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SPORTS Thursday 29 augusT 2019
Tight ends are evolving as pass-catching threats

By LARRY LAGE San Francisco tight end
AP Sports Writer George Kittle had 1,377
ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — yards receiving, setting an-
The day before Tony Gon- other single-season record
zalez was inducted into the at the position.
Pro Football Hall of Fame Two-time All-Pro tight end
earlier this month, he was Travis Kelce was spectacu-
asked about being a some- lar as well, setting career
thing of a pioneer at tight highs in catches (103),
end. A guy who changed yards receiving (1,336) and
his position — and the touchdowns (10) last sea-
game itself. son.
Gonzalez sort of shrugged. The 25-year-old Kittle keeps
"I guess everyone is doing it track of peers on his iPad,
now," he admitted of tight studying every move made
ends being used in a man- by most of the starting
ner that Gonzalez didn't ex- tight ends. He takes a par-
actly invent, but certainly ticularly close look at how
perfected. the 29-year-old Kelce and
The pass-happy, vertical- 28-year-old Ertz are per-
stretching NFL is shifting haps the best in the busi-
away from relying heav- ness at the position.
ily on formations with one "I just try to pull stuff from
tight end in a three-point them," Kittle said. "Ertz and In this Oct. 21, 2018, file photo, Philadelphia Eagles tight end Zach Ertz, right, makes a catch
stance. Instead, many Kelce are two of the top against Carolina Panthers free safety Mike Adams during the first half of an NFL football game in
teams feature offenses guys in the league, so if I Philadelphia. Eagles star Zach Ertz made 116 receptions, a new mark for by a tight end.
with one tight end next to can learn something from Associated Press
a tackle on the line while them, I can get to that lev-
sending a tight end to the el, too." side, Saints coach Sean throughout the past 15 are in the Hall of Fame —
slot or spread out even wid- The best tight ends these Payton said players at the years," Patricia said. and not for their blocking
er in some formations. days are too fast for line- position who can also block When Patricia was starting acumen.
Star tight end Jason Witten, backers to defend, and near the line of scrimmage his NFL coaching career, Desperate to add a differ-
who returned to the Cow- too big for defensive backs will always be valued be- he saw a lot of two-back, ence-making player at the
boys after one year work- to cover. Teams often are cause of the importance two-receiver formations position, Detroit drafted T.J.
ing on "Monday Night Foot- sending tight ends on verti- they can have in the run- with one tight end with his Hockenson with the No. 8
ball," said Gonzalez, whose cal routes, forcing safeties ning game. hand in the dirt or turf. As pick overall in April. That
17-year career ended in to run with them and leav- "The ones that end up in the the game has changed, was the earliest a tight end
2003, changed things with ing cornerbacks isolated on Hall of Fame are probably Patricia sees more schemes has been selected since
his route-running and pass- receivers to create deep guys that did both pretty putting two tight ends on San Francisco took Vernon
catching skills at the posi- problems for defenses. well," Payton said. the field — usually one in Davis sixth overall in 2006.
tion. Titans tight end Delanie Rob Gronkowski excelled place of a fullback — to The Lions weren't alone in
"Gonzalez kind of paved Walker, entering his 14th at catching and block- take advantage of their April, making a first-round
the way of my generation season, has noticed play- ing for New England dur- ability to make plays in investment in a tight end
of, 'All right, this is a mis- ers at his position have be- ing his nine-year career, space with two receivers who was a teammate of
match,'" said Witten, who come more like wide re- which ended with his re- and one running back as Hockenson's at Iowa. The
will get strong consider- ceivers. tirement last spring. Lions part of the formation. Broncos drafted Noah Fant
ation to join Gonzalez in "Guys aren't blocking," coach Matt Patricia saw "Where the game has re- in the first round, taking a
Canton one day. Walker said. "You don't Gronkowski's impact up ally evolved and changed pair of tight ends off the
Two of the best active see the traditional tight close for eight seasons and is where those tight ends board in the first 20 picks
tight ends are coming off end on the end of the line has witnessed the evolution have much more of a wide for the first time since the
record-breaking seasons, anymore. If he's a star, he's of how multiple tight ends receiver skillset," Patricia league went to 32 teams in
and another one just had usually in the slot catching are deployed on any given said. 2002.
the best year of his career. passes. That's a difference snap. It's not exactly unheard of And yes, both from the
Eagles star Zach Ertz made from 10 years ago." "That's probably one of the to have such players. Kel- same school, because
116 receptions, a single- Even though tight ends are bigger changes that has len Winslow, Charlie Sand- pass-catching tight ends
season mark by a tight end. often lined up on the out- happened in the game ers and Shannon Sharpe are so in vogue.q
Madrazo wins 5th stage, Lopez takes overall lead in Vuelta

ARCOS DE LAS SALINAS, final 500 meters (547 yards) said. "The team was telling a breakaway group that ible," Bol said. "Madrazo
Spain (AP) — Defying his of the 170-kilometer (105- me to save energy for to- included teammate Jetse was dropping and coming
team's advice to save en- mile) stage, which ended morrow, for the mountain Bol and José Herrada of back the whole time but
ergy, Angel Madrazo kept on a mountain top by an points. And I told them, team Cofidis. Bol crossed when he attacked he was
pushing hard on the final astronomical observatory 'No, no, we need to go for the line in second place, gone for good. It was im-
climb to win the fifth stage in the city of Arcos de las it, we can't put off until to- 10 seconds off the lead, pressive."
of the Spanish Vuelta on Salinas. morrow what can be done with Herrada coming in 12 Lopez, a Colombian from
Wednesday, while Miguel "To win here is one of the today.'" seconds later. Astana Pro Team, finished
Angel Lopez used a late biggest achievements as The rider from team Bur- "I wanted to win myself, but fourth in the stage, 47 sec-
charge to take the overall a cyclist and for me it's gos-BH had stayed near when a teammate wins, onds behind Madrazo.
lead. become a dream come the front throughout the and it happens the way Alejandro Valverde, of Mo-
Madrazo broke free in the true," the Spanish rider final kilometers (miles) in it did, it just feels incred- vistar Team, was fifth. q