Second-best Colts tight end a fine goal for Fletcher

By Anthony Bialy  |   Monday, March 24, 2008  |  Comments( 0 )

Indianapolis Colts
Got something to say?

Sign Up and be the first to comment on this article!

Bryan Fletcher is consistent, although he’d certainly trade in that somewhat positive tendency for greater production. Having caught 18 passes in each of his three seasons and gaining exactly 202 yards in both of the first two, he should be looking to break the habit and improve his totals in 2008. With Ben Utecht off to Cincinnati as a restricted free agent, Fletcher has an unrestricted chance to be a key contributor in an offense that can make any receiver with sufficient talent famous.

Even though Dallas Clark is of course the team’s primary weapon, Utecht generated a decent level of offense himself, catching 31 passes for 364 yards last season. The Colts need to replace those advances, especially as the tight end position quickly evolved into a more valuable asset this past season with Marvin Harrison sidelined for the action’s bulk.

Less throwing isn’t a realistic option for this team, which means the tight ends get attention nearly by default. Of course, they have to convert their opportunities into points or at least yards, but the point is that those staffing the position are going to automatically receive consideration as targets from their renowned quarterback.

With that in mind, Fletcher is well-situated to match or surpass Utecht’s numbers. At 6’5” and 230 pounds, the player who used to stand behind Utecht on the depth chart is tall and relatively lean for his position; by comparison, Clark is listed as 6’3” and 252. That theoretically means he should be better suited for catching than blocking; with a new void in the tight end platoon, he’s going to get ample prospects to help the passing game, and not precisely by being held in so he can block for Peyton Manning, either.

Fletcher may even be able to exceed the promise he displayed at school due in part to the fact that he’s currently employed by a traditionally high-powered franchise. He caught 30 passes over his career at UCLA, which is adequate for a college player, if not quite dazzling. Fletcher was drafted 210th overall in 2002 by the Bears, yet didn’t play a down in the NFL until 2005. He was never a lock to make it even this far, and, to phrase it kindly, he’s struggled to get to this juncture.

He spent the intervening time pinballing near the brink: before making the Colts for good as a free agent, Fletcher was waived five times, assigned to four practice squads, and allocated to NFL Europe twice. There are Greyhound buses with fewer miles on them than the man who turned 29 yesterday, but the point is that he’s now settled and facing a bright future. Of course, that hope is based on him cashing in and elevating his game after working relentlessly just to stay on an active roster.

With his trying background, Fletcher has to realize that this is an uncommon opportunity; he’s unlikely to approach it nonchalantly after three years of experiencing rejection and another three as a steady if unspectacular performer. Fletcher now has the potential to get at least to that 19th catch this year, not to mention the possibility to gain more per grab; he only got 7.9 yards each reception last season for 143 total yards. Employing more speed has to be his main focus this offseason if this is to truly happen.

However it works out, he’s the sort of athlete fans should appreciate and admire, namely someone who persevered his way onto a team instead of coming across success instantly and easily. The system will help, and Fletcher could emerge as a stable presence in the receiving corps who can be counted on to haul in two or three passes per game. The prospective reality is that he can seize the best second-best tight end spot in the league, meaning it’s clear that Fletcher has already come a long way from, say, playing for the Berlin Thunder or being cut twice in the same season.
Got something to say?

Sign Up and be the first to comment on this article! (0)

About Anthony Bialy

I'm just here to submit ...
read more
Article Tools Share!   |  RSS  |  Bleacher Report About Bleacher Report