Reggie Kelly went down...

[HairOnFire]

Coates definately plays ST. In fact, he was the central figure in numerous coverage breakdowns that eventually forced the Bengals to squib kick, rather than kick away, for a few games.

As for Kelly's injury....I had already tagged the guy as a bubble player so I'm not as broken up as I might normally be. That said, you hate to see anyone hurt, and I would have greatly preferred a scenario where Kelly was outplayed by a younger player rather than seeing him stumble brokenly into retirement.

(((Sigh)))

[Walrus]

Thanks guys. You're right -- I don't know how I forgot about Coats' play on ST. Guess I blocked that out, huh?

Anyways, the general direction of my thinking is hopefully we'll be able to take advantage of this opportunity to have a more versatile player active on game day. Hopefully Coffman will be able to contribute on ST. According to MU's website, he has been a decent contributer on ST...

Is more than a pass catcher, as he stands out on special teams units, and in 2006, he won the team's Hammer Award, which goes to the Tiger who delivers the most big blocks during the season ... Is a superb athlete who can do virtually anything he is asked to do, and often times looks effortless in doing so do his smooth abilities ...

Also was a standout on the special teams, as he recorded 4 tackles on the punt coverage unit - the third-best total on the squad ... Shared team freshman of the year honors with redshirt freshman defensive end Stryker Sulak.

[HairOnFire]

A listing of currently available TE's for those in the mood to go shopping......

Player Position Status Height Weight Experience 2008 Team 2009 Team

Anderson, Courtney TE Released 6-6 270 5th Season HOU TBD

Bergen, Adam TE Released 6-4 267 3rd Season BAL TBD

Bruener, Mark TE UFA 6-4 253 14th Season HOU TBD

Campbell, Mark TE UFA 6-6 260 10th Season NO TBD

Chandler, Scott TE Released 6-7 265 2nd Season SD TBD

Daniels, Owen TE RFA 6-3 247 3rd Season HOU TBD

Dekker, Jon TE UFA 6-5 250 2nd Season PIT TBD

Franks, Bubba TE UFA 6-6 265 9th Season NYJ TBD

Gafford, Thomas TE Released 6-2 252 2nd Season KC TBD

Halterman, Aaron TE UFA 6-5 265 2nd Season MIA TBD

Kapanui, Kolomona TE Released 6-3 270 Rookie NO TBD

King, Jeff TE RFA 6-3 260 3rd Season CAR TBD

Kuhn, Scott TE UFA 6-6 257 Rookie BAL TBD

Lawrie, Nathan TE Released 6-6 255 4th Season CIN TBD

Milner, Martrez TE Released 6-4 260 2nd Season NYG TBD

Pollard, Marcus TE UFA 6-3 255 14th Season ATL TBD

Pope, Leonard TE RFA 6-8 258 3rd Season ARI TBD

Sherry, Matt TE Released 6-4 250 2nd Season CIN TBD

Tuman, Jerame TE UFA 6-4 253 10th Season ARI TBD

Wilcox, Daniel TE UFA 6-1 250 6th Season BAL TBD

[Clackwoods]

A listing of currently available TE's for those in the mood to go shopping......

Player Position Status Height Weight Experience 2008 Team 2009 Team

Anderson, Courtney TE Released 6-6 270 5th Season HOU TBD

Bergen, Adam TE Released 6-4 267 3rd Season BAL TBD

Bruener, Mark TE UFA 6-4 253 14th Season HOU TBD

Campbell, Mark TE UFA 6-6 260 10th Season NO TBD

Chandler, Scott TE Released 6-7 265 2nd Season SD TBD

Daniels, Owen TE RFA 6-3 247 3rd Season HOU TBD

Dekker, Jon TE UFA 6-5 250 2nd Season PIT TBD

Franks, Bubba TE UFA 6-6 265 9th Season NYJ TBD

Gafford, Thomas TE Released 6-2 252 2nd Season KC TBD

Halterman, Aaron TE UFA 6-5 265 2nd Season MIA TBD

Kapanui, Kolomona TE Released 6-3 270 Rookie NO TBD

King, Jeff TE RFA 6-3 260 3rd Season CAR TBD

Kuhn, Scott TE UFA 6-6 257 Rookie BAL TBD

Lawrie, Nathan TE Released 6-6 255 4th Season CIN TBD

Milner, Martrez TE Released 6-4 260 2nd Season NYG TBD

Pollard, Marcus TE UFA 6-3 255 14th Season ATL TBD

Pope, Leonard TE RFA 6-8 258 3rd Season ARI TBD

Sherry, Matt TE Released 6-4 250 2nd Season CIN TBD

Tuman, Jerame TE UFA 6-4 253 10th Season ARI TBD

Wilcox, Daniel TE UFA 6-1 250 6th Season BAL TBD

Give me Marcus Pollard. I know he is old as hell but I like him

[ArmyBengal]

Nothing there better than the upside we currently have on the team...

[Walrus]

Nothing there better than the upside we currently have on the team...

C'mon... Somebody say it....

POPE IS DOPE! 6'8"!!!!! And with him our offense would be unstoppable in the Red Zone!!!!!!!!!

But seriously, why not Owen Daniels? Or Jeff King? Surely one of these guys would have more upside than Coats or that other scrub we just picked up.

[ArmyBengal]

I could care less about Coats, but think when Coffman is fully healed and gets his reps, he will be a very good TE.

I'm also looking forward to seeing what a healthy Utecht will look like this season.

[Clackwoods]

Nothing there better than the upside we currently have on the team...

C'mon... Somebody say it....

POPE IS DOPE! 6'8"!!!!! And with him our offense would be unstoppable in the Red Zone!!!!!!!!!

But seriously, why not Owen Daniels? Or Jeff King? Surely one of these guys would have more upside than Coats or that other scrub we just picked up.

Do you know how much it would cost us to get Owen Daniels? That isn't going to happen. Also, we have 3 mil a year pumped into Utech we aren't getting anyone pricey. I am cool with what we have now!

[Walrus]

Nothing there better than the upside we currently have on the team...

C'mon... Somebody say it....

POPE IS DOPE! 6'8"!!!!! And with him our offense would be unstoppable in the Red Zone!!!!!!!!!

But seriously, why not Owen Daniels? Or Jeff King? Surely one of these guys would have more upside than Coats or that other scrub we just picked up.

Do you know how much it would cost us to get Owen Daniels? That isn't going to happen. Also, we have 3 mil a year pumped into Utech we aren't getting anyone pricey. I am cool with what we have now!

I'm confused why Daniels was on that list in the first place. From what I can tell, he and Jeff King (and possibly others on the list) signed their RFA tenders and are under contract. We couldn't sign them anyways, right?

But for the sake of argument, Reggie Kelly was working on a 3 year/$9 mil deal. I'm not sure what number they were working with this year, but his not-insignificant salary could definitely be applied to signing a replacement.

[cincyhokie]

While I think that Reggie Kelly was a valuable part of the offense, if this team's success hinges on his play then we were screwed to begin with. The bigger concern is how will Bratowski adjust to the injury, if at all. He's much more a liability than Reggie's achilles.

How would the Steelers, Colts, Patriots deal with the loss of a key player? Once again, the Bengals lack of depth and a true identity shows. If the Bengals had a prototype TE that went 3 slots deep, this wouldn't be much of a problem. Now were panicked because "none of the other TE's can block!!!" Well, if your offense uses the TE to block then why don't you have the 2nd and 3rd TE's that are great blockers? However, if the Bengals are going to more of a pass catching TE then this is the perfect time for another TE to step up. Coffman?

[derekshank]

2 years ago this injury would have been a tragedy. This year the Bengals have the best group of TE's they've had in well over a decade. Yes, the game plan will have to change a bit. Yes, Utecht and Coffman will have to step up their blocking game - but I'm just not hat concerned.

[walzav29]

I don't think Coffman will be healed all season. His foot is still messed up, and practicing on it won't help.

[derekshank]

I don't think Coffman will be healed all season. His foot is still messed up, and practicing on it won't help.

Just because it hurts doesn't mean it's still messed up.

He had a Jones fracture, had surgery on it in January, and usually athletes are able to return to full practice 2 months post-surgery. It often takes a while to heal because of low blood flow at that part of the foot... but if he's been cleared to practice, it means that he's going to be fine. He might have to play through pain for a little while... but he played through turftoe for several games last year. He's a tough guy and will be fine.

[ArmyBengal]

I would add that for those that are in the mindset of "we're screwed" when it comes to the Kelly injury, I would suggest that maybe it goes to the mindset that we don't have something that will give us an equal tradeoff on the roster. I think Coffman is that TE and I also think Utecht is going to have a better year than last years injury fest.

The offense will have to find a way to adjust to the injury and find a way to incorporate the new wrinkle that Carson will now have at his disposal.

Bengals tight ends coach Jon Hayes has been coaching Chase Coffman for two months but he's known for two decades that he's tough enough to block.

Back when Hayes lived in Kansas City, he had a birthday party at his mini indoor arena and one of those invited was the little son of Paul Coffman, his old teammate and tight ends partner on the Chiefs. Welcome to "Mutton Bustin," where little kids rode sheep instead of bulls.

"He couldn’t have been more than four or five years old and he was showing no fear," Hayes said Tuesday. "Trust me, he's tough enough."

Still in Kansas City, Paul Coffman also had no doubts on Tuesday.

"If anyone can teach Chase to block, it's Jonathan," Coffman said. "Jon's the best blocker I've ever seen. Those big, long arms. He was the guy we looked to. He was ahead of his time when it came to blocking."

As thunderstorms of Biblical proportions swamped Georgetown College to wipe out Tuesday afternoon's practice, toughness and blocking were the passwords on a day the Bengals mourned the season-ending loss of tight end Reggie Kelly. If Kelly was the linchpin of the Bengals spiritual community, he was also offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski's secret weapon against quirky pass-rushing defenses because his strength, tenacity and technique short-circuited many matchup problems.

As head coach Marvin Lewis observed in his impromptu rainy day news conference, his offensive coaches are dealing with more than the loss of a player: "They have to replace not only Reggie's snaps, but his influence on what we do."

At least the transition with the offensive line began the day back in February when right tackle Stacy Andrews signed with the Eagles, the day that sealed Cincinnati's fate in the upcoming draft.

But the sea of change at tight end came at the snap of a tendon. Since 1993, Tony McGee and Kelly have started all but 20 games for the Bengals at tight end.

Hayes isn't looking to rush Coffman and he doesn't think he has to because of Ben Utecht and Daniel Coats.

Utecht is a proven NFL pass catcher coming off an injury-riddled season and Coats is the 6-3, 264-pound tight end who had to play fullback for the first time in his life last year. Now in his third season, Coats is back at tight end and Hayes says he's playing with a great deal of confidence because his comfort level is so much higher compared to his first two seasons.

Coats is the guy that will probably have to do the bulk of the dirty work that Kelly did so well. Hayes told him Monday as the shock wore through camp, "Dan, you're going to take a lot of that load Reggie once had. You have to be able to do that."

"Everyone forgets we got Reggie when he had four years under his belt," Hayes said. "Dan is just in his third year, only his second at tight end. Right now I feel good about where Dan is. I feel very good about it. We're fortunate to have him."

Hayes sees Coats' strength and power taking pressure off Utecht and Coffman, both known as receiving tight ends.

"Ben will be fine. We've just got to make sure we're smart and make sure Ben gets to the starting line. I don't want to wear him down," Hayes said. "He's not built like Reggie. He's a more linear guy. The things that didn't bother Reggie, I don’t want to hamper Ben. That's why where Dan fits in so well is with his bulk and strength. That will take pressure off Ben, allow a guy (Coats) that is suited to do those things to shine, and help bring Chase along and just not throw him to the wolves."

But Coffman's name is the one that surfaces. That will happen when you're a current third-round pick as well as the NCAA's all-time receptions leader among tight ends even though you've never played in a system in which you've been asked put your hand on the ground and block.

That doesn't bother Hayes and Paul Coffman because they played through it all during a time when Chase Coffman says, "tight ends had to do it all."

"They could have said the same thing about me at Iowa," said Hayes, who parlayed blocking into 12 seasons in the NFL for 13 touchdown catches. "The tight ends stood up at Iowa for Coach (Hayden) Fry even though we were in line."

"Blocking is an attitude and Chase wants to do it," said Paul Coffman, who went to three Pro Bowls in the early '80s for Green Bay on the way to 42 touchdown catches and still remembers some of his peers. "Kellen Winslow could have been a great blocker, but Kellen never wanted to block. Todd Christensen could have been a great blocker, but he barely got in the way.

"It's all want to. It's going to take time and the neck is going to get jammed because you're blocking defensive ends. It took Tony Gonzalez time but he's turned into one of the top blockers for a tight end."

But Coffman is clearly a different kind of player than Kelly. Heck, he's a different player than his dad. He can become an elite NFL receiver. "Paul is nowhere near the athlete Chase is," Hayes said and Paul can only agree.

"He can run, he can catch, he'll get mismatches for you," Paul Coffman said. "But he'll also end up blocking. He's heard all the stories. He knows what it takes. He knows I'd go to work thinking it could have been my last day."

Paul was a free agent out of Kansas State and that first pro practice he remembers dropping five pounds to 212 and thinking he was gone. At St. Norbert College, the fabled Packers training camp, Paul Coffman still remembers how The Turk would sit with his list of cuts outside one of the doors where the players would go into eat.

"At lunch, we'd make sure we'd go in and out of the same door," Paul Coffman said, "so if we ate lunch we wouldn't get sick to our stomach."

Bratkowski calls Paul Coffman "one of the great workers" in the game and it is said the kid has the same work ethic. His father works out high school and college athletes now even as he works as a salesman. Chase has already caught a TD from a Carson in high school, his brother who is the starter at Kansas State. His sister has a full ride for volleyball at the University of Wyoming. People just assume Paul's wife was a college athlete so now they've just gone along with the rumors Amy was a Div. 1 volleyball player to make it easier on everyone.

"They're nice kids and they get their niceness from their mother," Paul Coffman said.

Chase Coffman likes the work-ethic comparisons to his dad. He can't wait for the season's second game in Green Bay Sept. 20, which is Alumni Weekend for the Packers Hall of Fame.

"My family already has their airline tickets paid and they'll be able to see me," said Chase, who remembers taking the tour when he was small.

"I've already talked to Zeke Bratkowski," said Paul Coffman of Bob Bratkowski's father. "He asked me if I thought anybody would mind if we snuck over to the Bengals sideline."

The challenge is even bigger for the young bronco to buck. Catch like his dad and block like his friend.

"Then," Chase Coffman said, "That would be the tight end everybody wants."

/>http://www.bengals.com/news/article-1/tight-spot/16e987f8-89b1-4043-9e7a-0543795e7eac

[Walrus]

Now do you start thinking about bringing someone else in? 4 out of our top 4 TEs dealing w/ injuries already...

/>http://www.bengals.com/news/article-1/coats-twists-ankle-/bede2451-5f9d-4b0e-ab8a-0ac5fc574619

Coats twists ankle

GEOFF HOBSON

Posted: 1:20 p.m.

GEORGETOWN, Ky. - For the second time in three days an injury struck the Bengals tight ends in the morning practice of a two-a-day at Georgetown College.

But head coach Marvin Lewis would only say in his ensuing news conference that Daniel Coats twisted his ankle. Coats is a guy that would be another big loss because he brings the same kind of game that Reggie Kelly brought to the table. Kelly, lost for the year when it was believed he ruptured his Achilles tendon, was the team's best blocking tght end known for his strength and toughness. The other tight ends that figure to make the roster, Ben Utecht and rookie Chase Coffman, are known primarily as receivers.