Last Chance For The “Prototypical Tight End”
February 24th, 2016
Dirk Koetter talks about tight ends and the complexity of Austin Seferian-Jenkins, who plays less than Luke Stocker (left).
Yes, Austin Seferian-Jenkins ended 2015 as the Bucs’ third-string tight end.
His snap-count totals tell the story, as did firing a football in frustration into the Rams’ end zone.
Seferian-Jenkins makes Bucs fans want to pull their hair out. He’s big and he’s talented, and he’s also repeatedly injured and prone to doing stupid things.
Seferian-Jenkins has a new head coach now, and while Dirk Koetter can’t fix anything medical, perhaps Koetter can fix the mental side and further develop the Bucs’ 2014 second-round pick.
Speaking at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis today, Koetter explained that Seferian-Jenkins is a rare talent.
“There’s not very many tight ends coming into the NFL any more that are prototypical tight ends, guys that can do everything. They can block. They can catch. You know, they play half wide receiver, half offensive tackle. I think Austin is one of those guys, can be one of those guys. But the No. 1 thing he has got to do is stay healthy.”
Of course, Koetter also acknowledged that health is everything. In Joe’s exclusive video below, you might be able to detect a hint of frustration in Koetter’s face when talking about Seferian-Jenkins’ injuries.
Seferian-Jenkins turns 24 in September, so Joe’s not about to give up on him. But 2016 truly is a prove-it season.
February 24th, 2016 at 1:14 pm
ASJ needs to wrap his head around the game this off season and get himself into playing shape.
Our offense could be so much more explosive with a dominant TE.
February 24th, 2016 at 1:25 pm
Hey Joe, you have access to the locker room, #87 has a locker next to #3, Jameis has been quoted that ASJ is his best buddy. If ASJ can’t keep up and Winston rises, I wonder if he will leave his boy in the dust. Keep an eye on their relatioship. Brate will have 500 yds and 5 tds.
February 24th, 2016 at 1:30 pm
Here’s to hoping ASJ stays healthy & improves…..the way I look at it, we got ASJ & Brate for a 2nd round pick……not bad.
February 24th, 2016 at 1:37 pm
Like the say, the most important ability in the nfl is availAbility. The guy has to play through the bumps and pains.
February 24th, 2016 at 1:50 pm
ASJ needs to be..dumped in the Bay IF..he can not produce with all of that God given talent he has. I remember that Saints game where he just bulldozed their secondary romping into the endzone. We need him to stay healthy and be a steady contributor. Cause he gave the impression he was, Soft as charmin last season. I mean it took him forever to return to the field after injury when its believed by many of us he could have returned sooner. This may not have been the case. But appearances are everything. If he stays injured this upcoming season? I say drop him like a..Bad habit! And Just..Tus..for all!
February 24th, 2016 at 2:01 pm
ASJ has the ability to be an excellent TE… True he is a bit immature and he has had some injury issues but let’s give the guy one more season before we cast off a very talented young TE…
February 24th, 2016 at 2:18 pm
Agree with Dewey!..
Is anyone else watching NFL Network right now?
February 24th, 2016 at 2:49 pm
I used to think he’d be special. I’m starting to think he’s just another guy. He’ll stick around if he can contribute, which I expect he will. Just nothing special.
February 24th, 2016 at 3:36 pm
ASJ is tissue soft, big and talented but no heart to go with it.
February 24th, 2016 at 4:04 pm
I’d still like us to go get Nick O’Leary from the Bills practice squad.
February 24th, 2016 at 4:57 pm
ASJ is a “Fragile Flower”
…….he’ll NEVER! and I mean NEVER! ever will be a big contributor to any team in the NFL because he can never stay on the football due to injuries….some guys are injury prone and he fits perfectly into that category.
I say trade him now while he still has some value before he becomes a journeyman in the NFL.
February 24th, 2016 at 5:13 pm
Brate or Meyers are better TE.
February 24th, 2016 at 5:38 pm
Brate is better and has better hands
February 24th, 2016 at 5:38 pm
Another J Says
“I’d still like us to go get Nick O’Leary from the Bills practice squad.”
He was on my wishlist the year he was drafted. I would take him in a heartbeat!
ASJ should get one more year to prove himself. Really, when you think about it, he’s only had good OC coaching for one year.
I also think the Bucs should run him thru a ringer of health tests and see if there is a reason he keeps getting injured.
February 24th, 2016 at 5:40 pm
TheBucsAnthem Says
“ASJ is a “Fragile Flower”
…….he’ll NEVER! and I mean NEVER! ever will be a big contributor to any team in the NFL because he can never stay on the football due to injuries….some guys are injury prone and he fits perfectly into that category.
I say trade him now while he still has some value before he becomes a journeyman in the NFL.”
Funny…the same thing was said about Gerald McCoy after his second year.
February 24th, 2016 at 6:29 pm
health is percieved as his biggest problem because he hasn’t been on the field enough to demonstrate his actual biggest problem – he has a 5 cent brain
February 24th, 2016 at 9:25 pm
Bucs like their new TE in their practice squad, name Westbrook from Gators i think.
February 25th, 2016 at 12:02 am
Remember Gerald McCoy was injured his first two years also. Began to look like a bust and now he is one of the better players at his position. Let’s hope ASJ can turn it around also.
February 25th, 2016 at 3:20 am
Meh,….the Myron Lewis of tight ends
February 25th, 2016 at 11:57 am
I initially wanted Kony Ealy, Davante Adams, Allen Robinson, or Jarvis Landry over ASJ in the second round in 2014. Granted we took Mike Evans already in the first but we severely lacked pass catchers coming into the draft. Wasn’t too fond of the ASJ or Charles Sims pick in the third only because we really needed an OL n could’ve had a good guard in the third, but sims turned out to be a good third down back. With the buzz about Westbrook n how brates played last year ASJ is on a thread this season. It’s make or break this year