Eric Williams
NFC West Writer
Trey McBride got an up-close look at some of the NFL’s best recently at “Tight End University” in Nashville, hosted by George Kittle, Travis Kelce and FOX Sports analyst and ex-NFL Pro Bowler Greg Olsen.
Kittle and Kelce are considered the gold standard among current tight ends, and McBride said he took copious mental notes watching the two work at Vanderbilt University.
“It was cool to learn how those guys see the game,” McBride said. “What they look for, what they do when they run routes — kind of see what goes on in their brain.”
Kittle offered a few words of praise for McBride, an up-and-coming tight end entering his third season with the Cardinals.
“Trey McBride from Arizona is a young guy who had a great year last year and is just going to keep getting better,” said Kittle, when asked to name some of the young tight ends ready to take over the mantle as best in the league.
McBride certainly flashed the ability to post big numbers last season. The Colorado State product finished with 81 receptions for 825 yards and three touchdowns on 106 targets. His 81 receptions were a single-season franchise record for catches by a tight end.
He had an uptick in his numbers when Kyler Murray returned from his knee injury, posting 53 catches for 538 receiving yards and two touchdowns from Week 10 to the end of the regular season. Only Jaguars TE Evan Engram had more catches (63) over that period last season.
McBride, 24, should benefit from a full offseason working with a healthy Murray in OC Drew Petzing’s offense. McBride said he’s been getting together with Murray and the rest of Arizona’s offensive playmakers to develop better chemistry heading into training camp.
“Kyler’s been very good about bringing guys together, working out, outside of football,” McBride said. “He’s been a great leader. And I’m super excited because this has been as close as I’ve felt this offense has been…
Source link : https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/cardinals-trey-mcbride-embracing-challenge-become-top-tier-tight-end
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Publish date : 2024-07-03 15:21:37
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