Griff
May-9th-2007, 11:57 AM
Sports Focus: Washington Redskins Rookie plays with blocks Team is hoping tight end Ecker can seal the deal for ground game
Monday, May 07, 2007 - 12:07 AM
By PAUL WOODY
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
http://www.redskins.com/uploads/photos/temp/main/HAELPDPHOEMP/IB1P2818pg.jpg
Tyler Ecker is older than the average NFL rookie, fluent in Spanish and adept at answering questions with a smile while saying as little as possible.
The Washington Redskins don't mind any of those things, especially if Ecker, 25, proves to be the tight end they hoped when they drafted him a week ago.
The Redskins are seeking a tight end who can line up next to the left tackle and always get his man. They want a tight end who can consistently put a strong body block on defensive ends, linebackers and safeties.
The running game always works better when the tight end is sealing off would-be tacklers.
Ecker, who already is 19 pounds heavier than his college playing weight (250 then, 269 now) is smart enough to figure out his assignments. He was a two-time academic all-Big Ten Conference player at Michigan.
He understands sacrifice and commitment.
Ecker, 6-6, is older than the average NFL rookie because he took a two-year break from college. That wasn't because he was bored with education or football.
After his freshman year, when he was redshirted, Ecker went on a two-year mission for the Mormon church. He spent the time in Houston.
"I helped out in the Hispanic community," he said. "I did some teaching. We helped find people jobs, places to live. I did a lot of studying, a lot of helping.
"It was a great experience. I matured a lot. I went from being a goofy guy to kind of getting my life together."
Ecker was at Redskin Park this weekend, taking part in the rookie minicamp.
He is a native of Sacramento, Calif., and left there to attend Michigan, one of the elite college football programs in the country. Few players would walk away from that for two years.
Ecker did so without hesitation.
"It's something I'd wanted to do my whole life," he said. "Being raised in the religion and seeing impact a mission has on people who serve, it was definitely something I wanted to do."
Ecker didn't just help in the Hispanic community, he also went door to door, seeking people interested in hearing about his faith. That's a task that comes with a high rejection rate.
"It didn't affect me too much," Ecker said of having doors closed in his face. "If people didn't want to talk, that was fine. If they did, that's why we were there."
When a player leaves a college program, there is no guarantee his job will be there when he returns. Ecker didn't even work out regularly during his two years away from football.
"I went back in the summer of 2003, and I was in good shape, actually," he said. "I played a lot that season."
He has no guarantee of playing time, or even of making the roster, with the Redskins. He was a seventh-round draft pick, the 216th player selected.
He is not noted for speed or ability to slip into the open spots in a zone and catch passes. He caught 57 passes for 695 yards, a respectable 12.2 yards per reception, in four seasons at Michigan. He is noted for blocking, and that's what interested the Redskins.
It's possible to find blocking tight ends in the draft's later rounds. One of the best in Redskins history was Don Warren, now a pro personnel evaluator for Washington, who was taken in the fourth round of the 1979 draft.
"I think I was prepared well at Michigan to come here," Ecker said. "The idea is to beat out the competition in front of you. If you can do that, it doesn't matter how old you are."
Contact staff writer Paul Woody at pwoody@timesdispatch.com or (804) 649-6444
Times Dispatch (http://www.timesdispatch.com/cva/ric/sports.PrintView.-content-articles-RTD-2007-05-07-0075.html)
Monday, May 07, 2007 - 12:07 AM
By PAUL WOODY
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
http://www.redskins.com/uploads/photos/temp/main/HAELPDPHOEMP/IB1P2818pg.jpg
Tyler Ecker is older than the average NFL rookie, fluent in Spanish and adept at answering questions with a smile while saying as little as possible.
The Washington Redskins don't mind any of those things, especially if Ecker, 25, proves to be the tight end they hoped when they drafted him a week ago.
The Redskins are seeking a tight end who can line up next to the left tackle and always get his man. They want a tight end who can consistently put a strong body block on defensive ends, linebackers and safeties.
The running game always works better when the tight end is sealing off would-be tacklers.
Ecker, who already is 19 pounds heavier than his college playing weight (250 then, 269 now) is smart enough to figure out his assignments. He was a two-time academic all-Big Ten Conference player at Michigan.
He understands sacrifice and commitment.
Ecker, 6-6, is older than the average NFL rookie because he took a two-year break from college. That wasn't because he was bored with education or football.
After his freshman year, when he was redshirted, Ecker went on a two-year mission for the Mormon church. He spent the time in Houston.
"I helped out in the Hispanic community," he said. "I did some teaching. We helped find people jobs, places to live. I did a lot of studying, a lot of helping.
"It was a great experience. I matured a lot. I went from being a goofy guy to kind of getting my life together."
Ecker was at Redskin Park this weekend, taking part in the rookie minicamp.
He is a native of Sacramento, Calif., and left there to attend Michigan, one of the elite college football programs in the country. Few players would walk away from that for two years.
Ecker did so without hesitation.
"It's something I'd wanted to do my whole life," he said. "Being raised in the religion and seeing impact a mission has on people who serve, it was definitely something I wanted to do."
Ecker didn't just help in the Hispanic community, he also went door to door, seeking people interested in hearing about his faith. That's a task that comes with a high rejection rate.
"It didn't affect me too much," Ecker said of having doors closed in his face. "If people didn't want to talk, that was fine. If they did, that's why we were there."
When a player leaves a college program, there is no guarantee his job will be there when he returns. Ecker didn't even work out regularly during his two years away from football.
"I went back in the summer of 2003, and I was in good shape, actually," he said. "I played a lot that season."
He has no guarantee of playing time, or even of making the roster, with the Redskins. He was a seventh-round draft pick, the 216th player selected.
He is not noted for speed or ability to slip into the open spots in a zone and catch passes. He caught 57 passes for 695 yards, a respectable 12.2 yards per reception, in four seasons at Michigan. He is noted for blocking, and that's what interested the Redskins.
It's possible to find blocking tight ends in the draft's later rounds. One of the best in Redskins history was Don Warren, now a pro personnel evaluator for Washington, who was taken in the fourth round of the 1979 draft.
"I think I was prepared well at Michigan to come here," Ecker said. "The idea is to beat out the competition in front of you. If you can do that, it doesn't matter how old you are."
Contact staff writer Paul Woody at pwoody@timesdispatch.com or (804) 649-6444
Times Dispatch (http://www.timesdispatch.com/cva/ric/sports.PrintView.-content-articles-RTD-2007-05-07-0075.html)