Tyler Conklin may be the New York Jets’ long-term answer at TE | Film

New York Jets tight end Tyler Conklin has a large collection of positive traits

As we discussed in our film breakdown of C.J. Uzomah, the New York Jets‘ miss at tight end in 2021 drastically limited the offense’s potential. Offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur simply did not have the talent he needed to run his scheme the way he wanted to, forcing major mid-season changes to his approach.

Joe Douglas attempted to rectify this in 2022 with his free agent signings of Uzomah and Tyler Conklin.

As we would later find out, even the signings of Uzomah and Conklin weren’t enough to complete the Jets’ tight end overhaul. The Jets would draft Jeremy Ruckert in the third round of the NFL draft.

Of all three additions to the tight end position, Tyler Conklin is the one who Jets fans should be expecting the most from.

Conklin is coming off of a career year with the Minnesota Vikings. He is a truly underrated player, as he is an asset in both the pass and run game.

In the latest Blewett’s Blitz film review, we answer every question that Jets fans might have about Tyler Conklin.

• What is his ceiling?
• What does he offer?
• Why is he generally overlooked?
• How does he fit in the Jets’ offense?

All of these questions and many more are answered in this edition of Blewett’s Blitz. Plus, Tyler Conklin’s strengths and weaknesses are listed below, as is the full, member-only film breakdown.

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Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths

• Acceleration
• Route pacing
• Contested catches
• Boxes defenders out for ball
• Tough
• Good hands as a blocker
• Rolls hips into blocks
• Willing blocker
• Threatens two ways at route break by squaring defender up
• Route running
• Rocker steps, bam steps and push-bys show up in routes often
• Gets in and out of breaks well
• Speed
• Tries to stay tight to O-line as run blocker
• Understanding of run blocker angles
• Effort
• Keeps feet under him on breaks
• Finds soft spot in zones
• Releases
• Attacks defenders leverage as route runner
• Lateral explosion out of breaks
• Good combo blocker
• Hands placement as pass blocker
• Patient feet in pass protection
• Good cut blocker
• Used often as pass blocker (often isolated on top-tier rushers)
• Defeats press coverage
• Shortens stride before breaks
• Body control
• Attacks hip to define on combos
• Eyes snap out of breaks
• Active eyes in pass protection
• Good on option routes

Weaknesses

• Needs to work back to ball with more consistently
• Natural strength
• Doesn’t offer much YAC
• Can reach for run blocks
• Could be more physical “holding line” as route runner
• Can break down unnecessarily with space
• Can come into some run blocks high
• Doesn’t create much movement as run blocker
• Doesn’t always cover/get positional leverage as run blocker
• Hands can land wide as run blocker
• Average in traffic over middle
• Can open early on pass sets
• Can telegraph breaks (unnecessary stop steps)
• Needs to understand when to speed vs square cut
• Doesn’t sustain run blocks for long
• Receives blocks instead of dictating as pass blocker

Member-only Tyler Conklin film breakdown

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