STRENGTHS
JaTavion is an excellent pass-catching Flex/Tight End but if you watch the film you realize he is much more than that because this kid can block. He can block in space and be used as an in-line blocker. He can be used as a move receiver or line-up in the slot because of his athletic talent to adjust to the ball in the air and make the difficult catch. JaTavion is physical and has excellent run-after-the-catch skills using a straight arm to keep tackles away from his legs. He has the speed to stretch the defense and is a mismatch when lined up in the slot. JaTavion plays bigger than his size and runs faster and quicker than he has been timed at. He has the skill set you look for in a Flex/TE and the blocking skills of an H/back. Looking at his film he seems to play with the passion to catch the ball and be counted on to make the impact play when it is needed.
CONCERNS
On film, he played and looked like he was about 6’ 5” weighed about 245 or 250 lbs, and ran in the 4.5 range. At the combine, he came in a 6’ 4” 245 LBS and ran a 4.69. I know that is not much different but it just seemed like it was. Very Strange. JaTavion will have to get better running routes and getting open in the red zone and become more of a TD threat. Of course, this could be a QB to TE play-calling issue, and not really an issue for JaTavion.
BOTTOM LINE: 2.33
JaTavion is the same size speed and athletic talent as Buffalo Bills Flex/TE Dalton Kincaid. The difference is production JaTavion has 45 Rec- 682 yds – 2 TD’s…. Dalton – 70 Rec – 890yds – 8TD’s. In fact, Dalton had 8 TD’s the year before off of only 36 Rec – 510 yards. You have to ask yourself… then what is the big difference between the same size and athletic talent players? Well let me tell you, it’s not because one player is Black and the other player is White. It’s in the impact production. I’m not a big stat kind of guy, because stats tell a story, but they don’t tell the whole story. Nevertheless, in this case, the story is in the Touch Downs numbers. The rest of the numbers could be different because of play calling, quality of talent on the team, play at the QB position, or just offensive play calling. But scoring touchdowns, that’s all about trust, and recognition between the QB, the TE getting open, and the coach calling the plays. I think if JaTavion can establish that bond of TE, QB, OC, the same way Dalton did, and is in the process of doing, then JaTavion can become just as productive and impacting a Tight End as any who has ever played in the game. That’s why I always tell you, it takes more than talent to play in the NFL
