Tremble being sidelined for two camps, though, has given Ja’Tavion Sanders ample reps with the first team. The result, at least last season, was having two first-team-caliber tight ends. Sanders finished with 33 receptions for 342 yards and a touchdown. Now, the Panthers are hoping for not only a repeat, but a step forward with both guys having a year under their belt playing together.
“These guys are like the heart and soul of what we do,” pointed out Canales, before launching into a story about watching Thursday Night Football between the Cowboys and Eagles this week with his kids, and explaining why the tight end is so important.
“I was like, ‘Yeah, but if you notice every time there’s a run play, those guys are involved. When there’s a pass protection and play action, those guys are involved, and then in every pass game, they’re a part of the concept.’
“Those guys are so valuable, they’re so versatile and how we use our tight ends and so I’m just I’m happy to have JT, Tommy ready to go, Mitchell Evans, and then James Mitchell, of course, just showing us what he can offer the team throughout camp, so, it’s a really exciting group, a bunch of young guys and, a talented group, and really, I think Pat McPherson does a great job with those guys just prepping them for all those things.
“I think outside of the quarterback position, tight end is probably the hardest, one of the hardest positions to play.”