I notice that more tight ends are running shorter routes nowadays, with Austin Seferian-Jenkins leading the way. He averaged only 7.1 yards per catch last year, the lowest average by any tight end with 50-plus catches in the last 25 years.
And he’s not the only one. Jack Doyle and Benjamin Watson both caught a lot of balls last year and averaged only 8.6. Three other tight ends with over 50 catches averaged under 10 yards per catch – Jason Witten, Jimmy Graham and Kyle Rudolph.
Most of these tight ends are older players, and maybe they don’t run quite as well as they used to. But I think it’s more a reflection of how they’re being used. In the last four years, 20 tight ends have caught 50-plus passes and averaged under 10 yards per catch.
In the first 14 seasons of this century, only 23 tight ends caught 50-plus balls and averaged under 10 yards per catch. More teams (I think) are utilizing their tight ends more often as short-range targets.
The 43 tight ends in question are listed below. The guys from last year are in bold. The others from the last four years have a black dot by their name.
TIGHT ENDS UNDER 10 YARDS PER CATCH | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Player | No | Yds | Avg | TD |
2017 | Austin Seferian-Jenkins, NYJ | 50 | 357 | 7.1 | 3 |
2014 | • Jermaine Gresham, Cin. | 62 | 460 | 7.4 | 5 |
2002 | Bubba Franks, G.B. | 54 | 442 | 8.2 | 7 |
2005 | Jermaine Wiggins, Minn. | 69 | 568 | 8.2 | 1 |
2015 | • Martellus Bennett, Chi. | 53 | 439 | 8.3 | 3 |
2016 | • Dennis Pitta, Balt. | 86 | 729 | 8.5 | 2 |
2017 | Jack Doyle, Ind. | 80 | 690 | 8.6 | 4 |
2017 | Benjamin Watson, Balt. | 61 | 522 | 8.6 | 4 |
2015 | • Richard Rodgers, G.B. | 58 | 510 | 8.8 | 8 |
2016 | • Ryan Griffin, Hou. | 50 | 442 | 8.8 | 2 |
2017 | Jason Witten, Dall. | 63 | 560 | 8.9 | 5 |
2015 | • Heath Miller, Pitt. | 60 | 535 | 8.9 | 2 |
2015 | • Coby Fleener, Ind. | 54 | 491 | 9.1 | 3 |
2017 | Jimmy Graham, Sea. | 57 | 520 | 9.1 | 10 |
2010 | Jermaine Gresham, Cin. | 52 | 471 | 9.1 | 4 |
2000 | Frank Wycheck, Tenn. | 70 | 636 | 9.1 | 4 |
2014 | • Mychal Rivera, Oak. | 58 | 534 | 9.2 | 4 |
2015 | • Jason Witten, Dall. | 77 | 713 | 9.3 | 3 |
2017 | Kyle Rudolph, Minn. | 57 | 532 | 9.3 | 8 |
2014 | • Jordan Reed, Wash. | 50 | 465 | 9.3 | 0 |
2012 | Kyle Rudolph, Minn. | 53 | 493 | 9.3 | 9 |
2012 | Jason Witten, Dall. | 110 | 1039 | 9.4 | 3 |
2011 | Brandon Pettigrew, Det. | 83 | 777 | 9.4 | 5 |
2010 | Tony Gonzalez, Atl. | 70 | 656 | 9.4 | 6 |
2010 | Jacob Tamme, Ind. | 67 | 631 | 9.4 | 4 |
2006 | Jeremy Shockey, NYG | 66 | 623 | 9.4 | 7 |
2003 | Freddie Jones, Ariz. | 55 | 517 | 9.4 | 3 |
2013 | Delanie Walker, Tenn. | 60 | 571 | 9.5 | 6 |
2012 | Aaron Hernandez, N.E. | 51 | 483 | 9.5 | 5 |
2012 | Brandon Pettigrew, Det. | 59 | 567 | 9.6 | 3 |
2005 | Ben Troupe, Tenn. | 55 | 530 | 9.6 | 4 |
2016 | • Charles Clay, Buff. | 57 | 552 | 9.7 | 4 |
2008 | Bo Scaife, Tenn. | 58 | 561 | 9.7 | 2 |
2008 | Jeremy Shockey, N.O. | 50 | 483 | 9.7 | 0 |
2005 | Randy McMichael, Mia. | 60 | 582 | 9.7 | 5 |
2016 | • Jason Witten, Dall. | 69 | 673 | 9.8 | 3 |
2011 | Ed Dickson, Balt. | 54 | 528 | 9.8 | 5 |
2007 | Vernon Davis, S.F. | 52 | 509 | 9.8 | 4 |
2006 | Kellen Winslow, Clev. | 89 | 875 | 9.8 | 3 |
2005 | Erron Kinney, Tenn. | 55 | 543 | 9.9 | 2 |
2016 | • Jack Doyle, Ind. | 59 | 584 | 9.9 | 5 |
2014 | • Larry Donnell, NYG | 63 | 623 | 9.9 | 6 |
2004 | Jermaine Wiggins, Minn. | 71 | 705 | 9.9 | 4 |
—Ian Allan