Fansided

Jermaine Gresham still failing to become elite TE

By Jason Marcum

Dec 23, 2012; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Cincinnati Bengals tight end Jermaine Gresham (84) catches a pass in front of Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Lawrence Timmons (94) during the second half of the game at Heinz Field. The Bengals won the game, 13-10. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 23, 2012; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Cincinnati Bengals tight end Jermaine Gresham (84) catches a pass in front of Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Lawrence Timmons (94) during the second half of the game at Heinz Field. The Bengals won the game, 13-10. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 23, 2012; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Cincinnati Bengals tight end Jermaine Gresham (84) catches a pass in front of Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Lawrence Timmons (94) during the second half of the game at Heinz Field. The Bengals won the game, 13-10. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 23, 2012; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Cincinnati Bengals tight end Jermaine Gresham (84) catches a pass in front of Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Lawrence Timmons (94) during the second half of the game at Heinz Field. The Bengals won the game, 13-10. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports /

Cincinnati Bengals tight end Jermaine Gresham has never been able to live up to his status of being the first TE taken in a 2010 NFL Draft that featured Rob Gronkowski, Dennis Pitta and Jimmy Graham.

Thus far, he’s been a reliable target when thrown to in the passing game, but his biggest weakness still remains.

That being his run-blocking. While he has the frame of a small offensive tackle, he’s often the team’s biggest liability when asked to get his hands dirty in the run game. According to Pro Football Focus, Gresham’s struggles in the run game were once again evident against the New England Patriots:

"Perhaps one of the more common gripes we hear from Bengals fans is about TE Jermaine Gresham’s less-than-stellar run blocking grade, and this game will surely continue to fill up our in boxes. Among the negative plays, Gresham was stood up by LB Dont’a Hightower with 8:51 to go in the first, and later controlled at the point in similar fashion by Chandler Jones at the 10:24 mark of the second quarter. Fast forward to the fourth quarter, and it was DE Rob Ninkovichhaving his way with Gresham as he tossed him aside with 13:54 to go, and it was more of the same at the 2:20 mark but this time Ninkovich got in on the tackle for no gain. Among these negative blocks, the positives were few and far between as Gresham continues to struggle in the run game."

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