In a surprising move the Baltimore Ravens selected tight ends in both the 3rd and 4th rounds of the 2010 NFL Draft. It was not surprising to see the Ravens come away with 2 TE’s from a need perspective, but it was surprising that the team did not use either of the picks to address other team needs. Obviously, the Ravens felt they were getting strong value with the selections and it is hard to argue based on the abilities and college productivity of Dickson and Pitta.
Ed Dickson
Position: TE
Height/Weight: 6’4″ 249 lbs.
College: Oregon
Strengths: Dickson has great size and mobility for a pass catching TE. At times Dickson was used as a hybrid WR/TE in college, which is a testimony to his speed and quickness. Dickson also has long arms and good body control, making him a true big target who could be huge in the red zone. Dickson has great passion for football and is a competitor. Dickson is also good with the ball in his hands. He has the potential to be a big play TE in the passing game.
Weaknesses: Despite his size and desire, Dickson is not a great blocker. He needs to improve his strength in order to be more of a factor in run blocking. Some scouts question whether he has the frame to add the mass need to improve as a blocker. In college, Dickson also had struggles catching the ball in traffic. He needs to improve his concentration and willingness to take a hit when going for the ball.
Grade: A- Many considered Dickson to be the 2nd best TE in the draft behind Jermaine Gresham. The Ravens got good value in the 3rd round with Dickson and he could bring similar productivity in the passing game to Todd Heap. While he may not be as good at going after the ball as Heap was early on, Dickson is more dynamic with the ball in his hands.
Dennis Pitta
Position: TE
Height/Weight: 6’4″ 245lbs
College: BYU
Strengths: Like Dickson Dennis Pitta is known as a strong pass catching tight end. Although not as explosive as Dickson, Pitta has great hands and a knack for route running and finding open spaces. Pitta is a consistent performer and a hard worker who knows how to use his body to keep defenders from making plays on the ball. Pitta is also a mature player having been at BYU for 5 years and having serve on his 2 year mission. Pitta will be 25 during the coming season.
Weaknesses: Pitta is a not a strong blocker and lacks the bulk to become one. Pitta will also have to learn some of the nuances to the TE position at the NFL level. Operating in the pass-happy BYU offense, Pitta was regularly lined up outside in a 2-point stance. For the Ravens, Pitta will need to adjust to lining up on the line in a 3-point stance. He will need to learn how to get off the line and beat coverage with his hand in the dirt. Pitta also lacks the speed to stretch the defense.
Grade: C+ While Pitta has many skills that lend themselves to being a productive TE in the NFL, he is also lacking the mobility to make him a dangerous target. I also feel some of his productivity in college was based on how he was used in the BYU offense. He will be asked to to different things for the Ravens. Based on need I was a bit down on this pick, but the Ravens did need more than one TE. I just expected them to pick another one up later in the draft.
JP — Not that I needed another reason to not fawn all over the Ravens for their Draft, but your breakdown of Pitta leaves me even more depressed…A slow, weak, non-blocking tight end trying to get open in Heinz Field or the RCA Dome…Great! Well, he is tall, so he's got that going for him. Which is nice…
Look, I don't follow the college game, but that analysis of Pitta makes me wonder, why? Is it because Pitta and Heap should be able to bond? Also, remember he'll be 25 when the season starts…he's not the typical young kid out of college.
3 Mormans between the Orioles and Ravens. Name 'em!
Easy…Heeeeeeap!, 9,125 day old * Pitta bread, and Jeremy Gut.
* 25 years x 365 days
I should clarify. I think Pitta has the ability to get open, but he is not a dynamic TE. There are plenty of good TE's in the league with skills like Pitta. He will get by on his knowledge of the game and his craftiness. Like a cagey left hander. He may need some time to adjust to the way the RAvens use te's compared to how he was used in college, but playing behind Heap and Dickson, for the time being, allows him time to work on those skills.
I more question the pick from the perspective of the Ravens other needs and the fact that his skill set does not really set him apart from Dickson's. He is another big target for Flacco, though. Cameron likes that.
From a guy who knows more college football than all of us combined and who is on the sideline of an NFL game every week.
Above all Dennis Pitta understands defensive schemes and how to exploit the seams. He was the only receiver I saw in 2009 that seemed to regulary make post snap adjustments in his routes. That's a tribute to his coaches and Max Hall the BYU QB. Ed Dickson is considerably faster and a marginally better blocker than Pitta but Pitta has the better hands. Dickson will contest the high coverage in the middle and Pitta will exploit the underneath.
Now Cameron has everything he needs.
It's ironic I was anxious to watch the opener between Oklahoma and BYU last September to get an early view of Oklahoma's QB Bradford and TE Gresham. Max Hall and Dennis Pitta embarrassed the famed Oklahoma defense while Gresham sat the game out and Bradford was injured. Hall passed for 329 yards and 2 TDs and Pitta caught 7 passes and averaged almost 13 yards per reception. Before that day not many people outside of the state of Utah ever heard of Dennis Pitta.
Okay, so now Ol' Bruz is thinking it may not have been such a bad pick…Unless…Unless Pitta's ability to adjust his routes will be lost on a young QB like Flacco? By all accounts, this will be a telling as to whether or not Flacco is indeed the "Franchise QB" we all hope he is…
What's that you always say Ol' Bruz, where is Whacko Flacco in the clutch? 1 TD and 6 INTs in the playoffs…This is a big year for him, my boy Special Teams Guru, and Cameron. Cameron would be the first victim…
Big Ben was 28 – 11 as a Starter at the end of his 3rd Season, plus 5 – 1 in the Playoffs (including a Super Bowl Ring to show off to the young ladies)…I offer the comparison in that he was Drafted #11, similar enough to Joe Cool…
6th Round Draft Pick Tom Brady went 36 – 12 (6 – 0 in the Playoffs with 2 Rings to show his Model girlfriends).
Undrafted Kurt Warner went 35 – 8 (5 – 2 in the Playoffs with a Ring to show his lovely Wife).
Note: Joe Flacco is 20 – 12 (3 – 2). I hope he joins the above group…Just wouldn't bet the 2nd Mortgage on it…
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