Could we use FB Kyle Jusczyk more?

[DocMartin]

With Ray Rice being BIG QUESTION MARK in this upcoming game we will need to get some production from someone.else. We know Bernard.Pierce could carry the load in the running game, but what about thoze short passes Rice catches in every game, could Pierce duplicate that? And with our recent TE dropped passes situation I would like to see Juice #40 get a chance on offense.
In previous games our opponents took away the option of deep ball to Torrey Smith and I expect Texans doing the same. Joe may try to take few shots on gimpy Ed Reed, but I think most of the game we will be forced to throw intermidiate and short passes. And that's why I think Juice fits right in. This kid is also good in making yards after the catch and that's exactly what we need. So I say throw him in there for few snaps and let's see.what.he.can do.

[omar586]

we should have used him long time ago, maybe in broncos game, when TEs were dropping passes  like rain.

[Puntit]

With Ray Rice being BIG QUESTION MARK in this upcoming game we will need to get some production from someone.else. We know Bernard.Pierce could carry the load in the running game, but what about thoze short passes Rice catches in every game, could Pierce duplicate that? And with our recent TE dropped passes situation I would like to see Juice #40 get a chance on offense.
In previous games our opponents took away the option of deep ball to Torrey Smith and I expect Texans doing the same. Joe may try to take few shots on gimpy Ed Reed, but I think most of the game we will be forced to throw intermidiate and short passes. And that's why I think Juice fits right in. This kid is also good in making yards after the catch and that's exactly what we need. So I say throw him in there for few snaps and let's see.what.he.can do.

I don't think any fans know enough about Juice's potential from the couple of brief preseason glimpses to weigh in on this. My bet, though, is that with Rice out they will possibly use Leach more as a short yardage receiver -- they've done it a few times this year already. The guy has "soft hands" and doesn't shy from contact, making him a YAC threat. If Juice can do the same, great, but I don't have a great sense of what the Ravens timetable is in terms of his development. I feel like maybe Juice is still being brought up to speed and likely will be a later in the year weapon, if not a multi-year development project.

[BloodRaven]

He couldn't possibly be any worse than our current tight ends.

[Bltravens]

we should have used him long time ago, maybe in broncos game, when TEs were dropping passes  like rain.

I agree, though whats going to make Juice a formidable weapon is when his blocking becomes at least acceptable so the defense doesn't know if its run or pass.  We'll be able to split him out on a LB or bring him back in as a blocking FB, or use him out of the backfield like an Hback.

Though as of right now, like BloodRaven said, he can't be worse than Dickson right now and Juice is just as fast.

[Alexir]

Couldnt hurt.

[PolishRifle]

He couldn't possibly be any worse than our current tight ends.

 

Truer words have never been spoken.

 

Kyle is a big bodied strong bruiser. He could be used the same way, Gronk is being used in NE. Throw him a short (aka very catchable pass) and let him gain yards after the catch. It's worth a try atleast, just like OP implied.

[Colgate1969]

If he can apply all his versiitility at the NFL level, I'd like to see him get on the field.  He seems to have good hands and they would still have the option to run with him too.

[Stephenjr]

For a guy that went to Harvard, if we don't see him I would say the Ravens are regretting taking him in the 4th Round!

[Fred Sanford]

I'd love to see it, especially down the seam out of the slot since he can certainly do more than just catch passes in the flat, but he seems to be a special teamer for now.

[K-Dog]

Not to long after we drafted "Juice"  I predicted he would become a fan favorite in three years.

 

I stand by what I said.

[Dudeman]

Can anyone say secret weapon? 

 

Yes this offense needs a little "Juice", even if it's only 3-5 touches maybe on 3rd down. 

 

However, I do like Leach as a checkdown option and around the goal line as well.  I think it's easy to overlook a fullbacks role in an offense, especially with everyone focusing on our wide receivers so much.  I'd also like to see Joe continue to throw to our WR's more (like he did against the Browns.) 

 

Lastly, Dickson still has a chance to break out.  I don't think anyone knows whats really holding him back, and everyone hates to see him drop passes.  But teams could start daring us to throw to him and he could make them pay for that....just sayin.

[VabchRavens]

How tall is he?

[Puntit]

...

Though as of right now, like BloodRaven said, he can't be worse than Dickson right now and Juice is just as fast.

The reason Dickson (and Bajema) are still out there is because they are decent blocking tight ends. If they aren't going to catch the ball, at least they help preserve the pocket. This wasn't Juice's strong point during preseason and is likely what they've primarilly been working on with him. I suspect its why we haven't seen him yet -- but yes, if he can't block he would do "worse". Unfortunately the caliber of player Juice played against at Harvard was extremely weak compared to other big conference fullbacks, so it may take a while for him to transition. Anyone know if Matt Birk (another harvard guy)  took a while to transition back when he started? Again, I see Juice being brought in slowly this year, not in an early game against a good defense. I expect the TEs to be given an opportunity to redeem themselves today.

[Bltravens]

The reason Dickson (and Bajema) are still out there is because they are decent blocking tight ends. If they aren't going to catch the ball, at least they help preserve the pocket. This wasn't Juice's strong point during preseason and is likely what they've primarilly been working on with him. I suspect its why we haven't seen him yet -- but yes, if he can't block he would do "worse". Unfortunately the caliber of player Juice played against at Harvard was extremely weak compared to other big conference fullbacks, so it may take a while for him to transition. Anyone know if Matt Birk (another harvard guy) took a while to transition back when he started? Again, I see Juice being brought in slowly this year, not in an early game against a good defense. I expect the TEs to be given an opportunity to redeem themselves today.

I was more talking on obvious pass downs. Juice isn't ready to be a full time guy for reasons you stated. Birk sat for 1 year for sure possibly 2 in Minnesota before starting.

[SirPainsalot]

He made an impressive play on special teams with a tackle to stop a punt return, that's about it.

 

Unless I saw wrong.

 

Either way, he should be used more. Dallas needs perfect strikes which is exactly what Flacco doesn't want as a comfort blanket.

Juice has good reliable hands so I hear, he should be at least used a bit more.

[PoeDinkum]

Can anyone say secret weapon? 

 

Yes this offense needs a little "Juice", even if it's only 3-5 touches maybe on 3rd down. 

 

However, I do like Leach as a checkdown option and around the goal line as well.  I think it's easy to overlook a fullbacks role in an offense, especially with everyone focusing on our wide receivers so much.  I'd also like to see Joe continue to throw to our WR's more (like he did against the Browns.) 

 

Lastly, Dickson still has a chance to break out.  I don't think anyone knows whats really holding him back, and everyone hates to see him drop passes.  But teams could start daring us to throw to him and he could make them pay for that....just sayin.

I absolutely agree with what you say about Dickson. It reminds me of how Martellus Bennett was inconsistent in Dallas, decent but not sensational in New York, and now looks like he's figured it out in Chicago. Would like to see our guys crack the Dickson code while he is in Baltimore; as we all know he has the physical skill set. C'mon 84 channel that inner 88! 

[DocMartin]

With Stokley being cut and our ANEMIC TE SITUATION, who can help our passing game on 3rd downs. Last week we were 3 for 16, is that acceptable? How many games can we win by doing that?
Our running game CAN'T GET A YARD ON THE GROUND. Our TE's can't find tbe 1st down marker. Dickson must have butterfingers because every ball is falling out of his hands. Clatk sometimes catches one, but looks.like a SlowMotion train out there.
Our WR's are banged up and Torrey Smith is getting double covered every Sunday, so what do we do?
IT'S TIME TO BRING SOME JUICE aka FB/TE KYLE JUSCZYK.
If you haven't seen this kid play, checkout some of his college tapes and you will see why we drafted him.
Come On Harb, plug him in for few plays.

[radicals]

With Stokley being cut and our ANEMIC TE SITUATION, who can help our passing game on 3rd downs. Last week we were 3 for 16, is that acceptable? How many games can we win by doing that?
Our running game CAN'T GET A YARD ON THE GROUND. Our TE's can't find tbe 1st down marker. Dickson must have butterfingers because every ball is falling out of his hands. Clatk sometimes catches one, but looks.like a SlowMotion train out there.
Our WR's are banged up and Torrey Smith is getting double covered every Sunday, so what do we do?
IT'S TIME TO BRING SOME JUICE aka FB/TE KYLE JUSCZYK.
If you haven't seen this kid play, checkout some of his college tapes and you will see why we drafted him.
Come On Harb, plug him in for few plays.

I believe we give Dickson a little more of a chance (because Harbaugh loves the guy) before we do something like that. I would love to see Juszczyk in the passing game at TE. He could become a reliable target of Joe if we put him in there. However, it may be a while before Harbs tests him out there.

[jaege]

College is meaningless as an example of good play. There are so many examples that it is pointless to list them. That being said, I agree that it couldn't hurt to try the guy. He cant do worse than Dickson.

[rmw10]

The issue with KJ is that he doesn't have the size to play as a prototypical TE and he doesn't have enough physicality to overcome that right now.  I'm not saying he never will, but right now, no.  He's more of a move type of guy - one that plays out of the backfield and stretches out into the slot as well.  Right now, we seem to want the prototypical TE - the one that plays next to the tackle.  While I'd love to see him get a chance, I don't see it happening right now.  He's still got a pretty big learning curve.

[ellicottraven]

Yeah what happened? He seems to be the forgotten one. I think he is kind of caught between a rock and a hard place right now. I don't think he is ready to be a full back in the tough NFL nor is he big enough to be a TE. This is at least what I think.

[display name]

College is meaningless as an example of good play.

True in some cases, but if it was completely true looking at college film would be worthless.

[display name]

The issue with KJ is that he doesn't have the size to play as a prototypical TE and he doesn't have enough physicality to overcome that right now.  I'm not saying he never will, but right now, no.  He's more of a move type of guy - one that plays out of the backfield and stretches out into the slot as well.  Right now, we seem to want the prototypical TE - the one that plays next to the tackle.  While I'd love to see him get a chance, I don't see it happening right now.  He's still got a pretty big learning curve.

Can't be worse than Dixon. We should've cut him instead of Stokley.

[jaege]

True in some cases, but if it was completely true looking at college film would be worthless.

It is worthless. Unless you get a thrill looking at college film.

[display name]

It is worthless. Unless you get a thrill looking at college film.

What do you think Ozzie does all day?

[pep_meister]

honestly i'd like to see bajema more... as a receiver. 

[Inqui]

What do you think Ozzie does all day?

College tape is good at seeing what players can do against other college players, but in the pros they come up against guys who are bigger, faster, more polished and generally more experienced.

 

Courtney Upshaw was able to get to the QB by pushing tackles aside, but he can't do that now that the tackles are bigger. So while he's still a good player, he doesn't have nearly the same impact he did for Alabama. Same story for Jimmy Smith.

 

That said, I would like to see what Jusczyk can do, but I'm not expecting nearly the same results we saw in college. If that were the case he'd be an easy first-rounder. I suspect the coaching staff know what they expect too, and that no doubt has a hand in whether he gets used.

[Jalxsu]

I watched some Harvard games last year, and was very big on signing Juice way before the draft.

He has very soft hands, and is a powerful runner who gets a lot of yards after the catch. Admittedly, that's against Ivy League defenses, but he's got to at least be given a few chances out of the slot.

I wouldn't be happy to see him be thrown in as a blocking fullback just yet, but he was a huge weapon in the passing game and must have better hands than Dickson.

[JoeyFlex5]

He couldn't possibly be any worse than our current tight ends.

this. I mean honestly what in gods name could he do wrong out there that would make people say "bring back Dickson" ? juice's best quality supposedly is his hands and his nose is about as hard as they come, on paper its a clear upgrade over stonehands and soft@$$ Dickson and clark, and even if the "on paper upgrade" isn't quite as good as we thought, its still better than tipped passes turning to picks, which I think he wouldn't have a huge problem with