Receptive to a Change
As a power forward on Kent State’s basketball team, Antonio Gates caught the attention of pro scouts who’d come to see him play -- only they weren’t the ones he intended to impress.
“Midway through my senior season in college, all these NFL scouts were coming through to watch my basketball games,” he said. “I was wondering why they kept showing up.”
No one wonders anymore. Gates, who didn’t play football in college, signed as a free agent with the San Diego Chargers in 2003 and since has developed into one of the league’s premier tight ends.
He has caught 11 of quarterback Drew Brees’ 21 touchdown passes and needs only one more to tie the NFL single-season touchdown record for tight ends, which is shared by four players. Already, he has broken the team record of 10 set by Hall of Fame tight end Kellen Winslow in 1981.
The comparisons are “overwhelming at times,” said Gates, who has 69 receptions, second in the league only to Derrick Mason’s 70 for Tennessee. “For me, just being the kind of guy that I am, to hear all these special things, it’s kind of mind-boggling.”
Gates, whose team will play host to Denver today in a game that could ultimately determine the AFC West winner, has risen to the top of a talent-rich group of tight ends that includes Kansas City’s Tony Gonzales, Atlanta’s Alge Crumpler, San Francisco’s Eric Johnson, Dallas’ Jason Witten, Miami’s Randy McMichael and the New York Giants’ Jeremy Shockey.
Even though it seems as if there’s a glut of outstanding players at the position, a lot of scouts say good tight ends coming out of college are still very difficult to find.
“So many colleges these days play wide-open offenses,” said Rich McKay, general manager of the Falcons. “Because of those offenses, it’s a little easier to find receiving tight ends, whether they’re a big slot [receiver] or a tight end. But the true tight end, a combination blocker-receiver, there just aren’t a lot of those guys.”
That’s the logic the Falcons used last month when they signed Crumpler to a six-year deal worth about $26 million. Not only is he the team’s best receiver, but he can get upfield and flatten most anyone in his path, which is essential when he has quarterback Michael Vick ready to run at any moment.
“When you have a tight end that can both seal the edge and split a [zone defense], I mean, what better position can there be?” Crumpler said. “If I’m holding the edge and we’re getting 200 yards rushing a game, and the next play I’m catching a ball for a touchdown, I mean, you can’t beat it.”
Gates is still learning the nuances of the position. Coach Marty Schottenheimer worked with him recently on getting more yards after the catch. Last Sunday, Gates gained 51 yards on a fourth-quarter pass play -- a gain that was wiped out by an illegal formation.
“It would be less than fair to him to say that it was anything less than remarkable,” Schottenheimer said of Gates’ rapid emergence.
“You look at the fact that he kind of swept on the scene. I think it’s become very, very obvious that while people mention the basketball, he’s certainly establishing his performance level to the point that really, that’s what he is, a terrific National Football League receiver. And I didn’t say ‘tight end,’ I said ‘receiver.’ ”
Opponents have taken notice. Gates gets extra attention from the players across the line of scrimmage every time he sets foot on the field.
“I think most defenses do their best not to match me up with a linebacker,” he said. “It’s a combination of schemes.... Right now, the thing I’m noticing is that I’m getting bracketed. If I’m not bracketed, I’m getting jammed up at the line with man coverage and a safety over the top.”
Still, he’s making magnificent catches, getting better as a blocker each week, and this might be the toughest part, keeping his expectations in check.
“Three years from now, I could be the biggest bust in football history,” he said. “That ‘potential’ word is definitely something that presents itself as an opportunity.... [But] I could become the worst player in NFL history at the end of this year. I continue to do the things that got me to this point.”
Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Red-Handed
All 11 of Antonio Gates’ touchdown receptions have been from 20 yards or closer. No other player at any position has as many as eight red-zone touchdown catches this season. A look at the numbers:
*--* Player Team RZTDs Antonio Gates San Diego 11 Marvin Harrison Indianapolis 7 Randy Moss Minnesota 7 Terrell Owens Philadelphia 6 Marcus Pollard Indianapolis 6
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Note: The 11 red-zone touchdown catches are the most by any player since 1995, when Cris Carter had 13 touchdown catches of 20 yards or less and Carl Pickens had 12.
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Gates is on pace to become the first tight end to reach the century mark in receptions. Single-season highs for tight ends, and Gates’ pace:
*--* Current record Gates’ pace Receptions: 96 (B. Coates, 1994) 100 Rec. Yards: 1,290 (K. Winslow, 1980) 1,156 Rec. TDs: 12 (4 players) 16
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Note: Gates’ next touchdown reception will be his 12th, tying the NFL single-season high for tight ends held by Mike Ditka (1961), Jerry Smith (1967), Todd Christensen (1983) and Wesley Walls (1999).
Source: STATS Inc.
