Crockett Gillmore gives the Ravens offense the edge it needs

After the season he had last year, combined with the suspensions and injuries at his position, Baltimore tight end Crockett Gillmore is absolutely ready to breakout this year.

Gillmore is valuable enough just as a blocker, which is why I think he will still see the field a lot. At 6’6 and 260 pounds he is a load, but to top it off he has really strong hands, which makes it super hard for guys to get off his blocks. Time after time I watched opposing defensive linemen and linebackers take on Gillmore then try an escape move and he was just like “nah.” It wasn’t holding either, or at least it wasn’t called as such and the fact that those dudes were stuck on blocks meant they couldn’t make plays, even when they looked in position to do so.

That’s the kind of thing that can get to be very frustrating for defensive guys and another thing I liked about watching Gillmore play is he also didn’t take any shit after the play. Cats would be trying to give him the business because he did a good job of blocking them and he would give it right back to them in spades. I vividly remember he and Raiders rush linebacker Aldon Smith going at it several times and neither guy backed down all game.

I will always want those kinds of guys on my team and especially on my offense to provide a little bit of an edge, so to speak.

So because of Gillmore’s blocking I’d expect him to still get a lot of reps and that necessarily means some opportunities in the passing game as well. Last season he started all 10 games that he played in and ended up with 33 receptions and four touchdowns. Unfortunately he had a back injury that side tracked the end of his season or else he probably would’ve been even more productive in those other six games.

What I really loved about Gillmore was his ability to run after the catch, which was nothing short of amazing. Like, I seriously don’t think I saw one guy bring him down by themselves in any of the games that I watched. Whether he was juking guys in space or flat-foot running them over, or some combination of both, it almost always took a host of defenders to bring him down.

That kind of running ability for a tight end is rare, even in this golden age of the position, so after seeing what he can do I suspect the Ravens, like me, will want to see even more of it this year. Last season he was mostly a stud tight end, meaning he was usually beside an offensive tackle on either side, but I also could see the Ravens expanding his role some this season in an effort to get him the ball more out in space where he can put that running ability to even better use.

The only worry I have about whether Crockett Gillmore will have a big year is whether or not he can find a way to stay healthy. In two seasons he has yet to play all 16 games, so it’s fair to wonder if he will be able to do so this time around and I don’t have any crystal balls either. All I do know for sure is if Gillmore can pick up where he left off last year as a pass catcher, he should be a certified weapon for the Ravens this season.

With free agent acquisition Benjamin Watson lost for the season with a torn Achilles, Max Williams and Dennis Pitta both also dealing with lingering injuries, and Darren Waller and Nick Boyle suspended for four and 10 games, respectively, Gillmore is certainly going to have the opportunity to show what he can do.

Now he just has to make the most of it.