TE Joel Dreesen Re-Signed

[Keith]

http://www.inthebullseye.com/archive/2009/20090301.html

Got to thinking more about this.

[dalemurphy]

Originally Posted by Keith

http://www.inthebullseye.com/archive/2009/20090301.html

Got to thinking more about this.

Keith, I think these circumstances pointed more to the Texans entertaining OD trade offers or having some level of concern that a team (Bills probably) is considering signing OD to an offer sheet.

[Keith]

Originally Posted by dalemurphy

Keith, I think these circumstances pointed more to the Texans entertaining OD trade offers or having some level of concern that a team (Bills probably) is considering signing OD to an offer sheet.

Yep, probably more likely than a team pursuing Dreesen. While Daniels might not get an offer sheet since the 1st/3rd is a lot to give up, I sure wouldn't be surprised if the Texans fielded some intriguing trade offers for him in the past few days.

I just found the timing of Dreesen signing a contract to be very unusual. The Texans could have had this offer to him weeks ago; or it could have been something Dreesen's agent gave to them on Friday from another team. We'll probably never know.

Dreesen was a sixth round pick, someone Warren profiled back in the HPF days when we wrote those things for The War Room (meaning we thought he was a top 5 TE heading into his last college season before the draft). Hopefully Warren won't mind the trip down memory lane, but this was what he wrote in Dreesen's draft profile over four years ago:

Tight End
Joel Dreessen
College: Colorado State
Year: Senior
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 260
Birthday: July 26, 1982

Give Joel Dreessen the chance, and he will make a big play. Last year he took advantage of a blown assignment by the Cal defense that left him alone to score on an 85-yard catch and run. Against Miami of Ohio, he caught a pass 28 yards downfield and rumbled another 40 yards to the endzone.

A starter since his sophomore season, Dreessen plays the H-back in Colorado State’s double tight end offense. That position has him lining up in a variety of alignments, including tight end, wingback, and fullback. Dreessen moves very well for a player of his size and is a willing blocker. A team leader and an excellent student, he also handles the long snapping duties for the Rams.

Dreessen missed four games last year with an abdominal strain but reportedly has fully healed. While he is solid in nearly every aspect of the position, he lacks the special qualities that make an elite prospect stand out from the pack. Dreessen is also shorter than the prototype tight end.

Dreessen’s toughness, consistency, and versatility are his greatest assets. His ability to contribute as a long snapper also enhances his value.

(profile written by Warren DeLuca)

[Keith]

Dreesen's base salaries:
2009 - $600,000
2010 - $760,000
2011 - $910,000

I don't recall seeing a signing bonus listed for Dreesen in any reports. Backing into a total contract value of $3.2 million, that would make the signing bonus $930,000 and his 2009 salary cap figure $910,000.

[Warren]

Originally Posted by Keith

Hopefully Warren won't mind the trip down memory lane, but this was what he wrote in Dreesen's draft profile over four years ago:

Memories,
Like the corners of my mind...

[popanot]

I miss the old HPF War Room draft analysis and commentary. I guess Keith doesn't pay enough these days. He needs to jack up the ITB membership dues.

[Keith]

Those old profiles used to draw in a lot of outside search traffic to the site. But man, were they a bitch to write. Ric's original idea to have a War Room page as I recall was centered on the Texans being understandably sucky in those early days and having the draft be a major focal point for us back then (especially pre-2002). Now that there's a viable product on the field to watch and evaluate, the draft (relatively speaking) has taken a somewhat lesser role in comparison, so the 'bang for the buck' reduced a bit.

We used to write those (at least I tried to) in the summer when there wasn't much going on. Even split between the three of us though, it was a lot of work to pull together. That said, since there are fewer graphics on ItB, that saves me quite a bit of time ...no. I think my wife would kill me for finding more time away from the family!! It's funny though... every now and then I still see someone referencing something like an Atari Bigby profile from HPF.

[jppaul]

Originally Posted by Keith

Those old profiles used to draw in a lot of outside search traffic to the site. But man, were they a bitch to write. Ric's original idea to have a War Room page as I recall was centered on the Texans being understandably sucky in those early days and having the draft be a major focal point for us back then (especially pre-2002). Now that there's a viable product on the field to watch and evaluate, the draft (relatively speaking) has taken a somewhat lesser role in comparison, so the 'bang for the buck' reduced a bit.

We used to write those (at least I tried to) in the summer when there wasn't much going on. Even split between the three of us though, it was a lot of work to pull together. That said, since there are fewer graphics on ItB, that saves me quite a bit of time ...no. I think my wife would kill me for finding more time away from the family!! It's funny though... every now and then I still see someone referencing something like an Atari Bigby profile from HPF.

Isn't Roy the draft guru? Write it up Roy.

[Warren]

Originally Posted by Keith

Those old profiles used to draw in a lot of outside search traffic to the site. But man, were they a bitch to write. Ric's original idea to have a War Room page as I recall was centered on the Texans being understandably sucky in those early days and having the draft be a major focal point for us back then (especially pre-2002). Now that there's a viable product on the field to watch and evaluate, the draft (relatively speaking) has taken a somewhat lesser role in comparison, so the 'bang for the buck' reduced a bit.

We used to write those (at least I tried to) in the summer when there wasn't much going on. Even split between the three of us though, it was a lot of work to pull together. That said, since there are fewer graphics on ItB, that saves me quite a bit of time ...no. I think my wife would kill me for finding more time away from the family!! It's funny though... every now and then I still see someone referencing something like an Atari Bigby profile from HPF.

Thanks popanot, and I agree with what Keith said. I enjoyed researching and writing the profiles, especially when I had seen the player enough to give my own perspective or was otherwise able to come up with something fresh by finding some little-reported fact, Texan angle, etc. But they were very time consuming, and too often I found myself trying to write about players I hadn't seen play firsthand which meant having to rely on others' opinions. But it was cool to see them referenced all over the net, even a few times on NFL.com.