Tyler Ecker TE Michigan- 7th round pick

[wormer]

Skins pick Michigan TE Tyler Ecker in the 7th round.

http://www.nfl.com/draft/profiles/2007/ecker_tyler

Positives: Has a tall, thick frame with long arms, thick legs and broad shoulders … His body structure appears that he could handle at least another 30 pounds of bulk for a potential move to the offensive line … Solid pass protector who has a quick kick slide to get back and mirror edge rushers … Lacks ideal strength as a position blocker, but uses his frame well to occupy the defender long enough for the quarterback to execute the play … Has adequate initial quickness off the snap and into his routes … Uses his size efficiently to get a good line release and has the functional upper-body power to defeat the press … Will fall off some blocks on the move, but holds his ground well when anchoring against the bull rush … works to sustain his blocks at the line of scrimmage and has a good understanding for blocking schemes … Mentally tough player with the vision to spot pocket pressure and break off his route to work back to the quarterback.

Negatives: Very inconsistent catching the ball, as his ball-concentration skills are lacking (hears the defender's feet) … Slow to get into his patterns and will round his cuts … Lacks the second gear to separate after the catch and needs to do a better job working underneath, as he fails to find the soft spots in the zone … Must improve the timing on his leaps, as he has the size, but will still lose more than a few jump ball battles … Needs to do a better job of getting his shoulders square in attempts to secure the ball … Won't set up a defender or elude them on quickness alone … Must be more aggressive when firing out to locate and neutralize second-level defenders.

Compares To: Zach Hilton, ex-New York Jets -- Like Hilton, Ecker has the height to make jump ball battles a moot point, but he fails to time his leaps and loses concentration on the ball when he hears the defender closing … He is a decent pass protector, but lacks cut blocking ability … He is a marginal catcher who lacks natural hands … He will fight for a roster spot in camp, but there are too many limitations in his game to hold out much hope that he will secure one of those spots.

[frankcal20]

Strengths: Possesses adequate initial quickness, plays with good leverage and generally gets into good position as a blocker. Shows adequate balance, plays hard and flashes the ability to sustain blocks. Plays under control in space, shows good athletic ability and can adjust to the moving target at the second level. Has a wide frame, can shield defenders from the ball and has the potential to develop into a productive red zone target. Generally shows good focus while the ball is in the air and can adjust to passes thrown outside of frame. Flashes the ability to catch the ball at its highest point and rarely drops passes that should catch. Runs with good power and flashes the ability to break tackles after the catch.

Weaknesses: Lacks ideal size, doesn't have ideal lower body strength and has problems creating seams working against two-gap defensive ends. Doesn't deliver a violent initial punch, doesn't extend arms once locked onto the defender and needs to use hands better. Doesn't explode into blocks, doesn't roll hips into blocks and isn't going to knock many defenders back. Doesn't appear to read defenses well and has some problems locating soft spots when working against zone coverage. Lacks ideal top-end speed and isn't going to stretch defenses. Doesn't show great burst coming out of cuts and isn't a crisp route-runner at this point. Age and durability are reasons for concern.

Overall: Ecker arrived in Ann Arbor in 2000, did not see any action, and was redshirted before embarking on a two-year Mormon mission. He returned in 2003, played in all 13 games as a backup tight end and on special teams, and caught seven passes for 98 yards. In 2004, Ecker played in all 12 games for Michigan, made one start, and finished the season with 15 receptions for 139 yards (9.3 average) and two touchdowns. As a redshirt junior in 2005, he started six of the 12 games he played in catching 21 passes for 285 yards (13.6 average) and two touchdowns. In 2006, he started eight of 13 games but missed five contests with an ankle injury and finished the season with 12 catches for 155 yards (12.9 average) and two touchdowns.

Ecker has enough of size and athletic ability to develop into a quality reserve tight end in a scheme that doesn't ask him to do a lot of in-line blocking. However, his upside is limited by his lack of speed and explosiveness. He will turn 25 in April of 2007 and he missed significant time as a senior with an ankle injury. Ecker will need to take the free agent route in order to earn a roster spot in the NFL.

[spudstr04]

WHAT THE HECK ARE THE SKINS DOING??? Why didn't we draft a DL?

[frankcal20]

There are a ton of guys who are going to come in and try out. Relax.

[Skins2daGrave]

[tj123456]

so this guy isn't not big enough to block, and defenitely cant catch.

oh yeah and heis neither fast nor quick.

YOUR FIRED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[HardDawg]

We are going to handle to DE in the offseason. But this guy is a joke! My girlfriend has a better shot of making the team than this clown! VINNY MUST GO!

[tj123456]

isn't not [quote]

IS NOT

SORRY

[Redskin in Canada]

We are going to handle to DE in the offseason. But this guy is a joke! My girlfriend has a better shot of making the team than this clown! VINNY MUST GO!

What a waste of a pick, eh? Incredible.

[UK Skins Fan]

6'6" and 269lb

Must be big enough to block, surely? Went to a good school, has lovely parents, and has very neat handwriting. Other than that, I'm struggling to see the positives.

[CcHhDd]

uhhh.. its the seventh round guys.... are u expecting a pro bowl player?

Practice squad guy... 2 years... have him learn under sellers, who isn't getting any younger. Add 20 pounds of muscle to his body while training with buges on blocking. Can become a good bocking te so we will no longer have to make pucch eligible on goalline situations

For all the people on here who say build through the draft and be patient there sure are a bunch of inpatient guys on this board. Developing talent takes time. I think people have become spoiled over the Ben Roth/ Colston breakout rookie seasons. For the majority of players a career in the NFL is developed, not attained overnight.

[Countertrey]

My bet...

They took him as a blocker for the Jumbo package over the short term. He will be bulking up (experts think he could easily add 30 pounds)... may eventually move inside.

[skinsfan#33]

There are a ton of guys who are going to come in and try out. Relax.

Gibbs said yestreday that we were good at DL, but needed depth at LB.

Now I commpletely disagree, but heck I have three less SB wins than he does. This coaching staff thinks we don't need any help at DL.......

I have a hard time believing that!

Ecker looks like a guy they may turn into a Ron Middleton. You know another tackle at TE, 280-290 and can't catch a lick!

[Redskin in Canada]

I have a hard time believing that!

I saw that too and I thought he was saying it to DECEIVE the other teams. Now we know it was true!

They know something about the health of Marcus that we don't.

But I am sure that something has -already- been thought out about the DL. It is simply impossible to believe that they have not identified one or two potential candidaes to help out.

I just feel that THIS time Joe is simply keeping his options to himself.

[lowtharofthehill]

he is a big guy for a tight end... its not bad to pick up a big guy in any position in the 7th round...the chances of a 7th rounder starting on a team are less than 2% 80% of starters in the league come from the first three rounds of the draft...outside of that you just look for backup players...

[Sgraham]

They brought in guys thatg Gibbs likes and hopefully can contribute in some way. rome wasn't built in a day. If you want them to build a team it will take time. I am not worried at all it's only May. July is a long way off.

[HardDawg]

This guys junk! Another winner! Thanks Vinny!

[1niksder]

But I am sure that something has -already- been thought out about the DL. It is simply impossible to believe that they have not identified one or two potential candidaes to help out.

I think he may have identified one or two potential canidates to help out and they've been at Redskin Park for about a year now.

[HailSkins2007]

I guess I can see picking 1 LB but if we really needed a TE , it shouldnt have been this guy. Im not very happy with the late round picks but I really hope they prove me wrong. Hail Skins !!!!!

[mulkey]

Maybe their thinking of making him a DE. Doesn't sound like a very good pick for a TE.

[jazzskins]

This guys junk! Another winner! Thanks Vinny!

Yeah, way to say, "Welcome to the Redskins, Kid!"

[1niksder]

This guys junk! Another winner! Thanks Vinny!

Yeah, way to say, "Welcome to the Redskins, Kid!"

He hasn't like a pick made to tthis weekend, after pointing out he didn't think there were any DL lineman left on the board worth a pick

[HEROHAMO]

First three picks good! Last two just ok.