The Great Tight End Debate

Super Bowl Sunday is right around the corner. The Top Defense vs the Top Offense. The Irresistible Force vs the Immovable Object. Something has to give. When you contrast these two teams they are pretty far apart in most areas of the field. With all due respect to Jimmy G, Patrick Mahomes is the best quarterback on Earth. The Niners run game and defensive line are far superior than that of their KC counterparts. WRs is a decisive edge to the Chiefs. 

There is one matchup however that is dead even. I’m talking about the tight end position, of course. This Super Bowl features the definitive top 2 at the position and promises to be one of the most exciting matchups to watch on the field this Sunday. The margin between these two giants is razor thin. It could truly go either way. Joey and I have debated this a few times on air, always with the same result. I lean Kelce. He leans Kittle. So for this week’s article I invited Mr. Fickle to join me. My proposal was simple. You tell the Truthers why Kittle is better, and I'll tell you why you’re wrong. Or why I think Kelce is the best tight end on the planet. We didn’t do a tally, or a vote or anything cute like that. But we want your feedback. Be sure to tell us below who you agree with and why. 

So without further adieu I introduce Joey Fickle - (crowd goes apeshit)

Joey: What’s up everybody? I’m going to get this argument kicked off with a few combine statistics. 

Kittle was quicker at the combine and tested in each test. It’s hard to judge here, as Kelce sat out all the jumps and lifting, but the edge goes to Kittle here. 

Kittle’s career averages are 86.5 catches, 1,215 yards and 5 TDs. 

Kelce’s career averages are 84.5 catches, 1,078 yards and 6.2 TDs. 

Kittle beats Kelce in YPC 13.6 to 12.8 

When Kelce isn’t running a crisp route, he is a very good pass blocker. Kittle, however, is elite. He originally landed on the map as a punishing blocker in a run heavy, tight end friendly offense for the Iowa Hawkeyes. The Hawkeye offense did limit his role as a pass catcher that, by extension, limited his overall draft grade and made him slide into day 3 of the draft. What NFL scouts failed to realize was the potential of this incredibly quick, clean route running, beast of a man tight end, who isn’t afraid to punch a defender in the mouth with his powerful stiffarm, all while carrying two other defenders on his back.  The man just doesn’t have any glaring weaknesses. 

Kittle excels against man. He is excellent in the open field. Kelce is better against zone coverage (finding a spot and sitting there) and doesn't do a lot after the catch in most cases. The 49ers made it to the Super Bowl on the back of a suffocating defense and a dominant run game. The trio of Coleman, Mostert, and Brieda wasn’t exactly the team anyone pegged to have one of the best run games in the NFL this year. Kittle is an instrumental piece in that. Because of his great blocking, the 49ers are able to exploit massive holes in the defense and typically run all over their opponents. This also opens things up for the play action bombs to Deebo and Sanders. 

Kittle may have missed a few games in his career and may not have the accolades that Kelce has amassed, but he is much younger and just now entering what should be his prime years. Kelce meanwhile should start to slow down in the same time frame. Kittle is a great student of the game and plays the right way. Where Kelce has been known to throw a flag at a referee, put his hands on his coaches, and attack everyone from game officials to the media (remember when he blasted Carl Cheffers after last years playoff loss “Shouldn’t be allowed to work at fucking Foot Locker”), Kittle has kept a squeaky clean image throughout his career. 

With all that being said, it's really hard to pick apart the 2nd best tight end in the game. But I see no holes in George Kittle's game. So therefore, it is Kittle > Kelce for me.

Joey exits stage left as the crowd goes bananas. 

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Jordan enters the room and immediately ducks as someone throws a paper cup at his head. 

Ladies and Gentleman, 

Please take your seats and allow me to spew some #TRUTH on you. 

George Kittle clicks all the boxes in the measurables departments. While that is impressive, those stats are meaningless once Kelce and Kittle get on the football field. While I will absolutely agree with Joey that Kittle is the better blocker of the two I still believe that statistics paint the picture of Kelce being the clear better tight end offensively. 

This year these two will collide in the Super Bowl. They’ve both had phenomenal 2019 seasons, but Kelce’s was flat out better. You might argue that Kelce played in 2 more game than Kittle, however I would argue the best ability is availability. Kelce outsnapped Kittle by 168 total snaps. Those 8-10 snaps could be crucial in the Super Bowl. 

If you dive a little deeper and look at just the last 2 years, it’s still Kelce by a good margin:

Wait, are you confused? It looks like Kittle beats Kelce here, right? These numbers are actually Kelce’s last 2 seasons vs Kittles career (3 seasons). In this scenario Kittle played in 45 games to Kelce’s 32. Kelce’s actual statline for the last 3 seasons is 283 receptions, 3603 yards, 23 tds. These numbers aren’t even close. 

The last argument you may have to say that Kittle is the better player is the career trajectory. Kelce is 4 years older and has played 4 more years than Kittle. To compare I looked at each player’s first three seasons. 

Kittle does have the edge in yards and YPC after 3 years in the league. Kittle also has the highest single season tight end receiving yard record with 1,377. Kelce, of course, falls second on this list with 1336.

Kelce has also proven to be a total difference maker in the playoffs. While Kittle has 4 receptions for 35 yards this playoffs (2 games) Kelce has 13 receptions, 164 yards, and 3 tds. A huge chunk of this came against the record setting comeback against the Texans. That game saw Kelce have his 3rd 100 yard receiving game in just 7 career playoff games.  His team has been in the playoffs for 5 consecutive years and he averages 6.6 receptions, 84.1 yards, and .7 TD’s per game in his playoff career. When the big catch is needed, Kelce always seems to be there. He was there for Alex Smith. He’s there for Patrick Mahomes. He was even there for Matt Moore. 

Kelce may have an attitude problem at times, as pointed out by my esteemed colleague, but as one of my favorite movie lines ever goes “Attitude reflects leadership, captain.” Look for Kelce to be the difference maker this Sunday and find his way into the endzone vs. this vaunted 49ers defense.

Despite how close these two appear on paper, I think Kelce proves, without a doubt, that he is the undisputed king of the current tight ends. The numbers don’t lie. If ever there were a 1a and 1b type situation, this is it. I will also say that I do expect Kittle to surpass Kelce as the top tight end in the next few seasons and I think there is a good chance he is considered better than Kelce when all is said is done. But right here, in the moment, the answer is definitely Kelce. Sound off with your opinion below.

As Always #STAYTRUE