After Years of Searching, Robert Tonyan Provides Dynamic TE Presence
The TE position has been a rubik's cube for the Green Bay Packers, but Robert Tonyan finally gives them that reliable and dynamic presence.
By Paul_Bretl
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__________________________
Born and raised in Green Bay, WI and I still call it home. After my family, watching the Packers, sharing my opinions on the team through my writing and interacting with other fans is my greatest passion. You can find me on Twitter at @Paul_Bretl.
Comments (26)
Fubared
October 12, 2020 at 12:40 pm
Wonder why Sternberge wasnt targeted? He did pretty good the previous game. Are they keeping him in to block or what. Dont know? Tonyan had a very nice game, Sternberger could have too if they would have spread it around more.
Coldworld
October 12, 2020 at 12:49 pm
Tonyan tends to run more of the receiver-like routes whereas Sternberger runs more classic TE routes. This was likely exacerbated by Lewis being out and the loss of Lazard as the big man over the middle. At this point, he has more natural looking hands, seems to know how to find space and is clearly TE 1 on merit this year. Sternberger’s time will come and he is still learning.
jannesbjornson
October 12, 2020 at 05:07 pm
He already knows the WR's route trees and he started out as a QB, much like Antuan Bolden as a dominant big WR. Tonyan just needs more muscle and is adequate as a blocker. Sternberger may still be the man. Best to have the DbL. TE looks to control the edge. The kid from North Carolina is an Edge control guy.
Stroh
October 12, 2020 at 11:16 pm
That would be Anquan Boldin, not Antuan.
Tonyan is the #1 receiving TE now. Sternberger was injured last year and then was out with Covid for a long stretch in training camp. That has clearly set him back. Next year I expect Tonyan and Sternberger to be 1a and 1b when it comes to TE. But I don't think Tonyan has the requisite bulk to play as an inline TE, so he is still likely to be the formost receiving TE.
CheesyTex
October 12, 2020 at 07:29 pm
T-R-U-S-T.
mnbadger
October 12, 2020 at 01:07 pm
well said CW. Hopefully Big Bob has a couple more big years in him before his production prices him out of our payroll capabilities. I'm enjoying it fully while it lasts. GPG
Bure9620
October 12, 2020 at 01:08 pm
We might be a bit pre-mature here, he had an outstanding game against ATL, but let's see if Tonyan indeed becomes a primary go to and that dynamic player every week.....the NFL is littered with players who balled out for a few games them slowly disappeared.. I hope he is that dynamic guy...
cheesehead1
October 12, 2020 at 01:54 pm
I agree Bure9620. He had an excellent game but let’s not crown him the next Kittle just yet. I’m confident he can continue to improve and Sternberger too. What I’d really like to see is a steady improvement by our D. Brady and Co. should be a good test. GPG.
Coldworld
October 12, 2020 at 05:24 pm
We don’t need a superstar to make an impact though. We need a player who can get key downs and be a red zone threat. Tonyan has become that.
I certainly don’t expect him to routinely get 100 yards and multiple touchdowns, but 50 yards a game would be huge. That’s what Finley’s best season represented.
Tonyan and Sternberger benefit from being in a system where they will benefit from the weapons around them. I certainly think Tonyan will get more attention and thus have quieter days. Up to Adams, Jones and others to capitalize when he does. I also think Sternberger will benefit when both are on the field. In creating opportunities for others Tonyan is making a difference to our offense even when not being targeted.
It is, I think, fair to recognize Tonyan, playing within this system, as a legitimate threat for yards and in the red zone. That’s a big step up from last year, from any post Finley year really except the brief few game flash from Cook when healthy.
Ferrari-Driver
October 12, 2020 at 07:38 pm
I periodically see Finley used as a benchmark for superior TE performance during his time with the Packers. Finley used to drive me crazy with his drops and at times, I thought of him as the Tight End with hands of stone. I also was disappointed in his constant complaining about lack of targets and he was anything but a positive in the locker room. I'm pleased with the tight ends we currently have on the roster and consider them good "team players" willing to do whatever the coaches require them to do, including blocking with good effort on running plays. By playoff time this season, I believe we will all be pleased with the dual tight end package of Tonyan and Sternberger.
Fire_Gute
October 12, 2020 at 11:01 pm
I went as Jermichael Finley for Halloween one year during one of his more frustrating seasons. I turned my Clay Matthews jersey into a 88 Finley jersey and taped Butterfinger candy bars to gloves I wore all night. I won several costume contests in Appleton that weekend, it was awesome
PF4L
October 13, 2020 at 09:01 am
Cheesehead and Bure nailed it. The writer insinuates the years long search for a tight end is over. Because of 2 or 3 good games with the stars aligning great for one of those games.
Problems..or searches are rectified when you find someone who performs at a high level with...consistency. Not because he showed a spurt here and there.
Remember when Rollins and Randall were "crowned" as rookies?
The defense rest Your Honor.
mattgsx
October 12, 2020 at 02:37 pm
What impressed me is that he stacked up a couple really good showings in a row, which bodes well for it not just being him feasting because a defense overlooked him.
I also think it's too early to call him a too flight TE, but he's taking advantage of his opportunities and obviously is putting the work in behind the scenes to improve his game. No matter what else happens he's proven he isn't just a project or rotational player any longer, so I think that qualifies this signing as a win.
egbertsouse
October 12, 2020 at 03:50 pm
All aboard!!!! The hype train is now boarding for Tonyan Town!
Coldworld
October 12, 2020 at 05:28 pm
Hold up, they are still removing the Lazard lettering. Sarcasm is fine but the two aren’t that dissimilar and no player is proven until at least a season of consistent efficacy and after opponents focus on them. Still, both now (if healthy) would demand game planning focus, and that is the key.
NickPerry
October 13, 2020 at 05:33 am
"We might be a bit pre-mature here"
Maybe... BUT the kid has been MONEY in fantasy football the last 3 weeks!!
LOL
Bearmeat
October 12, 2020 at 01:16 pm
Am I correct in thinking that Tonyan is an UDFA following this season?
Nordom
October 12, 2020 at 01:32 pm
He'll be a RFA for the next...two seasons, I believe. So even though he's not currently signed to next year, we'll control his contract.
Packer_Fan
October 12, 2020 at 04:06 pm
We have to be realistic here. Tonyan's big game was against a bad pass defense. The Packers haven't played really good defense teams yet. With that being said, Tonyan has progressed and is playing well. He is making a jump that the Packers really needed this year at TE. With Adams returning, and when Lazard comes back, and MVS and Jones and Williams, there are lots of targets to throw to. Rodgers will be spreading the ball around and Lafleur will need to call the plays to make each game plan successful. What I am looking forward to and hoping is that each game one or two players have great games and that changes each week and as adjustments are made for defenses. For when this occurs or let's say continues each week, the Packers will be extremely hard to stop offensively. And I will call that a great story line...
mnbadger
October 13, 2020 at 08:58 pm
PackerFan, I think you're saying that if MLF and AR continue doing what they're doing, there will be plenty of opportunities to share and each of the "stars" will get their chance to shine. GPG
Irish_Cheesehead
October 12, 2020 at 06:59 pm
After watching Eric Ebron almost single-handedly lose the game for Pittsburgh on Sunday, it's clear signing a first rounder or big free-agent signee is not always the answer. Also saw Richard Rodgers in that game playing for the Eagles. Had no idea he was still in the league.
Good to see the development in Big Bob. 2012? Has it really been that long since Finley played?
hamishheney5
October 12, 2020 at 07:25 pm
This was a bad game for Eric Ebron and I am hoping that will come back better!
Oppy
October 12, 2020 at 09:07 pm
It's simply not true that MM's offense didn't value or utilize the TE.
In fact, the system became so Finley-centric at one point, that MM scaled back the emphasis on Finley the following year (It was the year Finley was lost to injury early in the season and it was a huge hit to the offense.)
There's also something to be said about where the TEs typically operate and how the ball distribution over the last many years slowly but steadily transformed.
THankfully, the QB is now back to using the entire field and taking the checkdown option more frequently. I expect we should continue to see rising numbers to the TEs. Tonyan and Sternberger certainly are promising receiving talents at the position, as well.
Stroh
October 12, 2020 at 11:45 pm
Thank God someone else realizes that the offense was originally very TE centric under McCarthy. And you're correct that he purposely scaled it back after Finley was injured. If things had gone perfectly Finley probably would have caught 80 receptions a year, along with 1200 yds and 10 TDs. McCarthy wanted a Tony Gonzales type TE production out of Finley.
After he scaled back it opened up the offense and allowed WR to become the focal point and then Jennings and Nelson became ultra-productive.
Minniman
October 12, 2020 at 11:32 pm
So it seems that the modus operandi for the Packers is to saturate a position with draft picks or UDFA then see which ones evolve with time.
They did it with CB, RB, WR and now TE
Daren726
October 14, 2020 at 05:30 am
Makes sense to me. Took big bob 3 years to make it through growing pains and injuries to get to this point. I remember the touchdowns in the Seattle and SF games two tears ago. I remember thinking he was on the verge then, just like sternberger now. And deguarra is on a similar track, but maybe coming along a little quicker if he can overcome injuries. I like all three. If they can stay healthy we might have a formidable three some if we don’t lose bob to free agency first.