Tight Ends and McDaniel's System

[Dave Gray]

I'm kinda thinking out loud here, but there's something about our team that I legitimately don't understand.  I think maybe I bought into some bullshit and I want to understand what's happening from an Xs and Os potential.

When McDaniel came in, we had a good TE -- Mike Gesicki.  He was a proven player for us, but the more time he spent with the team under McDaniel offense, the less valuable he became.  It got to a point, in my opinion, where Gesicki wasn't bad, but for the type of player he was and for his fair market value, he just wasn't a good fit for us.  I attributed this to a few things:
1 - I was led to believe that McDaniel doesn't really use pass-catching TEs and prefers big blockers.
2 - We had such amazing offensive weapons with our multiple big-name receivers and pass catching backs, that even a good TE is going to be a 4th or 5th option when you need yards.

So, when we let Gesicki go, I thought it was smart.  I understood his value on the open market but it didn't make sense for us to be the ones to pay it.

Then we get Jonnu Smith...  ....and it's like the opposite situation.

He's great.  He catches a lot of important balls.  He's integral to the offense in a pass-catching capacity. 

What I don't understand is why?  It's the same system.  We pretty much have similar offensive talent at the other skill positions.  So now, we're not just getting production from that position, but we're getting it at a ton of value.  Now that Jonnu is gone, I'm sad to see him go, because for whatever reason I can't figure out, he overachieved here.  So, I get why you have to let him walk, since he's at his absolute high point.  Sad, but that's the way it goes.

What I'd really like to know is, why did Gesicki come in at lesser than his value and Jonnu come in at more than his value?  It's the same position, IMO there isn't a great skill difference; both are pretty good players.  I ask this because, in looking for another TE, I think we have to try to reproduce whatever secret sauce Jonnu had and avoid whatever warts that Gesicki did, but I don't know what they are.

[masterfins]

IMO Hill only liked playing with Tua, because Tua would look to throw him the ball on every play.  When Tua was out hill just didn't put in the effort, which opened things up for Jonnu to get some throws.

[Downunder Dolphan]

What I don't understand is why?  It's the same system.  We pretty much have similar offensive talent at the other skill positions.  So now, we're not just getting production from that position, but we're getting it at a ton of value.  Now that Jonnu is gone, I'm sad to see him go, because for whatever reason I can't figure out, he overachieved here.  So, I get why you have to let him walk, since he's at his absolute high point.  Sad, but that's the way it goes.

What I'd really like to know is, why did Gesicki come in at lesser than his value and Jonnu come in at more than his value?  It's the same position, IMO there isn't a great skill difference; both are pretty good players.  I ask this because, in looking for another TE, I think we have to try to reproduce whatever secret sauce Jonnu had and avoid whatever warts that Gesicki did, but I don't know what they are.

When McDaniel arrived, throwing to the TE was an afterthought, hence Gesicki was wasted in the offense. It was all about forcing the ball downfield deep to Tyreek and Waddle, and running the ball with Achane & Mostert.

Three major things changed last season:

1. Tyreek and Waddle couldn't get open (part of that was Tua not being there, part was other teams adjusting, part was us not adjusting to the rules officiating changes)
2. We couldn't run the ball effectively. The lack of a deep threat, Mostert having an off season and coughing up the ball were the major reasons (as well as O-Line injuries).
3. We tried to become more of a ball control offense to minimize the time our defense was on the field (as it had been gutted of talent in the offseason), and to cope with 1 & 2.

For a good third of the season, Smith hardly caught a ball which had a number of questioning why we brought him in - but with the above factors, all of a sudden he became a much more important part of the offense. I think if Gesicki was still there, he would have benefited likewise.

[CF DolFan]

What I don't understand is why?  It's the same system.  We pretty much have similar offensive talent at the other skill positions.  So now, we're not just getting production from that position, but we're getting it at a ton of value.  Now that Jonnu is gone, I'm sad to see him go, because for whatever reason I can't figure out, he overachieved here.  So, I get why you have to let him walk, since he's at his absolute high point.  Sad, but that's the way it goes.

It's actually pretty simple. With no running game they dropped more than 2 deep to stop Waddle and Hill leaving the underneath open. The only option was a pass to Achane or pass to Smith. We really had no other offense last year and I don't know how that changes with the limited changes to the offensive line. We are literally one injury from Liam starting again and injuries always happen on the line.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/-ejoFOvBoPw

[Pappy13]

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/-ejoFOvBoPw

Funny. But I don't think it's been suggested that he hates football. At most what was suggested is that he hated playing football in NY and retired because of that. If he were coming back to play for NY, then they might have a point, but since that's not the case and in fact he's coming back to play for his old coach where he actually enjoyed football by all accounts, it is possible that he will enjoy football in Miami...or maybe not. Probably depends on how often Tua throws to him and how many blocks he's asked to throw for a RB instead which remains to be seen.