Ed Dickson to say the least has been very disappointing for the Baltimore Ravens since they selected him in the third round of the 2010 NFL draft.
In his three plus seasons with the Ravens, Dickson has a total of 87 catches for 918 yards, and six touchdowns. Those are the kind of numbers that would make for an excellent season but a career…not so much.
Dropped passes have plague Dickson’s career in purple from jump street. The numbers don’t lie. As a rookie Dickson had fifth-highest drop rate in the NFL for tight ends with a minimum of 20 catches at 9.5% according to ESPN.
Those same issues were clearly front and center for the world to see on Thursday’s big Sunday Night Football stage. He struggles to make contested catches and those are drive-killers. They force a defense back out on to the field prematurely – the kiss of death in the Mile High City, a place where are almost always stacked against the opponent.
Thankfully Baltimore will be at home this weekend against the Browns where the Ravens are heavy sportsbook betting favorites.Â
Dickson will be a free agent following the 2013 season and it’s likely he’ll pursue employment elsewhere. Perhaps the Ravens should speed up the process and let him do so now.
It’s time to promote rookie tight end Matt Furstenburg from the practice squad.
Furstenburg may be an undrafted rookie tight end, but he has upside. The former Terrapin recorded the second-fastest time in the NFL combine this year amongst tight ends at 4.62 seconds and he’s played well during camp as previously reported here.
We know how valuable tight ends have been become in this league. Fast tight ends can expose defenses and create mismatches with linebackers who can’t keep up and safeties who can’t match their size. Mix in Furstenburg’s ability to make contested catches with sure-handedness and there’s little reason not to make the move.
Where’s the downside?
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Isn’t it obvious that Joe Flacco has little trust in the former Oregon Duck? If it quacks like bad rapport it must be bad rapport. How else do you explain why Joe the Quarterback made Dallas Clark, a player who relatively speaking is just off the street, his go-to-guy on Thursday with 7 catches for 87 yards in his Ravens debut?
As the Dickson drops accumulated it has the opposite affect on his quarterback’s trust and when that happens it minimizes Flacco’s options.
And right now, that’s the last thing offensive coordinator Jim Caldwell and his offense needs.
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