Gresham: ‘Don’t forget’ improved Cardinals tight ends
Jun 2, 2016, 7:15 AM
Arizona Cardinals tight end Jermaine Gresham holds the football behind his back as a television camera records his celebration after his touchdown reception against the Seattle Seahawks during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2015, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
(AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Cardinals TE Jermaine Gresham doesn’t think you should overlook the Cardinals’ improving tight end room.
In an interview Wednesday with Bickley & Marotta on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM, it was mentioned to Gresham that opponents would have a hard time defending players like Gresham, Larry Fitzgerald and others.
“Don’t forget Darren Fells and [Ifeanyi Momah],” Gresham said. “We’re doing better. We’re not there yet, but we’re doing a lot better. I feel like we’re better than we were last year at that position.”
Fells led Cardinals tight ends last year with 311 yards and had three touchdown catches. Gresham had 223 yards and one TD in 2015, while Troy Niklas appeared in three games and had two touchdowns on four receptions. Momah, meanwhile, missed his entire first season with the Cardinals due to a knee injury.
While the team’s tight ends may have produced when called upon, the ball didn’t come their way often. Of the Cardinals 353 completed passes last year, only 43 were to tight ends, and just 567 of their 4,775 receiving yards, or 11.9 percent, were courtesy of that group.
Gresham was asked how the Cardinals tight ends compare to other NFL tight end rooms.
“I think what most people don’t understand is we’re a different type of tight end than most tight ends in this league,” Gresham said. “Most guys don’t put their head in the dirt, we put our head in the dirt and we can go block guys one-on-one. You look on tape and a lot of guys that get a lot of praise, they’re just catching a lot of balls. We’re effective in the pass game and in the run game, and even in pass protection.”
In an offense that doesn’t rely heavily on its tight ends to move the chains, Gresham didn’t waiver in his belief in the position group.
“I get kind of biased about that situation… (but) that’s our niche in this offense. It works.”
