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Bo Scaife

Feb 10, 2009 Eagles Rumors

I just read this over at The National Football Post:

He’s the best tight end on the market. Although not perfect, he finds a way to make plays, and his hands are sensational. He’s faster on tape than when he’s timed. He makes plays in the passing game and has the toughness to make plays inside in the passing game. Gains yards after the catch and is an all-around productive player.

I couldn’t help but think that is an overly glowing review of Bo Scaife, a guy whom the Titans were so confident in they paid a lot of money to bring in Alge Crumpler. So I went and looked up his numbers for the year — 58 catches, 561 yards, 2 TDs.

Fifty-eight grabs is certainly impressive, but he only finished 20th in DYAR. On the other hand, he did catch almost 70% of the passes thrown his way (by the way, despite consecutive seasons of 56% and 59% catch rate the 2008 Pro Football Prospectus projected Scaife with a catch rate of 69% this year — and he finished at 69%. Well done.)

Scaife did have some rather impressive games during the season — 7 catches against the Ravens, 10 against the Bears.  But at this point in his career it’s clear he’s not turning into a dominant game-changing player.

But the Eagles undeniably need help at the position, where Celek looks like a reliable pass catcher but we all worry about his blocking ability as a full-timer.  Soo…