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Our series grading each position group on the Jets in 2015 goes on. Today we address the tight ends. As a refresher, here is the John B Grading System.
A - An enormous success by any definition
B - Happy with the production
C - Not terribly thrilled; not terribly upset
D - A disappointment
F - A total catastrophe
2015 in review
It might be better to not review the tight end position for the Jets in 2015. Many analysts had high hopes for second year tight end Jace Amaro to have a breakout year. Amaro suffered a torn labrum in the preseason and was placed on injured reserve before the regular season started. There was some circumstantial evidence that Amaro might have had to fight for playing time, but he got hurt too early to determine the team's real thoughts on Jace.
What we do know is the tight end position was ugly. Jeff Cumberland has long been a one-dimensional player. That one dimension, his receiving, has not even been that much of a strength. His production fell off a cliff this season as he caught only 5 passes. His blocking remained at the bottom of the league.
As for the other main tight end, Kellen Davis, this says it all.
Every Tight End ranked from best to worst this season.
— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) January 15, 2016
Best: Rob Gronkowski
Worst: Kellen Davis pic.twitter.com/YpSdeDmFmz
Longtime readers of this site know how skeptical I am of the PFF ratings, but I cannot argue with them on this one. Davis brought little to the table.
On the positive end of the ledger, Quincy Enunwa emerged to have value as a blocker. He replaced Amaro as the H-back. Enunwa was effective as a blocker, and his mobility allowed the Jets to do some extra things with their blocking schemes. Near the end of the year, he showed flashes as a receiver, namely huge catches late in wins against the Cowboys and Patriots.
Looking to 2016
Cumberland and Davis are almost assuredly gone. The interesting question is Amaro. Enunwa turned himself into a valuable piece as the H-back. Can Amaro develop enough as an in-line guy to let the Jets use him and Enunwa together? The big question is Amaro's blocking. Then again, he would be hard-pressed to be a downgrade blocking. He likely will be a big upgrade as a receiver, making the tight end spot better without the Jets listing a finger. A second question is whether Enunwa can build on his end to the season receiving production. His hands were an issue.
Final Considerations
This position was a catastrophe for the Jets this season. I'll put Enunwa's growth as a blocker on the positive side of the ledger. It pulls this position just out of failure range.