Joe Kowalewski did nothing to solidify his spot on this team. Our OL was no help, but none of the guys we used as extra TEs or H-Backs in goalline situations did a THING blocking this season. If you go back and re-watch the games, these guys would come in, fired up, charge the line, and bounce right off whomever they made first contact with, allowing penetration often, and NEVER getting a legitimate push... The OL was terrible, but usually when you bring in an extra TE and H-Back to block, you expect to be able to get some sort of decent push in those situations, and punch it into the EZ here and there... We need a true FB, or a good H-Back..... If you have a good dual-threat FB (ala Jerald Sowell or BJ Askew) it improves the effectiveness of the running game on the goalline, plus adds infinitely to the options in the passing and play action game in those situations. We have a few stiffs we throw in there who didn't do a thing all season. If we're looking for a good blocking TE, it better be for that H-Back role, because we sure as hell need something back there..
Totally agree right there PH. How a bout a good Blocking Lineman that will allow you to use the TE as an extra receiver or allow the half decent blocking TE who is a better pass catcher help out? Just makes no sense to me. btw, I think the rest of the headline is "Jets in the market for a good blocking tight end ...... to help out D'brick periodically sucking."
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought I saw at least one play from the stands this year where Kowalewski threw a terrific block at the goal line (right side) for one of our RBs and he went in for a TD. Some of the games are a blur to me by the end of the season, but my wife is Polish, so I remember pointing Joe out to her every time he was on the field and I do remember him throwing that crucial block on at least that one play. Okay, maybe that and his TD won't "solidify" his spot, but the kid is young and learning, and to me he looks eager and willing to do whatever it takes to stay on the field. I first started noticing him at TC, where he had an excellent camp and noticably good athletic skills. He made some good blocks as well as catches in which he got decent yards-after-catch, so I see him on the team next year.
I didn't say he wouldn't make the team, but he shouldn't feel comfortable; he has to earn it. He had the one TD catch and very few regular season impact blocks. The Jets brought him into the game to help get that extra 'surge' in goalline situations. Thomas Jones ran the ball into the EZ once all year, was stuffed at or behind the line several times. Obviously it's not all on the H-Backs/TEs, but they get part of the blame. He made no positive impact in those situations. Chris Baker was the only one of our TEs/H-Backs who consistently got off the line and into his route quickly enough on goalline passes/play action plays to give the QB a chance to hit him for a TD. Jo-Ko (yes, that's what I've been calling him ) did it one time that I can remember outside of his TD catch.... We can, and should, do MUCH better at the extra TE/FB/HBack spot....
Kowalewski is ok for what he is, which is a mid-sized tightend with hands not made of stone. If the Jets want a blocking tightend they really need to go find somebody who is 10-20 pounds heavier. Kowalewski really would be better as an H-back. That would give him a running start on his run blocks.
If I were to guess at the direction they are trying to take based on personnel moves this season and last season, I would make the confusing guess that they are trying to install H-back-Only as sort of a hybrid TE/FB core on the offense to save roster spots. They made really no effort to incorporate fullbacks into the running game.
Kowalewski is a young kid who, at last check on my part, was about 250 or so. So yes, I'll concede he's a bit smallish at TE but I expect him to bulk up a bit. But his athleticism and desire plays a little bigger than what he currently is and I'd personally like to see him at FB or H-back and try that "position." But hey, in today's NFL, athletic people can be utilized in different ways and I think Mangini was trying to feel this kid out last year to see what he's got. I'm not sure he "solidified" his position, but nor did he stand out as someone who needs to go. His youth and desire and competitiveness are his aces, so I'm looking forward to watching him in TC again next year at whatever postion Mangini wants him to play.
I agree, Baker is an above-average TE and has as good hands as any TE in the league. He's a damn good TE. I'd rather get a solid FB first before we get a blocking TE- there are two very good fullbacks in this year's class but I'd hate to spend a high pick on them. McClain did a fine job in Baltimore this year, and that's a guy I wanted. Truth be told, I miss the days of Sowell and Richie Anderson. Sean Ryan was not good. I'm a huge fan of two TE sets but they're efficacy is decreased when one of the TEs is clearly just a distraction like Ryan. If we want a true blocking TE, we need somebody in the Becht or Kyle Brady mold- both of those guys were around 280 pounds.
I STILL like Baker...........I'll admit , I didn't pay much attention to his blocking skills, but I loved his pass catching ability and I wish we had used him more. Let's give him another year and more opportunities! We have far bigger fish to fry in this draft than so called "play makers" in my opinion
I like Baker for the most part, he is big and athletic and could prob improve a little more on blocking both run and pass more run. I think that Kellen will use him more than Chad ever did which can be good for the offense. Chad use to try and get rid of the ball so fast and work more on timing routes with receivers he never really connected with the tight end down the field, another plus for Kellen.
don't understand the guy that says baker sucks? look at the catches that guy made this season. problem is, we never use the te. like one poster said, we're always obsessed with the te position, but never use him in the games. we're always talking about stretching the field with a speedy wr. use the te more, and our wr's will be open all day.
Ne're a truer word's been spoken! We talk about using TE's all the time and rarely give it a try. Look how the Giants have used Shockey as a substantial threat... even used their TE in the SB without Shockey.
