With all that Combine and free agency stuff out of the way, lets get back to our regularly scheduled program. Let’s look at the tight ends, starting with the stats.
Percentage of passes caught
Robinson 79.17
Santi 76.92
Clark 71.96
Tamme 60.00
Yards per catch
Clark 11.01
Robinson 8.74
Santi 6.40
Tamme 4.00
Yards per target
Clark 7.93
Robinson 6.92
Santi 4.92
Tamme 2.40
Yards after the catch per catch:
Robinson 4.63
Clark 4.13
Santi 4.00
Tamme 1.60
Percentage of 1st downs and touchdowns per catch:
Clark 61.04
Santi 40.00
Tamme 33.33
Robinson 26.32
44 Dallas Clark
Numbers: 6033/257/4.65c in 03
2008 stats: 15 games played/15 games started (11-4), 77-848-6 receiving, 2-5 penalties
2008 preseason stats: 4 games played/4 games started, 6-73-0 receiving, 1-9-0 rushing
Status: Signed through 2013
Clark is one of those great, dynamic players the Colts have built upon. Although he’s not Peyton Manning’s favorite target, he is Manning’s safety net — the guy he looks for when he’s in trouble or he needs some important yards. Because the Colts prefer to play three-wide most of the time but haven’t always had a reliable third-wideout Clark has had to play frequently in the slot. So much, in fact, that FootballOutsiders has sometimes classed him as a wide receiver instead of a tight end. But they’re a little off-base — when Clark plays in the slot, he still runs those short tight end routes. The fact is, he’s a tight end playing outside, not a legitimate slot. It’s not a great solution. Not only aren’t the Colts getting great production from their third wideout, they are squandering Clark’s ridiculous skills at tight end.
47 Gijon Robinson
Numbers: 6006/255/4.71c in 07
2008 stats: 15 games played/14 games started (11-3), 19-166-0 receiving, 2-15 penalties
2008 preseason stats: 5 games played/5 games started, 8-86-0 receiving
Status: Signed through 2010
So, the undrafted guy from nowhere (actually, Missouri Western State) who nobody thought would make the roster wound up starting 14 games. Okay, maybe injuries to rookies Tamme and Santi helped that a little, but Robinson acquitted himself pretty well no matter how you slice it. He’s not a strong in-line blocker, but what tight end is these days? Instead, he’s more like a fullback — he can chip and help out at the line, but is really only effective on the move. As a receiver, Robinson is blessed with excellent hands and superb vision. But he’s not very quick off the line and does not to a great job using his hands to free himself from linebackers and safeties. Consequently, most of the times he gets open are very close to the line of scrimmage. Consider that Clark’s average catch came 6.88 yards beyond the line of scrimmage, while Robinson’s came just 4.11 yards deep. But he did show some strength, if not great elusiveness, running after the catch. As Clark is definitive of the Colts’ tight end as pumped-up wide receiver, Robinson is illustrative of the Colts’ H-back as pass-catching fullback playing closer to the line.
86 Tom Santi
Numbers: 6024/250/4.80c in 08
2008 stats: 6 games played/2 games started (1-1), 10-64-1 receiving
2008 preseason stats: 1 game played/1 game started, 1-22-0 receiving
Status: Signed through 2011
Santi was a sixth-round draft pick in 2008. That came as a major surprise to many Colts’ fans because the team had already selected Tamme in the fourth. But it actually makes sense because they are different players filling different roles. While Tamme is very much like a poor man’s version of Clark, Santi brings a skill set very similar to Robinson’s, but with more upside. The best blocker of the lot — and very effective on the move and on the second or third level — Santi also has some serious receiving skills. But like Robinson, he doesn’t offer much explosion off the line, nor straight-line speed. Although his rookie season was marred by a shoulder injury that put him on injured reserve, the arrow is definitely pointed upwards on this tough smart kid, and he could battle Robinson for the starting H-back spot this summer.
84 Jacob Tamme
Numbers: 6034/236/4.58c in 08
2008 stats: 12 games played/0 games started, 3-12-0 receiving, 1-11-0 kick return, 2 special-teams tackles, 1-10 penalty
2008 preseason stats: 4 games played/0 game started, 10-133-2 receiving, 1 tackle
Status: Signed through 2011
When the Colts drafted Tamme this year, some fans envisioned him joining the Count Manning’s Flying Circus as a full-time member. And, in the preseason, he showed some of the skills that made him a feared pass-catcher in college. But nagging injuries robbed him of any chance to be much of a contributor in the regular season. If he’s healthy — and he was plenty durable in college — Tamme has moves, agility, vision and hands of a pretty decent NFL wide receiver. The problem is, many NFL wide receivers block better than Tamme, and lots are better than him at beating the jam. Basically, it puts Tamme in between positions. If he were faster, he would fit better outside and if he were stronger, he’d fit better inside. As it stands, Tamme fits in as a back-up to Clark who can also play in motion, in the slot, at fullback and occasionally outside. Another stand-up, solid citizen type, Tamme has also shown an ability to get downfield quickly on coverage teams.
80 Jamie Petrowski
Numbers: 6037/248/4.75e in 08
2008 stats: None
2008 preseason stats: 4 games played/0 games started, 4-81-0 receiving with Tennessee
Status: Signed through 2011
You guys probably know more about this old Sycamore than I do. But I have seen him — mostly when he was a Titan in the preseason — so I know a little. Petrowski has good hands and vision, and is a some natural run-after-the catch instincts. He’s a load to bring down with the ball in his hands, but he’s not exactly Tony Gonzalez when it comes to getting open. As a blocker, he’s a big strong lad who shows potential, but not much refinement in that area. He’s sort of the odd man out in this little group because he’s more of a traditional complete tight end.
What this means for the draft and free agency
While the Colts don’t exactly have an embarrassment of wealth at tight end/H-back, they do run a very solid two-deep at both positions. And while Clark is the graybeard of the group at 29, he’s signed through 2013. Basically, this will be a very hard group for any rookie or free agent to crack.
That’s what makes it unlikely the Colts will draft a tight end, or sign one most of us have heard of. More likely, however, they will invite one or two undrafted free agents like prospects like Utah State’s Rob Myers or East Carolina’s Davon Drew to have someone around who knows the offense in case of injury. And don’t count Petrowski out too soon, either. Last year, everyone I saw this time last year gave Robinson no chance at making the squad, let alone starting. And Petrowski has — from what little I’ve seen — some skills.
Tight ends drafted since Polian took over
2008 Fourth round Jacob Tamme
2008 Sixth round Tom Santi
2004 Third round Ben Hartsock
2003 First round Dallas Clark
Contract information courtest ColtsCap.net
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