns: Winslow had a breakout year last season with Derek Anderson at the helm. He posted career bests in yards and TD's. He is also a pretty good blocker. kellen is also a soldier. 4.Dallas Clark, Colts: As usual, Clark had another solid year with the Colts, and caught 11 touchdown passes. He seems to do everything a TE is suppose to do well. 5.Tony Gonzalez, Chiefs: What can you say about Gonzo? He has achieved everything a tight end can hope for and still is playing at a high level today, even though he will enter his 12th season in two months. 6.Todd Heap, Ravens: Heap could probably be the definition of "solid." Even though he was out for a lot of the season last year, he was on pace for another good season. 7.Chris Cooley, Redskins: Cooley has a well-rounded game and has real good numbers for only being in the league for four years. 8.Heath Miller, Steelers: Miller is a young, physical tight end who can block well, and also be solid on the receiving end. 9.Tony Scheffler, Broncos: Tony has exceeded expectations in his first two years with the Broncos. Yes, he was supposed to be a decent pass catching TE, but he has flourished into a really good young talent. 10.Owen Daniels, Texans: Average sized tight end that has played much better than average in his first two seasons with Houston. I think we'll be poised for an even bigger season this year as the Texans make a run at their first playoff appearance in their history. 11.Ben Watson, Patriots: Watson doesn't have the best numbers due to Randy Moss and Wes Welker, but he is a tight end that can get it done when given the opportunity. He has some decent speed as well. 12.Jeremy Shockey, Giants: Shockey has always been a tough player who could throw a good block. His receiving skills are solid as well, but we will see how he comes off his injury. 13.Daniel Graham, Broncos: Graham is possibly the best, if not the best, blocking TE in the league. He fits well in Denver as he poses as an extra blocker for Denver running backs in the zone blocking system. He can also catch a few passes. 14.Vernon Davis, 49ers: Davis, like Gates, is an extremely athletic end and has improved in both seasons in the NFL, which is saying something when you don't have a decent QB throwing to you. 15.Greg Olsen, Bears: Olsen was a good performer for the Bears as a rook last season, and should get a bigger role this year, as he will be the Bears best pass catcher. 16.Zach Miller, Raiders: Miller was strong at the end of the year last season and I expect it to carry over to this season. If JaMarcus Russell can get him the ball, things for the Raiders O will improve all around. 17.L.J. Smith, Eagles: Smith has some good talent, and if he can become a better pass catcher, Smith could be a top 10 TE by the end of the season. 18.Marcedes Lewis, Jaguars: Lewis has good size and is able spread the D, and I think he could play a bigger role this year as the Jags try and make a run at the Super Bowl. 19.Kevin Boss, Giants: Boss has good upside and filled in for Jeremy Shockey very well last season when Shockey was injured. He also came up big in the Giants Super Bowl victory. 20.Alge Crumpler, Titans: Crumpler is a very dependable TE, who has good blocking size and is a decent receiver.

Bruno Boys Q & A - Positional Busts

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 22:15:05 -0500

In the realm of fantasy football, nothing is worst than having high expectations for a draft pick, only to see him shatter your championship dreams by not living up to the hype. Yet, it happens all too often where one or two busts leads to a season down the crapper. Shaun Alexander, anybody? Well, we here at Bruno Boys Fantasy Football want to make sure you're not stuck cussing out many of your team's guys. To that end, we present to you another fine addition of Bruno Boys Q & A with Bruno Boys Staff Writer, Chris Ziza. To read more of this fine article, please click the link below!

Fbkid's fantasy football top ten tight ends

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 12:49:49 -0500

In fantasy football, the tight end position is the deciding factor in many games. For instance, if your regular tight end is on a bye week and you are trailing by 4 points with your tight end playing on Monday Night. He only gets you 20 yards and you lose the game which could end up costing you a playoff birth. Tight end is a position that you can get good value in the 9th round but to get one of the elite like these guys, you will need to keep them in mind as they will start going off the board in the 4th or 5th round. If you don't get one of them there is no need to worry, but it will be hard finding other tight ends who could put up similar numbers. 1. Antonio Gates Chargers: Gates didn't have the numbers that were expected of him last year but he is still the number one fantasy tight end. With his great size, Gates if healthy is a lock for 8 touchdowns. Plus he catches around 75 passes a year. With those numbers, why wouldn't he be number one? Expect around 900 yards and 10 touchdowns. 2. Jason Witten Cowboys: Witten was the best fantasy tight end last year as he had over 95 catches for over 1100 yards to go along with 7 touchdowns. He should have another good year but it will be hard to repeat last year's numbers. Witten should be picked in the 5th or 6th round but could get picked higher by an owner who is listening to the Cowboys hype. Expect around 900 yards and 7 touchdowns. 3. Kellen Winslow Browns: Winslow has been very productive the last few seasons as he has had over 170 catches for almost 2000 yards and 8 touchdowns. The scary part is Winslow isn't even fully healthy. Last year he played with two bad knees and had a bad shoulder. If fully healthy, Winslow could become the best tight end in fantasy football. The only problem is he only scored 5 touchdowns. But if he gets another 80 catches for over 1000 yards, his owners won't be disappointed. Expect around 900 yards and 6 touchdowns. 4. Chris Cooley Redskins: Cooley is one of the most consistent tight ends in all of fantasy football as he is always good for at least 60 catches 700 yards and 6 touchdowns. Now Cooley is in the west coast offense and should have another big year as the Redskins aren't that strong at receiver. He is one of the most underrated fantasy tight ends and for that reason should be picked around the 8th round. Expect around 800 yards and 6 touchdowns. 5. Tony Gonzalez Chiefs: Gonzalez is one of the best tight ends of all time and should have another very good season. Due to the quarterback situation in Kansas City, many people expected Gonzalez to drop off last year. But he ended up with 99 catches for 1172 yards and 5 touchdowns. Gonzalez may not get many touchdowns this year, but is still among the league's elite at the position and should be highly coveted in leagues that you get points for receptions. Expect around 1000 yards and 4 touchdowns. 6. Dallas Clark Colts: On any other team, if Clark put up the numbers he did last year, he would be the number one tight end on fantasy football. But when you are on a team like the Colts, with loads of offensive weapons, you end up here. Clark is one of Manning's favorite targets, but with Reggie Wayne, Joseph Addai, Marvin Harrison and a developing Anthony Gonzalez, Clark won't have as many balls to go his way. That won't stop him from putting up good numbers though. Expect around 600 yards and 8 touchdowns. 7. Tony Sheffler Broncos: Even though he was recovering from a broken foot, Sheffler had a solid sophomore campaign as he had 549 yards for 5 touchdowns. He should improve this year though as he has a great connection with Jay Cutler. Plus, with the developing Brandon Marshall situation, Sheffler could be Cutler's number one option for a few games which would make him even more valuable. Expect around 700 yards and 5 touchdowns. 8. Todd Heap Ravens: If healthy Heap is one of the best tight ends in the league. The only problem is, that's a big if. Heap last year only played 6 games but in the process had 23 catches for 239 yards and a touchdown. Now his offensive coordinator is Cam Cameron who with the Chargers turned Antonio Gates into a star. Heap could be undervalued in most drafts and if he stays healthy, he will be a major steal. Expect around 700 yards and 4 touchdowns. 9. Heath Miller Steelers: Miller had a career season last year with 566 yards and 7 touchdowns. But why isn't he higher on the list? That's because he's very inconsistent. Miller will either get you 40 yards and a touchdown or one catch for 6 yards. Miller has loads of potential and if he gets more consistent could be higher on the list next year. Expect around 600 yards and 6 touchdowns. 10. Vernon Davis 49ers: So far Davis hasn't had the career many people expected. With great size and 4.4 speed, Davis was expected to come in right away and be an elite tight end. But with injury problems and the lack of quarterback play in San Francisco, his Under Armour ads are more memorable than his stat line. But Davis started to turn it around last year and with the way Mike Martz loves to pass, could have the year that people were expecting from the beginning. Davis could be among the top 5 tight ends on this list next year if he stays healthy. Expect around 600 yards and 5 touchdowns.

2008 Bruno Boys Fantasy Football Notes - Baltimore Ravens

Sat, 07 Jun 2008 01:39:06 -0500

After an impressive 2006 season, in which the Baltimore Ravens finished tied for the second best record in the NFL at 13-3 and came up just short against the potential Super Bowl Champs, the Indianapolis Colts, in an AFC divisional playoff game, 2007 began with high expectations. After all, the Ravens had the number one ranked defense in the NFL heading into 2007, so it appeared just a little more offense would do the trick and get them to the next level.

Ultimate FF Strategy's 2008 Tight End Rankings

Thu, 29 May 2008 10:21:52 -0500

Ultimate FF Strategy's 2008 Quaterback Rankings are now available. They include projections, a reward and a risk grade which are all used to make the rankings. Witten, Gates, Winslow and Gonzalez are the obvious top 4 but you will likely be surprised at who completes our top 5... You can find our Non-PPR rankings here: http://www.ultimateffstrategy.com/Rankings/te_noppr.htm

Baltimore Ravens injury update

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 14:45:00 -0500

Tight end Quinn Sypniewski injured his knee during today's practice. The injury may be serious, which is a shame because starter Todd Heap is bound to get injured as well at some point. Happens every year. Replacing Sypniewski: The Ravens may want to target Notre Dame TE John Carlson, who is a day-two guy in next weekend's NFL Draft, with good hands and sharp instincts. Not a good blocker. Or South Carolina's Andy Boyd, a nasty blocker who may slip through undrafted and be available as a free agent. Do we want a blocker or a pass catcher? Considering we don't have a proven QB, my guess is you go for a guy like Carlson, who can pluck balls when the QB checks down.

Fantasy Fiasco 2007: Tight Ends

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 11:39:41 -0500

Everyone knows Antonio Gates and Tony Gonzalez are the top two tight ends in fantasy football. After these studs, there is a group of players that usually provide owners solid fantasy production. Jeremy Shockey is considered a third draft pick among TE's. In the past, Todd Heap and Alge Crumpler were good for at least 100 points, and Randy McMichael was a popular sleeper pick. Shockey, Heap, Crumpler, and McMichael were huge disappointments. Let's take a look at what went wrong for them. The good news is that 2007 saw several young tight ends make a fantasy splash (Chris Cooley, Vernon Davis, Kellen Winslow), and their fantasy stock will rise in 2008.

Baltimore Ravens: The 2007 Fantasy Review

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 04:47:23 -0500

As the curtains close on a very disappointing season for the Baltimore Ravens, fantasy owners have a mixed bag of results to sift through. If you were invested in anyone throwing the ball, you were likely reaching for a crying towel. If you were an early investor in RB Willis McGahee or managed to sneak in WR Derrick Mason onto your 2007 team, then it wasn't such a bad year. With that being said, expect major personnel changes in Baltimore during the off-season. Their 5-11 record, despite a veteran-laden team resulted in the disposal of Coach Brian Billick and the subsequent hiring of incoming Head Coach John Harbaugh. Harbaugh is expected to bring a hard nosed attitude based on his previous job as secondary coach for the Philadelphia Eagles.