If there’s one group of players who are excited about Brian Schottenheimer’s arrival in Athens, it’s the tight ends. And with some justification, it seems.
With Schottenheimer coordinator with the St. Louis Rams, tight end Jared Cook led the team each of the past two seasons in receptions. He had 52 for 634 yards and three touchdowns (ranking 15th in receptions in the NFL at the position) in 2014 and 51 for 671 (a team record for receiving yards for a tight end) and five touchdowns in 2013.
Teammate Lance Kendricks was 28th among tight ends in the league last season with 27 catches for 259 yards and five touchdowns and had 32 catches for 258 with four touchdowns the previous year.
When Schottenheimer was coordinator with the New York Jets before that, tight end Dustin Keller led the team in both 2011 and 2010 in receptions. He ranked ninth among tight ends in the NFL in 2011 with 62 catches for 811 yards and five touchdowns and 11th in 2010 with 55 for 687 with five touchdowns. Keller in 2010 had two more catches than receiver Braylon Edwards and three more than receiver Santonio Holmes and running back LaDainian Tomlinson.
That may be one answer if wide-out depth doesn’t develop too quickly this season. If Rome stays healthy, Schottenheimer’s got some options with experience to work with at tight end.