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 Discuss Thrower:
So he's not going to be a 'true' backup to Kelce but is gonna be an H-Back?
Veach said they can line him up in the slot, H-Back, and at FB.
He specifically said that he offers a similar skill set and that’s valuable because they don’t have anybody else like that when Kelce’s not on the field. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Hammock Parties:
Put Kelce on the line and this guy in the slot and you have a lot of fun things you can do to defenses.
Probably can't cover him with a linebacker so now you're opening yourself to getting run on.
OR he can be a very nice option as a blocker on WR screens.
Man, it's going to be ridiculous this year. Teams will have to prepare for our improved run game to go with legit screen and play action options thanks to the new o-line, and now Andy is going to get to have fun with a 12 personnel package.
Mahomes in shotgun with CEH to his left
Hill and Hardman (Powell?) out wide
Kelce in the slot to the right
Gray inline
Originally Posted by staylor26:
Veach said they can line him up in the slot, H-Back, and at FB.
He specifically said that he offers a similar skill set and that’s valuable because they don’t have anybody else like that when Kelce’s not on the field.
Now you're going to potentially line a guy up at Sherman's old spot that is having his skill set compared to Kelce's? Haha, shiiiiit. [Reply]
Originally Posted by staylor26:
Veach said they can line him up in the slot, H-Back, and at FB.
He specifically said that he offers a similar skill set and that’s valuable because they don’t have anybody else like that when Kelce’s not on the field.
I think this is Andy's new wrinkle this year.
Other teams loading up on corners and speed in their secondaries and we're going to run big slot, H-back, 21 and beat them physically underneath while Hill and Hardman kill them deep. [Reply]
And remember guys he was a qb before he played TE so Andy may be able to scheme up plays where he throws the ball once in a while which would really put defenses in a bind :-) . I honestly have a really good feeling about this kid...he moves like Kelce but has skills like that San Fran fullback who scored on us in the SB. [Reply]
No team has a Tyreek, and no team has a Kelce. And certainly no team has a Tyreek AND a Kelce. Sure, they've tried to replicate it, but no one has yet.
It’s so hard to defend. Long or short, pick your poison. That’s why it worked.
Until they keyed in on our beat up line and dropped 7 or 8. It slowed us down.
Now, we have a monster line, and they’ll need to provide help in the box because you’re either giving Patrick all day to throw, or jog, or CEH will **** you up.
Back to plan A - Tyreek or Kelce.
EXCEPT... now...
We have Tyreek and Tyreek Jr, and we have Kelce and Kelce Jr all at the same time. They’ll have to commit their C and D resources on an island to Mecole and Noah. And if they’re in zone, we motion them and flip-flop sides. Defend in and out. Or near and wide. Or deep and short.
Our offense is fucking terrifying to defend now. [Reply]
Love this pick. How good does he actually have to be when everyone's double covering tyreek and kelce? If he can actually play fullback, even better. With our offense it feels like a waste to have a fullback in there. We need blockers who are an actual receiving option. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Bowser:
Man, it's going to be ridiculous this year. Teams will have to prepare for our improved run game to go with legit screen and play action options thanks to the new o-line, and now Andy is going to get to have fun with a 12 personnel package.
Mahomes in shotgun with CEH to his left
Hill and Hardman (Powell?) out wide
Kelce in the slot to the right
Gray inline
It just isn't fair, and I love it.
Is this a legal formation? I don't think all good be eligble. [Reply]
Originally Posted by staylor26:
Veach said they can line him up in the slot, H-Back, and at FB.
He specifically said that he offers a similar skill set and that’s valuable because they don’t have anybody else like that when Kelce’s not on the field.
Just seems like a philosophy switch from Reid & Co.
If you transposed Gray's raw metrics onto Anthony Sherman: would Sherman still have exactly the same role he had in KC (primary special team, second as FB in a less-than-run heavy offense) or is Sherman used in a totally different way? [Reply]
