Buffalo Bills Tight Ends: State Of The Bills Roster

by Brian Galliford on Jan 20, 2011 10:00 AM EST in Buffalo Bills News

This post is part of a series entitled State of the Bills Roster, in which we're breaking down and evaluating the Buffalo Bills on a position-by-position basis. If you're confused about the number and letter classification appearing after each player's name, read this post. You can check out all previous installments of this series here.

Back in May of 2010, we took a rather close look at Buffalo's tight end position - probably closer than the situation really warranted, but hey, overkill is a specialty of ours. We talked about the fact that Chan Gailey historically doesn't get anything out of tight ends, and we talked about the fact that the Bills hadn't had a productive tight end in years.

Four Bills tight ends combined to catch 23 passes for 187 yards and one solitary touchdown in 2010, and the Bills still haven't had a productive tight end in years. We seriously doubt anyone is going to put money down on that changing in the near future.

A look at Buffalo's bleak tight end situation lies after the jump.

Right now, the Bills have five tight ends in their organization.

David Martin (3-E). He joined the team late in the summer, and didn't start immediately because of it. Eventually, he split time as the team's starter, and is responsible for the lone touchdown from this group on a play WECK 1230's Nick Mendola described as a "sixth grade Hail Mary" in Week 4 against the Jets. (Man, I love that imagery.) I'd like to say that Martin was solid in 2010, but I didn't really notice him much - so I'm chalking up his anonymity to his doing a semi-acceptable job.

Scott Chandler (3-E). Easily the best physical specimen of this group, Chandler saw limited action late in the season after being poached off of the Cowboys' practice squad. Gailey seemed to like his size and upside, so he could get another look heading into the 2011 season.

Jonathan Stupar (4-F). Much like when someone crosses the Moats - albeit to a far less dangerous degree - I'm hesitant to besmirch the name of Stupar. Still, after a late-season performance in which he was routinely horrific in picking up blitzes in pass protection, Stupar's true colors were revealed: he's adequate at best, awful at worst, and not remotely irreplaceable.

Shawn Nelson (4-F). Bills fans had high hopes for this 2009 fourth-round pick out of Southern Mississippi, and in his first NFL game, he scored a touchdown on Monday Night Football in New England. It's been downhill, to say the very least, for Nelson since that point. He made a minimal impact in spot duty as a rookie, missing several games due to migraines. Then he got suspended for the first four games of the 2010 season for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. He fumbled in overtime to set up a loss to the Ravens, and then landed on IR with the same migraine issues that plagued him as a rookie. The talent is still there; whether or not he gets an opportunity to use it in Buffalo is another question entirely.

Mike Caussin (4-F). Signed off of Jacksonville's practice squad late in the year, Caussin was never active for the Bills. A former James Madison teammate of Arthur Moats.

Contract situations to monitor: Martin was signed to a one-year deal as a street free agent last September, and will be a free agent. Chandler is listed as a restricted free agent by RotoWorld.com, so it should be relatively easy to retain him. Stupar, too, is a free agent, while Nelson still has two years remaining on the rookie deal he signed in the summer of 2009.

Outlook: Gailey's expressed being intrigued by Chandler, and he certainly has the size to help out as a blocker. Martin was reliable in that capacity, as well, and we can assume that he'll be considered as a re-signing this off-season. Stupar and Caussin are wholly replaceable, and while Nelson may be afforded one last opportunity to realize his solid potential, he also may not. Expect this to be an also-ran position for the Bills going forward, with the tight ends acting much more like sixth offensive lineman than third or fourth receiver.

Possible Acquisition: If the Bills stumble across a do-everything tight end at some point in the 2011 NFL Draft, they should seriously consider taking him. In the likely event that doesn't happen, expect more of the same - big bodies that can catch in the flat on rare occasion, block effectively, and not screw up.

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Comments

I still wonder

what substance Nelson was abusing. I get a feeling its marijuana to help with his migranes.

He has a great hands, and could be a legit threat if he saw the feild for more than 15 mins a season.

Shun the non Billievers!

by Superduff on Jan 20, 2011 9:28 AM EST reply actions

I just hope he can get over his migraines and become a productive member of the team. It would be great to have an above average TE on game days

South Park showed us the benefit of Captain Hindsight

by J2 on Jan 20, 2011 9:29 AM EST up reply actions

I thought maybe he was into the purple drank, but Marijuana is always a good bet :)

Some day the Bills won't suck anymore. Or they'll be in someone else's city.

by syrbillsfan on Jan 20, 2011 10:33 AM EST up reply actions

I give him a slight pass for the marijuana usage if it was to help with his migraines. They can be extremely painful and there’s not much out there that really helps, especially if you’re making your living getting hit on the head all the time.

by Dr. Brackish Okun on Jan 20, 2011 10:42 AM EST up reply actions

And I trust you...

Youre a doctor.

Lets Go Buff a lo!!!

by bflo on Jan 20, 2011 10:49 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs

haha

Shun the non Billievers!

by Superduff on Jan 20, 2011 11:13 AM EST up reply actions

bflo...

Rec’d.

And I trust you… Youre a doctor

That’s funny but did he stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night?

I WILL TAKE MY BUFFALO NATION EVERY TIME NO MATTER WHAT THE ODDS . STAND AND CHEER YOUR BUFFALO NATION WILL NEVER TURN YOUR BACK ON YOU, ONE BATTLE IS NOT THE END WE WILL COME BACK AND SURVIVE FOR ANOTHER DAY , OUR TIME WILL COME WE WILL NOT SURRENDER -abayarde

by Byrdeputt on Jan 20, 2011 11:52 AM EST up reply actions

Hahaha

I was going with the Dr Pepper commercials with that one. Like the Dr. Love, etc…

Lets Go Buff a lo!!!

by bflo on Jan 20, 2011 12:00 PM EST up reply actions

For some reason, this made me think back to the “doctor” in Cannonball Run.

In the year two thousaaaaaaand.
In the year two thousAAAAAAND!

Current song recommendation: Ween "Mr. Richard Smoker"

by TheAfghanTwilight on Jan 20, 2011 4:28 PM EST up reply actions

Not a blocker and probably never will be

Last summer one of the reporters covering the team (was it Tim Graham?) was watching the TE’s moving the blocking sled during practice. The only one who couldn’t budge it at all was Shawn Nelson. Since Gailey has said that he really likes his TE’s to be able to block so that he can disguise the play more effectively, that suggests Nelson may not have much of a future with the Bills. Every time he goes out there the other team can figure it is going to be a pass play, not a run.

by Macktruck on Jan 20, 2011 11:43 AM EST up reply actions

Probably not that cut and dry

or we would just run counters all day. But with the emergence of our young wr’s he has become expendable.

Shun the non Billievers!

by Superduff on Jan 20, 2011 1:14 PM EST up reply actions

I was overstating things a little to make my point, which is that Chan Gailey really wants his TE’s to be able to catch passes AND block so that he can better disguise the play. That’s what the man said.

by Macktruck on Jan 20, 2011 1:42 PM EST up reply actions

Why couldn’t Shawn Nelson play more of a WR role? Isn’t he a bit similar in size and ability to Mike Williams, now with the Seahawks?

In the year two thousaaaaaaand.
In the year two thousAAAAAAND!

Current song recommendation: Ween "Mr. Richard Smoker"

by TheAfghanTwilight on Jan 20, 2011 4:29 PM EST up reply actions

Good point.

And for their first pick in the 2011 draft the Buffalo Bills select ...........

by Enigma3 on Jan 20, 2011 7:05 PM EST up reply actions

Phil: What would you do if you were stuck in one place and every day was exactly the same, and nothing that you did mattered?

Ralph: That about sums it up for me

South Park showed us the benefit of Captain Hindsight

by J2 on Jan 20, 2011 9:29 AM EST reply actions 1 recs

I hate the fact that we dont have a TE that our QB's have been able to trust over the years.

It may seem like a position that gets overlooked, but its huge in the passing game.

Out of the 12 playoff teams… 9 of them had go to TE’s. And when you look at NE.. they have 2 and Crumpler would make 3.

I understand its never really been in Gaileys arsenal or game plan… but I would kill for this team to have a threat at TE. Someone that can create matchup problems for other teams LB’s… I mean look at the crap we’ve given up to TE’s throughout the years. That position has single handidly beat us numerous times.

Lets Go Buff a lo!!!

by bflo on Jan 20, 2011 9:33 AM EST reply actions 1 recs

To me David Nelson serves as the receiving TE the Bills don’t have.

by Pistol on Jan 20, 2011 9:35 AM EST up reply actions

He could be. Hes got the size (height-wise) but even he will still be matched up with a CB. This league is more about someone that can block, catch and run after the catch at the TE position, not just a 6th O-lineman… But it all comes back to the weak O-line (OT) because that means we need extra help to block instead of going out for passes.

Lets Go Buff a lo!!!

by bflo on Jan 20, 2011 9:39 AM EST up reply actions

I compare the TE situation

to a gray-colored rainy day that starts at sunrise and continues through the following night.

Gloomy.

by Buffalo for Eternity on Jan 20, 2011 9:48 AM EST reply actions

nelson

In the limited time s. nelson played, did he show any improvement as a blocker?

by bizarro bills on Jan 20, 2011 10:10 AM EST via mobile reply actions

He is a superb downfield blocker — something he worked hard on in college. However, he has never been asked to be an in-line blocker and probably doesn’t have the size or build to be effective at it.

by Macktruck on Jan 20, 2011 11:38 AM EST up reply actions

Our last ray of hope was Kevin Everett who I thought was ready to bust out. Probably the hardest position to find talent. If you think about it, most mediocre to bad teams struggle in the tight end position.

by JJBUD on Jan 20, 2011 10:12 AM EST reply actions

One of the hardest positions to have an impact as a rookie

unless you are Tom Brady throwing to them… Even if we draft one, it will be 2-3 years before they do anything. This is the year for Nelson, but he hasn’t seen the field much and probably will be more of a 2nd year player than 3rd.

Chandler might have a bigger role on this team. In a offense like we run, we need more of a guy that can do both (block and catch passes) so defenses don’t key in on the plays we are running just because they see the TE in the game or not.

Completely agree with your Kevin Everett comment. He was ready after spending a few years learning the position. I think in the game he was hurt he had a few big catches and good yardage for 1st downs too.

by dabillsr1 on Jan 20, 2011 11:13 PM EST up reply actions

i hope we get zach miller and jared gaither in FA… i know many dont like gaither but what do we lose? we got green last year after all…

that would set our right side of the offensive line in addition to an actual receiving threat… imagine what fitz can do with the added protection and miller

by statcruncher on Jan 20, 2011 10:12 AM EST reply actions

Gaither might make a good stop gap, but I’d rather get a RT in the draft and build him up. Gaither’s probably too expensive for what we would need him for in that instance.

"Slowly all the roles we act out become our identity. And in the end we are what we pretend to be." - Jerry Cantrell.

by stetzwebs on Jan 20, 2011 10:24 AM EST up reply actions

I like the idea of Gaithers also but he doesn’t want to play RT in Baltimore, what makes you think he would play RT here.

by Bufbills on Jan 20, 2011 10:25 AM EST reply actions

Worst Position

I think that TE is probably the weakest position on this team, not much there at all. Oddly, its not the position of biggest need — that seems to be either DE or LB.

by JjR in TO on Jan 20, 2011 10:31 AM EST reply actions

every day I read how urgent it is that we upgrade at TE.

How it has been a position of weakness for years, and how much it would help to have a big go to guy in the middle of the field. I agree to the point that it would be one more weapon for Chan and Fitz to utilize on game day. Where I disagree is in the position that it must be upgraded, and saying that it is one of our biggest needs. This is a position that if Gailey had a great TE in there he would still only throw to 3-4 times a game. Would it help open things up in the middle of the field? Yes, and I wish we could go there more than we have this year if only for that purpose, but when you are talking about production, and moveing the sticks it is hard to complain about what Chan, and Fitz were able to do this year. With the bigger WR’s we have now it is almost the same thing when D. Nelson runs a short crossing route from the slot, or runs a route up the middle from motion out of the slot. The fact is when you add up the catches by our top five WR’s, and all of our TE’s it compares to other teams with only two WR’s with any significant amount of catches, but a TE with 65+ catches. We dont have to model our offense to the Colts, and NE it is OK to have our own game plan on how to beat guys. I am fine with the TE’s we have on the team. I thought Martin did a great job as a blocker down field (that was his job) for most of the year. Nelson needs to be able to practice, and improve with his blocking to get on the field. Stupar is average, but is OK depth for a position that is going to remain underutilized in the next few years. I would not be adverse to drafting a TE in the later rounds to compete with the group we have now, but I do not see this as a position of high priority. IMO this will remain a position designed for a blocker that can catch a few passes.

Here is how I see things shaking out:

D. Martin Will be kept if he will sign for under 1 mil. and will compete with Chandler for the top two positions.

Stupar, Nelson, Caussin, and anyone else they sign will all compete for the third spot on next years team as more of a pass catching TE. I think Nelson will be given another year to sort things out, but unless he learns to block better I dont see him getting much play time.

Please base your arguments in provable facts instead of pulling stuff out of your rear. -CanadianBillsFan- This is why talk is cheap because the supply always exceeds the demand.

by jbbillfan on Jan 20, 2011 10:34 AM EST reply actions

By the way I almost used (CHATZ) for Chan, and Fitz in this comment in comparison to (CHIX).

So then we could say CHIX, and CHATZ are moving this team in the right direction. (Or add your own ending.)

Please base your arguments in provable facts instead of pulling stuff out of your rear. -CanadianBillsFan- This is why talk is cheap because the supply always exceeds the demand.

by jbbillfan on Jan 20, 2011 10:40 AM EST up reply actions

This is a position that if Gailey had a great TE in there he would still only throw to 3-4 times a game.

Tony Gonzalez had 96 receptions when he played for Chan. So either he caught 1.5 balls for every pass thrown his way or Chan uses the talents of the players he has.

All your tshirt needs.
Twit wit, minus actual wit.

by twoeightnine on Jan 20, 2011 10:43 AM EST up reply actions

Ok I should have said " a good TE". I agree with a great TE he would target the position more than 3-4 times a game. I might point out Gonzalez is not on our team!!

“or Chan uses the talents of the players he has”

Exactly my point he has plenty of talent at WR so there is no need to go get a big name TE.

Please base your arguments in provable facts instead of pulling stuff out of your rear. -CanadianBillsFan- This is why talk is cheap because the supply always exceeds the demand.

by jbbillfan on Jan 20, 2011 10:57 AM EST up reply actions

Really he's not? No way!

Exactly my point he has plenty of talent at WR so there is no need to go get a big name TE.

Who said anything about a big name? The Bills seriously need a good all-around TE who can be a threat in the passing game and be an effective blocker. The Bills have neither of those on the roster. What’s wrong with having talent at all positions?

All your tshirt needs.
Twit wit, minus actual wit.

by twoeightnine on Jan 20, 2011 11:02 AM EST up reply actions

well you did, when you brought up Gonzalez.

There are a lot of teams in this league that dont have a “good all-around TE who can be a threat in the passing game and be an effective blocker”. Those are hard to come by, and usually take a high round pick or big money to get. IMO with all the other needs this team has we cant be throwing either at the TE position at this point in the rebuild. what most teams have had to do is use a combination of the two. Thus having a couple of blocking and a couple of pass catching TE’s on the team. I think we have this already as I described above.

‘

"what’s wrong with having talent at all positions"

Nothing. IMO we have the means to move the ball down the field well now with the talent we have at WR. If the offense was the cause of most of our losses, and our WR’s were not getting the job done, then TE would be an option in the high rounds, but we have bigger needs on defense, and the WR’s are getting the job done.

Please base your arguments in provable facts instead of pulling stuff out of your rear. -CanadianBillsFan- This is why talk is cheap because the supply always exceeds the demand.

by jbbillfan on Jan 20, 2011 11:43 AM EST up reply actions

I saw the title

and thought FAIL

"You can't spell, 'The Buffalo Bills Win the Superbowl,' without 'Buffalo Bills.'" - Me

by B3@$TMoD3 on Jan 20, 2011 10:54 AM EST reply actions

I thought: Missing persons’ report.

In the year two thousaaaaaaand.
In the year two thousAAAAAAND!

Current song recommendation: Ween "Mr. Richard Smoker"

by TheAfghanTwilight on Jan 20, 2011 4:33 PM EST up reply actions

Shawn Nelson

(4-F): Unfit for Buffalo Bills service. Need to find someone else in the draft to go to war with.

Ryan Fitzpatrick -- Buffalo's new flavor at QB -- Diet Flutie

by NordicBillsfan on Jan 20, 2011 12:03 PM EST reply actions

Either use

Shawn Nelson – who I thought could be a great asset or trade him for whatever later round pick value he has. I just hate this. You know that if he was on New England he would be the toast of ESPN and if Aaron Hernandez was on the Bills he would be a nobody falling down the depth chart. What the hell. The kid was talent. Either use it or get something for it.

i’m sure i’m going to regret this conversation… but what the hell - J2

by poz on Jan 20, 2011 12:09 PM EST reply actions 2 recs

Rec'd

"Pressure is when you don't prepare, and I know I've prepared myself..."
-C.J. Spiller

by Sluss88 on Jan 20, 2011 12:26 PM EST up reply actions

We have Tight Ends?

"The Buffalo Bills have just exploded all over the Cincinnati Bangles"
-Steve Tasker-

by billsoferie on Jan 20, 2011 12:25 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

TWSS

In the year two thousaaaaaaand.
In the year two thousAAAAAAND!

Current song recommendation: Ween "Mr. Richard Smoker"

by TheAfghanTwilight on Jan 20, 2011 4:33 PM EST up reply actions

I was

Waiting for that! Ha-Ha!

All hail the victory lighter!!

by brendar of the bills people on Jan 20, 2011 5:31 PM EST up reply actions

No, we have cellulite! Very ugly and pock-marked.

"Adversity is an opportunity for heroism." Marv Levy.

by SERGEANT MAJOR THOR on Jan 20, 2011 5:14 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

I am not a fan of the way Chan does not use his TE’s in the passing game. Gailey has a good offensive mind but has faint clue as to how to properly use a TE passing threat. The switch just never got turned on. IF Shawn Nelson can get proper help to keep his migraines in check, he will make a good receiving TE for some team who knows how to use him. What a shame. Did Nelson have migraines in college? That situation also makes me wonder if OBD did a thorough vetting of Nelson before they drafted him.

And for their first pick in the 2011 draft the Buffalo Bills select ...........

by Enigma3 on Jan 20, 2011 2:25 PM EST reply actions

I have wondered that also as I do not remember reading anything about it when he was a prospect.

Please base your arguments in provable facts instead of pulling stuff out of your rear. -CanadianBillsFan- This is why talk is cheap because the supply always exceeds the demand.

by jbbillfan on Jan 20, 2011 5:14 PM EST up reply actions