TE Visanthe Shiancoe signs one year deal

[Sami84]

Is Shiancoe a good blocking TE?

 

Yes. He doesn't really have a weak point. Question is, does he still have enough speed? 

[da vegas raven]

Yes. He doesn't really have a weak point. Question is, does he still have enough speed?

Wouldn't that make speed his weak point? :)

[jazz1988]

I would say you are both wrong. Boldin wasn't a disappointment and he wasn't overly misused. He played a lot in the slot on 3WR sets with Jacoby running go routes outside with Torrey. His regular season stats can be attributed to Flacco's inaccuracy combined with lack of time to throw and yes sometimes just Boldin not getting open no matter where he was on the field. He helped us win a Superbowl, that was enough for me. Nothing disappointing about the Lombardi Trophy being in Baltimore.

 

Yes Boldin was used in the slot  when cam was the offensive coordinator but at end of the day if your passing game is predictable it really doesnt matter because defenders already know what's coming .  Boldin wasn't overly misused but he definately was misused and thats what really matters; When i went to see the Browns Vs the Ravens I didnt see Boldin use in the slot much at all and honestly when the ravens did go 3 wide receiver set I saw all three  receivers go deep which in most cases left Flacco in more danger to get sack because the receivers are running long develop routes.

 

I know thats only one game  but I been seeing Ravens complain about this alot and I finally got  a chance to see it for my self. Cam didnt attack the middle of the field often  and he wasnt very creative when it came to helping his receivers to gain better leverage to get open.Boldin wasnt the only receiver that had trouble getting open there was plenty of times where Torrey Smith, Jacoby Jones, Dennis Pitta, Ed Dickson, and Ray Rice had trouble getting open  because Cam passing attack was predictable . Theres no way in world you can tell me Boldin game didnt go up once Caldwell became the offensive coordinator and the reason for that is because he was in a offense that was less predictable.

 

Cam Cameron was fired for a reason  and it was mainly because the passing game was too predictable which limted wideouts like Boldin, Smith and Jones. I gurantee you if Caldwell wasn't the offensive coordinator Jacoby Jones, Boldin, Torrey Smith wouldn't have played so well in the playoffs or made such out standing plays but any way im interested to see how this new tight end the ravens sign pans out.

[The Raven]

Ed Dickson only put up 21 catches for 225 and 0 TDs last year, so let's not act like he's a surefire thing to step up.  While it's true he did put up 54 receptions for 528 yards and 5 TDs the year before, he has not been consistent enough for us to know just what we're going to get.  Unless he really steps up, Shiancoe and him could be splitting snaps.

 

While that's true, Ed Dickson was scarcely used by Cam. Dickson was able to reel in 6 catches for 64 yards against the Bengals in week 17. He also caught 6 balls for 90 yards in the post season. Not a lot to go off of, but I think these numbers indicate that he is capable of producing when he's on the field. Once Caldwell took over, Dickson saw a lot more snaps. He had 28% of his regular season catches in one game. 

[5aiah]

While that's true, Ed Dickson was scarcely used by Cam. Dickson was able to reel in 6 catches for 64 yards against the Bengals in week 17. He also caught 6 balls for 90 yards in the post season. Not a lot to go off of, but I think these numbers indicate that he is capable of producing when he's on the field. Once Caldwell took over, Dickson saw a lot more snaps. He had 28% of his regular season catches in one game. 

Yeah i agree with you, it's not a question of will Dickson produce because he is a much better player than the guy who caught 50 balls for 500 yards and 5 TDs. It is more a matter of HOW he will produce. He is more of a downfield TE naturally but has he gotten better to the point where he can run different routes fluidly and make the tough catches in between zones horizontally or make the tough catches in tight man coverage instead of just running seams, drags, and crossing patterns. Also Cam didn't help matters with any of our young receivers by emphasizing speed cuts in terms of route running instead a sharp precise moves. Dickson is and has been a legit starter but now we will see if he can do exactly what we need and take that step past natural ability. 

[The Raven]

Yeah i agree with you, it's not a question of will Dickson produce because he is a much better player than the guy who caught 50 balls for 500 yards and 5 TDs. It is more a matter of HOW he will produce. He is more of a downfield TE naturally but has he gotten better to the point where he can run different routes fluidly and make the tough catches in between zones horizontally or make the tough catches in tight man coverage instead of just running seams, drags, and crossing patterns. Also Cam didn't help matters with any of our young receivers by emphasizing speed cuts in terms of route running instead a sharp precise moves. Dickson is and has been a legit starter but now we will see if he can do exactly what we need and take that step past natural ability. 

 

I think Dickson is capable of doing a lot of things. I've seen him run crossing routes to move the chains. I've seen him get down the field on posts and seams. I've seen him make tough snags in the end zone. If he's on the field and his hands are on, he can be up there with some of the best tight ends in the league.

[big hits and ball hawks]

Correct.  I agree that's why he was brought in.  I wouldn't be too surprised if he didn't really have an impact this year, though I'm hoping for the best.  The best is about 20 catches and 4-7 TDs.

 

Considering Dickson looks to be the guy at TE, I will take those 20 catches and 4-7 TDs. We have a bunch of other weapons that can get the yards along with their own TDs. I still have reasonably high expectations for the offense and I can't wait to see them in action. 

[beanfigger]

Considering Dickson looks to be the guy at TE, I will take those 20 catches and 4-7 TDs. We have a bunch of other weapons that can get the yards along with their own TDs. I still have reasonably high expectations for the offense and I can't wait to see them in action. 

 

Agreed.  I would be ecstatic if we got those numbers from Shiancoe.  Like I said, I think that's the best, most realistic stat line to hope for with him.

[rmw10]

If Shiancoe (or whoever else is TE #2) can get 30 or so catches for 400 yards or so with 6+ TD's, I'd be ecstatic.

[beanfigger]

If Shiancoe (or whoever else is TE #2) can get 30 or so catches for 400 yards or so with 6+ TD's, I'd be ecstatic.

 

I still think the yardage will be much less, but the other stats would be nice.  If 20% or more of his catches are TDs in GTG situations, the yards may not get that high, but who cares if that's the case.

[rmw10]

I still think the yardage will be much less, but the other stats would be nice. If 20% or more of his catches are TDs in GTG situations, the yards may not get that high, but who cares if that's the case.

That's an average of 25 yards per game, which may be tough, but certainly attainable. I'm aiming high lol.

[beanfigger]

That's an average of 25 yards per game, which may be tough, but certainly attainable. I'm aiming high lol.

 

It's also about 13 yds/catch.  I just don't see that being his type of game for us this year.  I hope I'm wrong.

[rmw10]

It's also about 13 yds/catch. I just don't see that being his type of game for us this year. I hope I'm wrong.

Or he can just get three 100 yard receptions and its smooth sailing from there ;)

[mgridda]

Since we were already looking at Visanthe as a 3rd tight end, was that due to the need of a 3rd tight end, or just because we liked Visanthe so much? He makes some pretty great catches and reminds me a bit of a tight end Anquan, so I like the addition.

 

 

However, when Pitta was injured I was not aware we were looking at Visanthe and my first thought was:

 

 

 

What's Todd Heap up to? I mean, there's Joe Flacco's second most favourite friend. Get him on the roster, pay him the veteran minimum, have him round out as the 3rd tight end or just see what he can do. I wouldn't mind having Visanthe, Ed Dickson and Todd Heap.

[PurpleCorsair]

Or he can just get three 100 yard receptions and its smooth sailing from there ;)

Since the longest reception you can have is 99 yards, he would still need a 4th reception for 3.

[rmw10]

Since the longest reception you can have is 99 yards, he would still need a 4th reception for 3.

 

Get out of here with your logic ;)