Factoid
It doesn’t look like Antonio Gates will play on Sunday; if he does, it will be at well less than 100 percent. That’s a huge blow to San Diego’s passing offense.
Gates not only has been the league’s best tight end this year, he’s also been arguably the most effective pass catcher period.
Look at the numbers below. They show the 50 players who’ve had over 45 passes thrown their way. Of this group, Gates has the highest yards-per-attempt numbers.
You’ve heard about “yards per catch”. This is different. It’s the yards per pass attempt -- balls thrown whether caught or not. Gates is averaging an obscene 12.1 yards per thrown ball, which is a yard better than anybody else in the entire league.
YARDS PER PASS ATTEMPT
(Players with 45-plus attempts)
Att Rec Yds Avg
55 40 663 12.1 Antonio Gates, SD
79 42 878 11.1 Brandon Lloyd, DEN
46 24 478 10.4 Johnny Knox, CHI
66 43 641 9.7 Miles Austin, DAL
54 44 503 9.3 Austin Collie, IND
50 30 458 9.2 Jeremy Maclin, PHI
65 39 594 9.1 Andre Johnson, HOU
82 54 747 9.1 Roddy White, ATL
54 34 461 8.5 Zach Miller, OAK
61 38 518 8.5 Anquan Boldin, BAL
46 33 387 8.4 Mike Thomas, JAC
77 49 641 8.3 Reggie Wayne, IND
73 48 604 8.3 Santana Moss, WAS
47 26 388 8.3 Dustin Keller, NYJ
53 33 434 8.2 Vernon Davis, SF
51 30 409 8.0 Steve Johnson, BUF
59 32 470 8.0 Mike Williams, TB
51 39 401 7.9 Davone Bess, MIA
60 32 471 7.9 Greg Jennings, GB
46 26 357 7.8 Derrick Mason, BAL
70 38 538 7.7 Calvin Johnson, DET
69 46 527 7.6 Marques Colston, NO
52 31 393 7.6 Percy Harvin, MIN
78 47 588 7.5 Brandon Marshall, MIA
52 29 392 7.5 Mike Sims-Walker, JAC
69 45 516 7.5 Jabar Gaffney, DEN
85 45 629 7.4 Terrell Owens, CIN
71 45 525 7.4 Hakeem Nicks, NYG
63 42 462 7.3 Jason Witten, DAL
65 43 471 7.2 Steve Smith, NYG
61 39 440 7.2 Chris Cooley, WAS
48 26 342 7.1 Lee Evans, BUF
60 38 427 7.1 Eddie Royal, DEN
55 31 385 7.0 Michael Crabtree, SF
55 33 375 6.8 Mike Williams, SEA
47 22 313 6.7 Randy Moss, MIN
69 39 458 6.6 Chad Ochocinco, CIN
52 35 344 6.6 Brandon Pettigrew, DET
53 37 347 6.5 Dallas Clark, IND
47 30 306 6.5 Kellen Winslow, TB
49 36 316 6.4 Jahvid Best, DET
48 26 309 6.4 Steve Smith, CAR
47 29 292 6.2 Tony Gonzalez, ATL
59 38 348 5.9 Frank Gore, SF
46 19 266 5.8 Darrius Heyward-Bey, OAK
56 40 319 5.7 Wes Welker, NE
67 45 379 5.7 Danny Amendola, STL
76 35 403 5.3 Larry Fitzgerald, ARI
51 24 243 4.8 Jerricho Cotchery, NYJ
47 29 201 4.3 Jermaine Gresham, CIN
—Ian Allan
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Posted by L DALE GANDER | Nov. 06 at 06:35 AM
Those are really interesting stats. I find it particularly intriguing that 4 TEs are in the top 15 and of those 4, only Gates has a top level QB throwing to him. It is actually kind of surprising that more offenses don't run through their TE - it is a much simpler and higher percentage throw for QBs typically. Seeing Clark way down the list is intersting...I wonder where Finley would have landed on that list?
Posted by IAN ALLAN | Nov. 06 at 01:39 PM
Finley caught 21 of 26 passes for 301 yards, so 11.6 yards per pass attempt. He's outstanding -- a big target with the speed to get downfield.