Originally Posted by :
The former all-state pick from Massachusetts played quarterback his junior year at Leominster High School. He started once in 12 appearances as a sophomore (20 receptions, 234 yards, 11.7 average, one touchdown) and also contributed in 13 games as a reserve (five receptions, 37 yards, two touchdowns) his first year in Durham. Gray stepped into the NFL draft spotlight as a junior, garnering second-team All-ACC honors by leading the Blue Devils in receptions and finishing among the top FBS tight ends with 51 catches for 392 yards (7.7 per) and three scores. The 2020 team captain played in 10 games with nine starts as a senior (29 receptions, 285 yards, 9.8 average, two touchdowns), becoming the school's all-time leading receiver at tight end. He accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl. -- by Chad Reuter
Overview
Gray understands leverage and how to create some tilt in coverage but doesn't have play speed or separation burst to do enough with it. While he's not going to have the size or strength to block defenders when firing off the ball, he has enough athleticism and grit to offer some assistance as a move blocker from the slot or wing position. He has late-round potential and could find a team fit as a TE3/4. Strengths
Team captain.
Helps out in pass protection with decent mirror and technique.
Will stick and sustain as a slot blocker.
Reads the track properly when asked to lead block.
Slick footwork and leverage in his routes.
Ability to run more complex routes underneath.
Spins open suddenly in space against zone.
Sharp angles out of his turns.
Adjustment and focus to bring the throw in.
Weaknesses
Just nine yards per reception during career.
Thin through waist and hips with lean lower body.
Lacks threatening vertical push off the line.
Moves well but doesn't separate much.
Might not have ability to attack the seam.
Lacks agility on the move when working at the second level.
Gets overtaken by force at point of attack as blocker.
Originally Posted by Hoover:
Noah Gray has as many TD's as Kyle Pitts in Atlanta does.
Considering he doesn't even start and backs up Kelce, that is more impressive. Pitts is the only target in ATL outside of Patterson. Gray is like option 4 or 5 anytime he is on the field. [Reply]
For whatever reason, it's hard to integrate TEs as rookies into NFL offenses. Either coaches don't trust them with blocking responsibilities so they don't see the field, or their receiving skills are still sucky, or some other such reason.
Pitts already has the 2nd most receiving yards for a rookie TE in NFL history. A rookie TE hasn't cracked 1000 yards since Ditka did it in 1961, but Pitts can do that with just 50 more.
I don't really care if the Falcons are force feeding him the ball or not. That's a pretty good indicator of NFL success provided you don't see a total implosion like Jeremy Shockey had following his rookie season. [Reply]
Originally Posted by RealSNR:
I don't know about shitting on Pitts.
For whatever reason, it's hard to integrate TEs as rookies into NFL offenses. Either coaches don't trust them with blocking responsibilities so they don't see the field, or their receiving skills are still sucky, or some other such reason.
Pitts already has the 2nd most receiving yards for a rookie TE in NFL history. A rookie TE hasn't cracked 1000 yards since Ditka did it in 1961, but Pitts can do that with just 50 more.
I don't really care if the Falcons are force feeding him the ball or not. That's a pretty good indicator of NFL success provided you don't see a total implosion like Jeremy Shockey had following his rookie season.
I'm not. He's a stud. He will get those TDs next season I bet, [Reply]
Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy:
Do we take 4 TEs?
If he is playing as well as is being reported they might have to. Bell has value none of the other three do. I would hate to see Fortsen be the odd man out. [Reply]
Can we come up with some kind of universal punishment for idiots on this forum who after the 3rd day of training camp say shit like, "Noah Gray has been awfully quiet. Not good. Haven't heard a single thing about him. Probably gonna get cut I'll bet."
There. There's your noise. Just because a guy's name doesn't get called doesn't mean he's not doing well or not meeting expectations of the coaches.
I'm not saying he's going All Pro now, but he IS getting your precious training camp buzz you were desperately searching for to affirm that he'll be sticking around the team. [Reply]
Gray is going to have every opportunity afforded to him to make this team as a guy Veach moved up to the top of the 5th to get. If he's playing good ball, no way they'll ditch him.
Fortson was showing last year he could be a red zone threat at a minimum but KC lacked the size they now possess at WR. He could have value but he's going to have to show more than that, and he just might.
Bell has a very limited, specific skill set, that isn't so incredibly valuable that I could see Reid letting the two younger guys go for if they are both playing well. That would be my odd man-out candidate.
Now, if Fortson or Gray suck ass in pre-season game action, then Bell could keep one of them from making the team. From what we're hearing very early, Bell is going to have his work cut out for him. It's early though. [Reply]
Originally Posted by tredadda:
If he is playing as well as is being reported they might have to. Bell has value none of the other three do. I would hate to see Fortsen be the odd man out.
Michael Burton makes Bell expendable. Bell's "value" is the occasional chip block. Burton can do that. [Reply]