papasmurfbell Posted August 18, 2012 Posted August 18, 2012 http://www.pressboxonline.com/story.cfm?id=9164 Ed Dickson: Evolving As Tight End And A Raven, TooBy Joe PlataniaThe way a tight end, like any other position in football, is used has certainly evolved.Two decades ago, the run-and-shoot scheme was meant to continue to feed coaches' need -- and the fans' desire, for that matter -- to have high-scoring, explosive offenses after San Diego's "Air Coryell" attack and the Washington Redskins' big-play propensity, which John Riggins' running set up, had gone by the wayside.In the run-and-shoot, no tight end was necessary. Many observers pointed to the newfangled scheme as the harbinger of the eventual demise of a position that already had a rich history in the NFL in general and in Baltimore in particular, what with John Mackey's exploits, Todd Heap's cult following and Ozzie Newsome's well-known resume.As teams around the league again try to ramp up offensive production, tight ends are more involved this time.Last year, 16 tight ends -- eight in each conference -- grabbed 50 or more receptions. Five of them led their teams in catches and one, New England's Rob Gronkowski, not only set a record for the position by hauling in 17 touchdowns, but led the league in that category as well.Even with Heap gone and Shannon Sharpe's Super Bowl-bred swagger having departed Charm City, the Baltimore tight end is alive and well.Whenever quarterback Joe Flacco needs a two-minute target, he will look to the left and find Ed Dickson in the flat. If a field-stretching play is needed, there goes Dickson down the seam to haul in a high, tight-window throw. If a seal block is needed to open the door for running back Ray Rice to get around the edge, Dickson is usually at or near the point of attack.Dickson won't get that chance for much of the 2012 preseason, because of a sprained shoulder suffered during the preseason opener at Atlanta, but the profile of the 6-foot-4, 255-pounder has steadily risen -- and his role has gradually evolved -- since he was the Ravens' 2010 third-round pick (70th overall) from the University of Oregon.Though Dickson is only 25, he has a long-term historical perspective that makes him more than aware of how important his position is to the Ravens."In general, [the evolution has been] tremendous," Dickson said. "It starts back with Ozzie. It makes the defense have to account for the tight end, and Heap taught us very well his one year he was here [with] myself and Dennis Pitta and those young guys."Newsome saw the field well as a tight end, and he usually sees the future with equal acumen in the front office.He signed an undrafted inside linebacker (Jameel McClain) in 2008 to work with Ray Lewis, and got unexpected second-round draft value at outside linebacker (Courtney Upshaw) this year after losing Jarret Johnson in free agency. He also nabbed both Dickson and Pitta during the 2010 draft to replenish the tight end corps a full year before Heap was jettisoned.When he first came into the league, Dickson was seen as a lanky, raw athletic talent who could be better used as a blocker, while Pitta would be the pass-catching specialist.Indeed, Flacco seemed to develop a better rapport with Pitta at first, as Dickson developed his blocking skills, not to mention his knowledge of the playbook. Dickson also had a few problems holding on to passes during his first two years, most notably a late first-half drop during the AFC Championship Game in New England, which stalled the Ravens' momentum.Tight ends coach Wade Harman, who has overseen all the team's greats at the position since 1999, acknowledged Dickson's occasional errors, but also highlighted the positive traits he brought to the field."I think it's more of a concentration [issue], sometimes maybe trying to take off before he gets the ball," Harman said. "He knows that if he gets that ball in his hands and he runs, he is going to get some more yards. He made some freak catches for us last year. We know he has that ability."Every once in a while, you let your focus wane a little bit, and that's what happens. So, we're concentrating on every one, and we're going to try to get them all."Despite that miscue in Foxborough, Mass., Dickson had already completed a regular season during which his catch total rose from the 11 he had in 2010 to 54 -- third on the team, behind Ray Rice and Anquan Boldin -- complete with five touchdowns. Three of Dickson's scores served as the Ravens' opening points of games, against Seattle, San Diego and Cleveland, all during the season's second half.The Ravens would certainly benefit from the kind of two-tight-end attack New England has with Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez; the pair caught 12 passes for 153 yards as the Patriots edged Baltimore and went on to Super Bowl XLVI."Yeah, we look at those guys and we feel like we can be just as good as those guys," Dickson said. "With our offense we're running here, we're not quite like them with the stuff that we do, but with opportunity and time, we could be just as good as those guys."And me and Dennis joke around all the time. We said if we scored any touchdowns in that [AFC Championship] game, we were going to mock their touchdown celebrations, and we're very close friends with those guys, so it would have been all love."But the current state of affairs is no laughing matter, with Pitta and Dickson sidelined for the time being -- Pitta broke his hand and could miss the regular-season opener Sept. 10 against Cincinnati. When Dickson returns, he will have to help spearhead the tight-end corps, a job Harman said he could handle for several reasons."[We like] his ability to get down the field and catch the ball," Harman said. "If you put him on [defensive backs], his size and his speed are still really good. Inside, not many people can run the way he does -- linebackers, safeties. He's really learning the game; he's understanding things."The ability for him to get down the field and still be able to block is tough, because you can't really say, 'All right, he's just going to go out for routes, and we don't have to worry about the run game.' He's doing a great job blocking for us."If Dickson's upward trend -- his evolution, that is -- continues, he will have created a higher life form at tight end, as well as contributing to an even better team. Quote
Robjr83 Posted August 18, 2012 Posted August 18, 2012 Unless his hands evolve then he'll be an average TE at best. I'd rather see Pitta get the start. Quote
papasmurfbell Posted August 18, 2012 Author Posted August 18, 2012 He had 54 receptions. He said in the article he has had issues on focus. He was looking to run before he caught the ball. Quote
Robjr83 Posted August 18, 2012 Posted August 18, 2012 He ranked 15th in receptions, 20th in total yards, and 20th in yrs/game that's not that great. Quote
oldno82 Posted August 18, 2012 Posted August 18, 2012 I think Pitta is a better blocker but neither can block as well as I'd like them to. Quote
papasmurfbell Posted August 18, 2012 Author Posted August 18, 2012 He ranked 15th in receptions, 20th in total yards, and 20th in yrs/game that's not that great. So you expect him to be the best in the league in his 2nd yr? This is his 3rd yr. Quote
Robjr83 Posted August 18, 2012 Posted August 18, 2012 I don't expect him to be anything but an average TE. Quote
papasmurfbell Posted August 18, 2012 Author Posted August 18, 2012 He was #3 in receptions for the Ravens last yr. Quote
vmax Posted August 18, 2012 Posted August 18, 2012 He's not great or a Pro Bowler, but he's damn good. He made a ton of key receptions last year and like Pita, he was a chain mover. He's a big target for Joe. Joe spreads the ball around because he has a ton of pass catching options that include Rice, Boldin, Jones and Smith so any TE in the Ravens offense won't post huge numbers. It's not like "the days of Heap" when there was nobody else to throw to. Times have changed. The Ravens are wealthy with pass catchers. Quote
yagersports Posted August 19, 2012 Posted August 19, 2012 There's no doubt in my mind that Dickson could be a top three tightend. His focus will be key. That however is wjere most guys stumble. Personally I think Pitta will be more consistent. I doubt either will be superstars but I expect them to be above average. Quote
papasmurfbell Posted August 20, 2012 Author Posted August 20, 2012 http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/ravens-insider/bal-ravens-tight-ends-ed-dickson-dennis-pitta-on-the-mend-20120819,0,3517512.story Ed Dickson, Dennis Pitta on the mend Three weeks away from the first weekend of the NFL season, injured tight ends Ed Dickson and Dennis Pitta are on the mend and optimistic that they will be ready for the Sept. 10 season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals.Pitta broke his right hand during practice July 30. Dickson sprained his right shoulder while hauling in a touchdown pass in a 31-17 win over the Atlanta Falcons in the preseason opener.“It’s much better, a lot better,” Dickson said. “I can actually do some catching and stuff, and more conditioning. The progress is definitely pretty good. Hopefully I can get back there in a week or so. I’ll do anything possible to get out there for the season opener. I don’t want to miss those. I want to play [now], but I’m glad I still have these preseason games to get healthy.”Dickson and Pitta attended Sunday’s open training camp practice at Stevenson University in Owings Mills, but neither was in uniform. They haven't practiced since sustaining their injuries, but they have been doing conditioning work to stay in shape. As Dickson said, he has been catching passes. That’s something Pitta can’t do with a broken hand, and there is no timetable for when he can start doing so again.Download The Sun iPad app “With the hand, you’ve got to let the bone heal,” said Pitta, who is frustrated by having to be a spectator during the preseason. “We’re being smart with it and making sure that we’re doing all we can at the proper time. If we prepare right, we’ll be ready to go when the season starts.”Dickson believes he and Pitta developed a better rapport with quarterback Joe Flacco during offseason workouts, and Pitta isn’t overly concerned about the inactivity affecting chemistry with Flacco.“Fortunately, we’ve had a couple of years under our belts to develop that chemistry,” Pitta said. “We don’t stray too far. We’re in all the meetings. We’re doing everything we can to mentally prepare. Obviously, you want to be out there and develop the timing … but you’ve just got to do what you can do.”With Dickson and Pitta sidelined, the remaining four tight ends on the roster -- Billy Bajema, Davon Drew, Bruce Figgins and Matt Balasavage -- are all getting opportunities to secure the team’s third tight-end spot. Bajema caught a touchdown pass in the win over the Falcons. The other three tight ends have combined to catch four passes for 29 total yards in the preseason. var afterLoginLocation = ''; var defaultLocation = $('articlePromoLink').href; var wasClicked = false; if (!!window.carnival) { new memberNav( '#articlePromoLink', function() { //user is logged in if(!!afterLoginLocation && afterLoginLocation != '' && afterLoginLocation != 'default'){ $('articlePromoLink').onclick = function(){ carnival.utils.listener.fire('_carnival_'+afterLoginLocation); wasClicked = true; return false; } } }, function(){ //user is not logged in if(!!afterLoginLocation && afterLoginLocation != ''){ $('articlePromoLink').onclick = function(){ carnival.modal.popit(location.protocol+'//'+carnival.configuration('currentDomain')+'/'+signon.folder+'/site/registration/modal.signon'); wasClicked = true; carnival.user.afterLogin( function(){ if(!!afterLoginLocation && afterLoginLocation != '' && afterLoginLocation != 'default'){ carnival.utils.listener.fire('_carnival_'+afterLoginLocation); } else if(wasClicked){ window.location = defaultLocation; } } ); return false; } }//if } ).writeNav(); }//iftextSize() Quote
vmax Posted August 20, 2012 Posted August 20, 2012 Good news! This offense will be unstopable with them back in the line up. Quote
yagersports Posted August 21, 2012 Posted August 21, 2012 Ed just needs to keep more drives going than he stalls. I may be selectively remembering things here (lol) but I can remember so many stalled drives do his drops on 3rd downs that would have resulted in a fresh set. Quote
Robjr83 Posted August 21, 2012 Posted August 21, 2012 Yeah yager.... I remember some crucial drops in the AFCCG Quote
cravnravn Posted August 21, 2012 Posted August 21, 2012 Yeah yager.... I remember some crucial drops in the AFCCG I recall 1, that still lingers Quote
cravnravn Posted August 21, 2012 Posted August 21, 2012 The one with 22 seconds left in the game Quote
Robjr83 Posted August 21, 2012 Posted August 21, 2012 Well he dropped one (a possible first down) before the half when we were trying to drive. We ended up punting and NE scored before halftime...ironic Quote
cravnravn Posted August 21, 2012 Posted August 21, 2012 Oh yeah, I recall Watched the Pats Iggles game last night, really brought back some horror watching NE's fg kicker boot a 51 yarder into the Cundiff zone. Quote
OutsideRzAcE Posted August 24, 2012 Posted August 24, 2012 I gotta go with Rob and yager. Pitta shows up in big moments. So far Dickson has tended to wilt in those. Quote
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