Ravens Tight Ends An Upgrade Over 2010

by Bruce Raffel on Nov 10, 2011 3:00 PM EST

BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 11: Ed Dickson #84 of the Baltimore Ravens runs the ball against the Pittsburgh Steelers at M&T Bank Stadium on September 11, 2011 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens defeated the Steelers 35-7. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images)

When the news broke that the Baltimore Ravens had released ten-year veteran tight end Todd Heap, many fans were confused, upset and even angry that one of the most popular players in team history was just released. The combination of his age, salary and the recent drafting of two tight ends made this the right decision in the mind of General Manager Ozzie Newsome. Everyone wondered what would happen with the production out of this very important position on the team?

Wonder no more, Baltimore Ravens fans. While Heap was signed by his hometown Arizona Cardinals, he has been injured much of the season and has only appeared in five games, starting just two, catching 13 balls for 150 yards and no touchdowns. Meanwhile his replacements, second year players Ed Dickson and Dennis Pitta have combined for 51 receptions for 472 yards and one score. Their 51 catches represent almost a third of QB Joe Flacco's 169 completions in 2011.

The versatility of having one or the other, much less both players on the field at the same time is worlds above the production the team would have gotten out of the aging, yet wildly popular Heap. It was a tough decision for fans to stomach, but has proven to be the correct one by the man known around town as the 'Wizard of Oz.' Dickson is 12th in the NFL in receptions for tight ends in the league and Pitta is tied for 24th. The only team with a combination of tight ends like the Ravens are the New England Patriots pair of Rob Gronkowski (44 catches) and Aaron Hernandez (33 catches).

In 2010, Heap caught 40 passes for 599 yards for the Ravens. In 2009, he recorded 53 receptions for 593 yards. After eight games, both Dickson and Pitta are each on pace to catch more balls and possibly more yardage than Heap did in either year. Heap's best year as a Raven was in 2005 when he caught 75 balls for 855 yards and while it doesn't appear either of the two current Ravens will individually top that output, the combination of their stats should easily surpass that production.

Although we may one day see Todd Heap's name etched on M&T Bank Stadium Raven's Ring of Honor, the decision to cut ties when they did is proving to be not only a genius of a move, but a major part of the improvement of the Ravens success in the passing game.

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Comments

Definitely an upgrade. Heap was great here and will go down as one of the Raven greats, but these two TE’s we got are so versatile and will give headaches to opposing DC’s for years to come.

On Ed Reed:
"I’ve told him to his face many times, ‘You’re the greatest safety ever to play the game,’"
"We all learn from each other, but we all learn most from him."
- Troy Polamalu

by AV23 on Nov 10, 2011 3:06 PM EST reply actions

Heap at his prime was better than either of these two. But these two are better than Heap passed his prime.

by PurpleMoonDance on Nov 11, 2011 6:57 PM EST up reply actions

Not sorry he’s gone. Heap was replaceable 3 years ago. He was underused much of his career here and when Flacco needed him to basically be a WR he was old and beat up. Billick didn’t use Heap downfield nearly enough and much of his career was spent blocking for bad Qb’s who couldn’t live without max protection….lastly, he wasn’t much of an outspoken veteran leader when we needed one most on O.

by raven on Nov 10, 2011 5:27 PM EST reply actions

and remember,

Boller almost got Heap killed about a dozen times at least!

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Nov 11, 2011 3:20 PM EST up reply actions

I heard the US is offering Matt Weiters in exchange for Wilson Ramos.

by raven on Nov 10, 2011 6:07 PM EST reply actions

Angelos turned it down. He wanted the asbestos contract for all of the country as well.

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Nov 11, 2011 3:21 PM EST up reply actions

In an interview

Oz actually gives Bisciotti credit for proposing that the team gets younger. Of course, Ozzie made the moves, but he specifically cites a conversation with the owner about strategically going in a different direction for the 2011 season.

by robgoose on Nov 10, 2011 6:17 PM EST reply actions

It's times like these where you really appreciate that we have a smart, talented, and effective FO

by fedfan64 on Nov 10, 2011 6:22 PM EST up reply actions

well….kind of. they did resign billick, keep boller, hire cam, never upgraded the receiving corp and let matt stover kick off to the 40 every year.

by raven on Nov 10, 2011 6:26 PM EST up reply actions

they're not perfect, but they're better than most.

by fedfan64 on Nov 10, 2011 6:30 PM EST up reply actions

i know what your saying. they don’t make the HUGE billion dollar mistakes like so many teams..especially the idiotic redskins. at least angelos doesn’t spend anything to be bad.

by raven on Nov 10, 2011 6:48 PM EST up reply actions

exactly. that's all you can really ask for.

by fedfan64 on Nov 10, 2011 6:55 PM EST up reply actions

Steve is a good one. I think he doesn’t drag out the drama and will just make the move. We all get over it faster that way. It was like POOF Heap, Mason and McGahee gone….2 days we’re over it. No drama.Business.

by raven on Nov 10, 2011 7:01 PM EST up reply actions

Nice to have a

shrewd businessman as an owner, instead of an idiotic greedy entitled SOB with a Napoleoonic Complex!

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Nov 11, 2011 3:22 PM EST up reply actions

i believe it. all the good teams roll the team over. NE doesn’t let tenure get in the way of progress. no if the Maryland School Board would adopt the same strategy.

by raven on Nov 10, 2011 6:22 PM EST reply actions

The current situations an improvement

Loved Todd Heap. Great career here, but his career was definitely entering it’s twilight. I like the tandem we got now far better than the guy entering the end of his playing years… Good direction Steve, good decision Ozzie.

by Smiley4660 on Nov 10, 2011 8:40 PM EST reply actions

I actually disagree completely. Our TEs have not been an upgrade over last year. I can accept cutting Heap to be better for the long run or that Heap’s health concerns made him expendable, but they are not better than Heap was last year.

In 2010 Heap had a DVOA from Football Outsiders of 25.9% Ed Dickson and Dennis Pitta have DVOAs so far this season of -11.7% and -2.1% respectively. I think Todd Heap was also a better blocker than Dickson and Pitta have been so far. Heap was a great player as late as last year. Dickson and Pitta simply aren’t there yet.

by math_geek on Nov 10, 2011 11:35 PM EST reply actions

Good point

And remember Heap had to be kept in for pass protection a lot more last year than Dickson/Pitta this year. So I won’t say better. I will repeat what I said at the time of Heap’s release though.

Dickson/Pitta = younger, cheaper, faster

"the croaking raven doth bellow for revenge."
Hamlet, William Shakespeare

by Fandemonium on Nov 10, 2011 11:41 PM EST up reply actions

And Heap wouldn't be any help

sitting on the sidelines in street clothes, as injury-prone as he has been this year. Heap actually had a great season last year, but me thinks the combo now would have out-produced anything Todd could have done if he stay ed here and healthy.

Sad if we win the Super Bowl the year before Todd gets here and the year after Heap leaves.

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Nov 11, 2011 3:24 PM EST up reply actions

you might be onto something here. Maybe Heap just had bad karma.

by PurpleMoonDance on Nov 11, 2011 6:59 PM EST up reply actions

they are an upgrade

it’s their speed that beat pittsburgh. it’s heap’s LACK of speed that helped lead to that deep interception in the playoffs last season. no they’re blocking has not been up to heap’s, but they help open up the offense, and give boldin and torrey more room to operate.
definite upgrade, at 25% of the cost, and room to grow and develop twin stars.

by space_ on Nov 11, 2011 6:08 PM EST reply actions