[News] Darren Waller Reacts To Position Move To Tight End

[BR News]

A position change is nothing new for Darren Waller, who is going from wide receiver to tight end this season. After all, he was once a quarterback and safety in high school.

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[harfordravenfan]

He moved from a crowded position to a very crowded position. Hope the beat for him, love his size/speed

[bioLarzen]

Probably the least important question - but wonder what's his new jersey number will be- 12 isn't a TE number, so he'll need a new one.

[bioLarzen]

He moved from a crowded position to a very crowded position. Hope the beat for him, love his size/speed

Especailly if Pitta can really contribute.

[stampedehero]

So how many tight ends will we keep?? Watson for sure, Gilmore,Williams, Waller for Pitta insurance?

[757RavensFan]

16 minutes ago, stampedehero said:

So how many tight ends will we keep?? Watson for sure, Gilmore,Williams, Waller for Pitta insurance?

Even though he's suspended, I see them keeping Boyle also.

[fluffy201]

  1 hour ago, stampedehero said:

So how many tight ends will we keep?? Watson for sure, Gilmore,Williams, Waller for Pitta insurance?

Even though he's suspended, I see them keeping Boyle also.

Indeed, Boyle showed more than Maxy, so I hope they don't throw in the towel on Boyle. But the tight end position is trickey, Pitta, Max and Watson????? Love Pitta, and hope he comes back strong, but gotta worry about his health. I also think that coaches and doctors may be allowing these guys to come back too soon. Breshad Perriman comes to mind. Obviiously the knee was still injured but they rushed him back only to reinjure it again

[EdBallhawkReed20]

We should really consider Josh Doctson as a first round pick. He could develop into a true no.1 WR

[Ravenous_Ravens]

We should really consider Josh Doctson as a first round pick. He could develop into a true no.1 WR

Maybe true but he won't give anything the Ravens don't have already in Perriman or Wallace. Doctson will need time to develop the rest of his tree kinda like T Smith. Immediately he gives you a deep threat. #6 is too high for Doctson though and leaving a lot of value on the table. It would need to be a trade down to mid to late first round.

[Ravenous_Ravens]

  1 hour ago, 757RavensFan said:

  1 hour ago, stampedehero said:

So how many tight ends will we keep?? Watson for sure, Gilmore,Williams, Waller for Pitta insurance?

Even though he's suspended, I see them keeping Boyle also.

Indeed, Boyle showed more than Maxy, so I hope they don't throw in the towel on Boyle. But the tight end position is trickey, Pitta, Max and Watson????? Love Pitta, and hope he comes back strong, but gotta worry about his health. I also think that coaches and doctors may be allowing these guys to come back too soon. Breshad Perriman comes to mind. Obviiously the knee was still injured but they rushed him back only to reinjure it again

Perriman was only hurt the one time. The recovery process was not as straight forward as normal due to his condition which won't affect him once his body/bones stop growing. There was no rushing him, the doctors handled the situation as per the norm. The condition just had a larger affect. The guy can ball though as can be seen in the catch he banged up his knee.

[Ravenous_Ravens]

If Waller can bulk up a bit, I have no doubt he can become a solid contributor. Plus he can learn a lot from veteran's such as Pitta and Watson. With his height he has a natural advantage in the passing game if well utilized. Technique and some added bulk will help him to become a solid blocker as well.

[Saxxin]

Waller has Tory Smith speed. Matched up against a LB will be a nightmare for opposing defenses.

[sticks999]

I had forgotten about this, so how many TEs do we need?

[cushrinada1986]

I was one of those ppl who said he would be an awesome TE coming out of college but beyond that. Watsons isnt a spring chicken, pitta may go down again any time in the season,which is why they cut is salary. Boyle has been suspended twice already, how can we trust him? TBH we only really have two TEs that we know could be here 3-4 years from now, thats waller and Maxx. Which would be an awesome combo really. Oh yeah, and Gilmore if he can stay healthy, a great trio.

[cushrinada1986]

hope he gets more play time in the preseason this year

[ellicottraven]

Good luck Waller! I mean it because you'll need all the luck with talent to succeed as a TE with the Ravens.

[thecommish]

He moved from a crowded position to a very crowded position. Hope the beat for him, love his size/speed

He has freakish raw skills and ability..... even in a league of freaks...if he can make the transition... he can give us a serious weapon creating mismatches like few others in this league can!

[n#7]

If Pitta could stay healthy and make a comeback that could be a major difference. However, that probability is not very high, to say the least.

[bernie mc195r]

Wow, that would be nice, but what about Pitta? Is he fully healed? There are many questions for this team, but I trust Ozzie and compony, Before season start, I hear Spittsburgh is loaded with talent, well guess what? we are loaded with talent too. so lets watch the they guess for us and we show and prove to the last year was a FLUKE. best winning season ever here we come Go Ravens

[Maryland]

I can't help but think this could be the end of Waller on the roster. He's starting at the bottom of the depth chart basically, and he has to overtake at least two (probably 3) of: Watson, Maxx, Crockett, Boyle, or Pitta. Most teams don't keep more than 3 TEs on the roster, though we may keep 4 if they are transitioning to a TE-heavy offense. Still, a very difficult challenge. Maybe he makes it to the PS.

[whobilly]

I can't help but think this could be the end of Waller on the roster. He's starting at the bottom of the depth chart basically, and he has to overtake at least two (probably 3) of: Watson, Maxx, Crockett, Boyle, or Pitta. Most teams don't keep more than 3 TEs on the roster, though we may keep 4 if they are transitioning to a TE-heavy offense. Still, a very difficult challenge. Maybe he makes it to the PS.

Agree, but he will not make it to the PS. Waller and Marlon Brown could be decent pick ups for a few teams. No room at the Inn.

[Fastynart]

A good move. Keeping a guy like Waller makes sense. Hope he makes the transition. Relying on the return of Pitta is insane, and Boyle, someone who showed promise but really screwed it up, doesn't exactly give a warm and fuzzy. Willams and Gilmore are the real deals too. We are fine there. Time to work on the defense.

[omar586]

a good move if u ask me, teams will sleep on him b/c he's a TE, and he will contribute big time in mismatches

[Halshayeji]

19 hours ago, EdBallhawkReed20 said:

We should really consider Josh Doctson as a first round pick. He could develop into a true no.1 WR

Your probably right. Doctson may be the best WR on this class but taking him 6th overall is a bit of a reach. Maybe if we trade back or up with our second

[law215]

I think he will give the Ravens a faster more athletic TE to threat the middle of the field. Gilmore should be used in the same way, but he is not as fast. It's been what the Patriots have been doing for years, TE seam routes. At 6'6" both he and Gilmore should have an advantage over the middle

[Purple Dawg 96]

"GOOD MOVE" At the TE position Waller, can go long and get the one on one or mismatch down field! If utilized correctly this will drive a secondary crazy!

[harfordravenfan]

28 minutes ago, Purple Dawg 96 said:

"GOOD MOVE" At the TE position Waller, can go long and get the one on one or mismatch down field! If utilized correctly this will drive a secondary crazy!

Especially with 1 or 2 speedy wrs on the outside

[EdTheMythicalOne]

I am not saying Waller is Shannon Sharpe, but he is in that kind of mold. He will be a "move" TE and not an in line guy like Crockett is. Maybe in a couple more seasons as he hits the weights and if he can add a bit more weight he can block on the line. The other thing you can do is slide Waller out into the slot from the TE position and create a mismatch that way as well.

I think he has a great chance to make the roster depending on whom the Ravens draft. I don't really think the Ravens are looking at too many receivers because of whom they already have in house, though they do need to look to the future. Smith Sr. will most likely retire and if Wallace doesn't pan out he's an easy cut for next season. Marlon Brown I think is gone, Campanaro simply can't stay healthy and I think last year was a make or break for him. Daniel Brown was a nice find and made a few nice plays, but he's not essential. Chris Matthews really didn't do a whole lot for us while he was on the team. So right now I see the locks at WR being Steve Smith Sr, Breshard Perriman, Mike Wallace, Kamar Aiken, and Kaelin Clay (return man). That essentially leaves one more WR slot if the Ravens keep 6.

At tight end the situation is a bit more murky, but there is an out early on. Dennis Pitta if he gets cleared to play obviously makes the roster but you never know for how long, Ben Watson clearly makes it, Crockett Gillmore makes it, and then Maxx Williams makes it. Nick Boyle is suspended for 10 games and I honestly think he gets cut when his suspension is up. Waller is a standout on special teams and that does matter. It would be tough to lose him because of all of that potential. Too soon to give up on him.

The Ravens cleared out a plethora of wideouts a few years ago that seemed to be just hangers on like Tandon Doss, David Reed, and LaQuan Williams. Time to separate the wheat from the chaff.

[EdTheMythicalOne]

I think he will give the Ravens a faster more athletic TE to threat the middle of the field. Gilmore should be used in the same way, but he is not as fast. It's been what the Patriots have been doing for years, TE seam routes. At 6'6" both he and Gilmore should have an advantage over the middle

Gillmore is our best blocking TE. Pitta was okay before the hip injury and Watson is supposed to be a pretty good all around TE as well. Thing is the catch radius with guys like Gillmore and Waller. Our offense is going to have a lot of tools in the toolbox to tinker with and I love having a lot of options. I am guessing you'll see more of the TE moving into the FB position and them lining up at slot and outside WR spots just to create confusion for the opposing defense.

[Ravens559]

  On 4/22/2016 at 4:14 PM, EdBallhawkReed20 said:

We should really consider Josh Doctson as a first round pick. He could develop into a true no.1 WR

Your probably right. Doctson may be the best WR on this class but taking him 6th overall is a bit of a reach. Maybe if we trade back or up with our second

i say trade back with jets to draft Doctson if we want to get him..