http://www.yardbarker.com/content/player/3683 Recent articles about Ben Troupe en-us Tight end is a position that Bruce Allen, and Jon Gruden felt they needed some upgrades at this offseason.  Gone is mainstay Anthony Becht, and he has been replaced by two free agent acquisitions.  The TE spot is a position that Gruden loves to utilize in his offense, with lots of multiple tight end sets in both throwing and running downs.  Currently on the Roster - Daniel Fells, John Gilmore, Alex Smith, Jerramy Stevens, Tyrice Thompson, Ben Troupe Gauranteed Roster Spots - John Gilmore, Alex Smith, Ben Troupe John Gilmore was brought in to replace the blocking that Anthony Becht brought to the table.  Gilmore is an excellent run blocker, and a solid chip blocker on passing downs.  Alex Smith will start for the 2nd straight season, and looks to expand on his 32 catch, 385 yard season.  He has yet to establish himself as a go to downfield threat, or even a red zone threat at this point in his career.  Three touchdowns for a tight end in our offense is not sufficient.   Ben Troupe has a ton of upside, and a ton of speed.  He has the ability to stretch defenses down the middle of the field.  He had a 55 catch 530 yard season in 2005, but has been plagued by injuries since then.  A tag team receiving tandem of Alex Smith and Ben Troupe has the ability to really open up the sidelines for our receivers on passing downs.  No Chance - Daniel Fells, Tyrice Thompson Battling for Roster Spots - Jerramy Stevens Stevens finished the season real strong for the Bucs, that culminated in the game winning touchdown vs the Saints.  The last two games of the season he had 8 catches for 103 yards and 3 touchdowns.  Everyone has harped on his troubled past, and rightfully so, but the coaching staff and players seem to like Stevens.  He should have a solid chance of making the team, although I'm not sure who he might unseat!   Wed, 23 Jul 2008 22:53:20 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/294684 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/294684 The Titans overhauled their TE position this offseason. Familiar faces such as Ben Troupe and Ben Hartsock have been replaced by the likes of Alge Crumpler, Craig Stevens and a familiar name from the past, Dwayne Blakley. Let's take a look at the players competing for playing time at TE next year. Mon, 14 Jul 2008 09:29:56 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/290136 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/290136 The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' offense could have withstood a facelift before last season, and can certainly make use of one now. There were no legitimate questions surrounding Jeff Garcia's ability to perform sufficiently as a QB2, but he did not offer the upside that owners typically look for in the middle rounds of their draft. Some hung their hopes on third-year running back Cadillac Williams, but he sustained a hideous, season-ending knee injury (torn patellar tendon) in Week 4 against the Carolina Panthers that left his owners scrambling for Michael Pittman and then, Earnest Graham, who along with Derek Anderson and Ryan Grant, was one of the three hottest free agent grabs of the season. Joey Galloway posted numbers atypical of a 35-year-old receiver, and Ike Hilliard scored his fourth touchdown in four years as he solidified himself as one of the best starting wideouts that no one wants on their fantasy team. Alex Smith, just like his quarterback counterpart, was also not worth owning, combining with Hilliard to give Garcia that aforementioned minimal upside. Matt Bryant was a benefactor of the overly deliberate offense, turning in a career season by converting 28 of 33 field goal attempts. The Bucs' Team Defense tied the Indianapolis Colts in allowing the fewest points, the likely result of playing against NFC South offenses that sputtered for most of the season. Make sure to read more of what Bruno Boys Fantasy Football staff writer Jesse Burkhart has to say about the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and their fantasy football worthy players heading into the 2008 season by clicking below... Wed, 09 Jul 2008 21:03:15 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/288280 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/288280 The Titans placed a high priority on upgrading the tight end position this offseason. First, they acquired the services of former Pro Bowl TE Alge Crumpler during the opening days of free agency. They later swapped tight ends with the Falcons, losing Ben Hartsock to Atlanta while picking up former Falcon/Titan Dwayne Blakley. For the icing on the cake, California TE Craig Stevens was a surprise selection in the third round of April's draft. All of these moves were made despite the presence of last year's starting TE, Bo Scaife, already on the roster. With only a year remaining on his current deal, will Bo Scaife step up in 2008, or will he follow in the footsteps of Ben Troupe, another talented TE drafted by the Titans who was eventually tossed asunder? Fri, 27 Jun 2008 10:00:40 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/282927 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/282927 The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made a few minor roster moves today, neither of which should come as any huge surprise. The team re-signed tight end Jerramy Stevens and decided to let Bruce Gradkowski try and find a quarterback job elsewhere. Each move represents something completely different thou, at the QB position the team is very over loaded and it was known they needed to clean out some guys. While, at the tight end position, some may of thought the team was set with the current group but this signing of Stevens may cast some doubt on the cast. Let's take a look at both. Fri, 30 May 2008 19:16:41 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/272596 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/272596 Recently signed TE Ben Troupe, 6 feet 4, 270 pounds, seeks an expanded role with the Bucs. He longs to get back to the success of his first two seasons, when he was featured in the Tennessee offense. He caught a combined 88 passes for 859 yards in 2004 and 2005. His production dipped markedly the next two seasons to a combined 18 catches for 197 yards, he says, for good reasons. The Titans' "quarterback carousel" played a role, Troupe said, as the team shuffled through Billy Volek, Kerry Collins and Vince Young. "You take Billy Volek out three days before the (2006) season and Kerry Collins comes in, and he's learning the offense on the fly," Troupe said. "It was an unfair situation. Then you take him out and put a rookie quarterback (Young) in, and he's trying to find his way. Then going into the next year, obviously, Vince Young was more comfortable with certain players. And anything that's going to make him more comfortable is going to be (supported) by the team." Troupe says he also lacked the support of offensive coordinator Norm Chow, who was fired after last season and now holds the same post at UCLA. "No offense to Norm Chow, but he wasn't making the transition from one year to the next. That's why he's back in college," Troupe said. "I appreciate him regardless. He didn't like me. It had to be bigger than football." Troupe envisions no such issues in Tampa. Mon, 24 Mar 2008 11:08:41 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/216515 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/216515 Like every other team in the league, the Titans have a sizable number of players who will be effected. Those not tagged, resigned or tendered will become free agents, so Mike Reinfeldt, Jeff Fisher and the Titans' staff have some decisions to make. If I was the one making the decisions, this is how I'd look at it... Tue, 19 Feb 2008 21:46:08 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/152131 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/152131 Atlanta released four time Pro Bowl TE Alge Crumpler. The Titans should take a serious look at adding Crumpler's services to a passing game that is in need of an upgrade. Sat, 16 Feb 2008 01:14:36 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/145078 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/145078 The tight end position was utilized more often when Mike Heimerdinger was in his first stint with the Titans but things are different now. Frank Wycheck and Erron Kinney, two guys who you could count on, are retired. The Dinger won't find as much talent on hand now and the Titans are in dire need of an upgrade for the position group... Sun, 10 Feb 2008 10:26:46 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/136169 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/136169 ...the Titans have made another public relations gaffe with the way they fired Norm Chow. It's about as bad as the way they locked Steve McNair out of the Titans' training facility two years ago... Fri, 18 Jan 2008 17:24:32 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/76721 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/76721 Who did the readers select for the 2007 Total Titans awards? Read on... Thu, 10 Jan 2008 02:51:35 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/66420 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/66420