By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
BigPaulSportsBigPaulSports
Notification Show More
Latest News
Chargers End 7-Game Losing Streak Against Chiefs with Season-Opening Win
Chargers End 7-Game Losing Streak Against Chiefs with Season-Opening Win
Game Analysis NFL
Chiefs Capitalize on Chargers Mistake in Shocking Turn of Events
Chiefs Capitalize on Chargers Mistake in Shocking Turn of Events
Game Analysis NFL
Chiefs WR Xavier Worthy Ruled Out with Shoulder Injury
Chiefs WR Xavier Worthy Ruled Out with Shoulder Injury
Game Analysis NFL
Morocco Becomes First African Team to Clinch 2026 World Cup Spot
Morocco Becomes First African Team to Clinch 2026 World Cup Spot
Game Analysis
Who is Bobby Witt Jr.? The All-Star Slugger Talks Sushi and Favorite BBQ
Who is Bobby Witt Jr.? The All-Star Slugger Talks Sushi and Favorite BBQ
Game Analysis
Aa
  • Big Paul Sports
  • Services
  • Game Analysis
  • Free Picks
  • Premium Content
  • Registration
  • Member Login
Reading: How Panthers’ revamped TE corps with rookie Ja’Tavion Sanders can help Bryce Young
Share
Aa
BigPaulSportsBigPaulSports
  • Big Paul Sports
  • Services
  • Game Analysis
  • Free Picks
  • Premium Content
  • Registration
  • Member Login
Search
  • Big Paul Sports
  • Services
  • Game Analysis
  • Free Picks
  • Premium Content
  • Registration
  • Member Login
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
BigPaulSports > Blog > NFL > How Panthers’ revamped TE corps with rookie Ja’Tavion Sanders can help Bryce Young
NFLSports News

How Panthers’ revamped TE corps with rookie Ja’Tavion Sanders can help Bryce Young

BigP
Last updated: 2024/05/31 at 6:29 PM
BigP Published May 31, 2024
Share
How Panthers' revamped TE corps with rookie Ja'Tavion Sanders can help Bryce Young
SHARE
  • David Newton, ESPN Staff WriterMay 31, 2024, 06:00 AM ET

    Contents
    Best of NFL NationWhat to know for the 2024 NFL offseason
    Close

      David Newton is an NFL reporter at ESPN and covers the Carolina Panthers. Newton began covering Carolina in 1995 and came to ESPN in 2006 as a NASCAR reporter before joining NFL Nation in 2013. You can follow Newton on Twitter at @DNewtonespn.

CHARLOTTE, N.C — Carolina Panthers tight end Tommy Tremble was in full stride early during team drills on Wednesday when he caught a pass on a crossing route and turned up field for a big play. On the next play, tight end Ian Thomas caught a pass over the middle for a solid gain.

The trend continued later.

Tight ends making plays has been anything but a trend for Carolina the past four seasons.

“We’ve been kind of in purgatory for a little bit,” said Tremble, a third-round pick out of Notre Dame in 2021.

Purgatory, indeed.

Over the past four seasons, seven Carolina tight ends totaled 181 catches for 1,734 yards and 10 touchdowns to rank last in the NFL in all three categories. The next lowest total was 248 catches for 2,321 yards and 12 touchdowns. The NFL average for that span was 319 catches for 3,354 yards and 25.1 touchdowns.

The Kansas City Chiefs led the way with 505 catches for 5,888 yards and 47 touchdowns, thanks in large part to Travis Kelce. They also ranked among the top six in team scoring in three of those seasons and won two Super Bowls.

Best of NFL Nation

&#8226 George McCaskey’s amazing side gig
&#8226 Is Trevor Lawrence next for extension?
&#8226 Why Cam Smith is ready to improve
&#8226 Packers could be special under Hafley
&#8226 How Panthers’ revamped TE corps

Carolina has ranked 24th or worse in scoring each season during that span, including 31st during an NFL-worst 2-15 2023 season.

Tight end production and prolific scoring haven’t been a factor for Carolina since Greg Olsen was in his prime and playing every game between 2013 and 2016. The three-time Pro Bowl selection had 314 catches for 4,001 yards and 22 touchdowns during that four-season span.

During that stretch, the Panthers’ tight end corps ranked sixth in the NFL in receptions (358), fifth in receiving yards (4,448) and tied for 11th in receiving touchdowns (26). They ranked 19th or better in scoring each season, including first in 2015.

“We’re ready to bring that back,” Tremble said.

New coach Dave Canales believes the self-proclaimed “tight end friendly” scheme he learned during 11 years with the Seattle Seahawks and made his own last year as the offensive coordinator of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers can help.

“We don’t ask our tight ends to be dominant blockers at the point of attack on runs a lot,” he explained. “We’re looking for tight ends with versatility. We’re not necessarily looking for that big 270-pound baller type of tight end, although those guys are awesome and have a place in this league.

“But if you have a smaller guy who’s more of a route runner and he’s a little bit crafty … then just within the scheme, because we throw a lot of play-actions, the tight ends are involved in different ways.”

That allows them to get open in the flats, run drag routes underneath against overmatched linebackers and make plays the way they’ve been doing so far during voluntary offseason workouts.

The Carolina Panthers hope that rookie Ja’Tavion Sanders will help unlock quarterback Bryce Young in his second season. Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images

“The ball finds those guys a lot,” Canales said.

Thomas is a prime example. Considered one of the better blocking tight ends in the league, he’s looked more like Kelce than a player who had only five receptions for 56 yards last season.

“It’s perfect for tight ends because you get to be yourself,” Thomas said of the system. “They give you a lot of opportunities, a lot of chances to fit in and mold into the offense. It’s different setups that have given us mismatches. It is working well so far.”

Asked if either he or Tremble could be the next Kelce in this system, Thomas laughed and said, “I mean, that’s what it’s looking like.”

Ja’Tavion Sanders was selected in the fourth round because the Panthers felt he had the best chance to contribute like top NFL tight ends such as Kelce, George Kittle (San Francisco 49ers) and Mark Andrews (Baltimore Ravens). The former Texas star calls himself one of the “new age tight ends.”

“I feel like I’m kind of advanced as far as my receiving goes,” said Sanders, who was a wide receiver in high school.

Sanders went so far as to say he wanted to be the next Olsen.

“He’s one of the tight ends that changed the game back in the day,” he said. “I feel like they [saw] what he did in me. … I’m just trying to be the new face of the offense for sure.”

Canales referred to the versatility that helped the 6-foot-4, 245-pound Sanders catch 99 passes for 1,295 yards and seven touchdowns in his final two college seasons.

“He’s definitely not the traditional in-line type of tight end,” Canales said. “He made some dynamic plays with the ball in his hands and is really strong at the catch.”

What to know for the 2024 NFL offseason

&#8226 2024 NFL schedule: Predictions, takeaways
&#8226 OTA, minicamp dates for all 32 teams
&#8226 Post-draft 2024 Power Rankings: 1-32 poll
&#8226 Biggest remaining hole on every roster (ESPN+)
&#8226 One QB question for all 32 teams (ESPN+)
&#8226 Draft: See all 257 picks | Pick analysis

Olsen wasn’t traditional, either. He gave Cam Newton, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2011 draft, a security blanket that allowed the quarterback to excel his first six seasons.

The Panthers are hoping the combination of Sanders, Thomas and Tremble will do that for 2023 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young, who made 59 of his 315 completions to tight ends last season. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes had 93 completions to Kelce alone.

Linebacker Josey Jewell already can see the benefits.

“It gives him the option on those short-area throws,” he said of Young. “They’ve been doing a great job, and Bryce holds a good presence in there.”

Tremble believes the upgraded middle of the offensive line (which allowed 35 of Young’s team-record 62 sacks last season) and the added talent at wide receiver also will help the tight end production. He reminded there were many times last season when the tight ends were open but Young didn’t have time to find them.

Thus, the purgatory.

“It’s hard because you feel like you’re always open,” Tremble said. “I mean, I’m going into my fourth year and we’ve learned eight different offenses. We’re getting this one locked down collectively, getting comfortable.

“It’s time for the tight ends to take off.”

Sponsored Content

You Might Also Like

Chargers End 7-Game Losing Streak Against Chiefs with Season-Opening Win

Chiefs Capitalize on Chargers Mistake in Shocking Turn of Events

Chiefs WR Xavier Worthy Ruled Out with Shoulder Injury

Mike Pereira and Moose Johnston’s NFL Replay Review Cheat Sheet for 2025

BigP May 31, 2024
Share this Article
Facebook Twitter Email Print

Follow US

Find US on Social Medias
Facebook Like
Twitter Follow
Youtube Subscribe
Telegram Follow
newsletter featurednewsletter featured

Weekly Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

    Popular News
    How Damar Hamlin's cardiac arrest affected the sporting world
    NFLSports News

    How Damar Hamlin’s cardiac arrest affected the sporting world

    BigP BigP November 4, 2023
    How Jonah Williams’ versatility can help protect Kyler Murray
    Michigan had proof against fired assistant Weiss
    LB Barrett, 2-time Super Bowl champion, retires
    The story of two-sport star Charlie Ward’s incredible Heisman season, 30 years later
    - Advertisement -
    Ad imageAd image

    Categories

    • Sports

    About US

    We offer information and tips on US Sports and evernts all over the world.
    Top Categories
    • Game Analysis
    • Free Picks
    • Services
    • Premium Content

    Subscribe US

    Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

      © Foxiz News Network. Ruby Design Company. All Rights Reserved.

      Removed from reading list

      Undo
      Welcome Back!

      Sign in to your account

      Lost your password?