From an individual perspective, Tony Scheffler has experienced a Matterhorn-like peak and a Mojave Desert-esque valley, all in the span of two months.
In August, he was prolific. Playing frequently with the first team, he finished second in the NFL in receiving yards per game among tight ends, averaging 44.3 yards in the three games in which he took part. Only New England’s Benjamin Watson had more, and no other tight end averaged more than 35 yards a game in this year’s preseason.
Since the regular season started, though, Scheffler’s numbers have shrunk. From nine catches for 133 yards in the preseason to two grabs for 16 yards in the five regular-season games, Scheffler’s receptions have grown all the more scant.
“Being so successful in preseason and able to make plays and kind of getting off to a tough start in (September) has been the hardest part of the regular season,” Scheffler said. “I’m not really doing anything different. It’s just kind of not going my way and it’s kind of frustrating to find and correct that problem.”
Added Head Coach Mike Shanahan: “Like a lot of young guys, he’s got a lot of talent. There are growing pains as a rookie. He’s going to be a great player, but it doesn’t happen overnight.”
Scheffler has, however, seen a fair amount of playing time — including occasions where he’s been the quarterback’s primary read on a play.
“There’s been some (plays where he’s been the passer’s primary read),” Scheffler said. “But whether it be rookie mistakes or just coverage not allowing for me to get the ball, there’s not that many opportunities, and when I get one, things have to go right and I have to be on top of my game and it just hasn’t happened that way yet.”
Meanwhile, he heads into Week 7 working to find answers — just like the offense as a whole.
“It’s tough,” Scheffler said, “but as a rookie, you’ve just got to keep plugging away and just hope that the next game will produce one or two breakout plays for you to kind of get you out of the rut.
“(I have to) just keep studying, keep learning the game plan and hopefully pretty soon things will start going my way and I’ll start helping the team out.”
He’ll do it with some pressure on his shoulders — but he welcomes that. After all, pressure doesn’t exist without the expectations to spawn it in the first place.
“There’s always a little bit of pressure to perform, especially when you come in and are expected to help out the team,” Scheffler said. “It’s something that I think helps fuel me to keep pushing away and getting better.”
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Tags: Offense, Tight ends, Tony Scheffler
You shouldn’t worry about sheffler to much we just haven’t passed much. The only two games Jake threw more than 30 passes was against Kansas City and New England in which he threw 173 and 256 respectively. Those were the only games in which Shanahan felt the urgency to throw the ball since the St. Louis meltdown. Many people complain about how the Broncos offense is horrible and they don’t know whats up but Shanahan hasn’t really thrown out any new plays since last year. My guess is that next week the same thing will happen against the browns and plummer wont hit 20 passes then when we hit Indianapolis Denver will whip out an actual offense attack against them
good points…. but, hopefully,,, if the colts continue to play the way they are playing,,, and our broncos continue to play the way we are playing,, then we wont have to open up the playbook that much, even against the colts….
It just seems that every time Plummer has gone to Scheff the ball has either bounced off his helmet, or been a horrible pass. There have three different occasions where Tony was running wide open down the middle of the field and Plummer missed him.
That said, the fact that he is still getting on the field must mean he is able to block well….
Hopefully he can get off a bit this weekend, because it would be nice to have the tight end back in the offensive attack against the Colts and Steelers…
I think getting SA and Shef more involved will be a catalyst for our offensive ‘woes’. Jeb and House were key last year in making some important 1st downs / TDs to keep drives going. Don’t see that yet this year.
7 receptions to Bronco tight ends in 5 games, using variations of the screen pass to get 3 or 4 yards on 3rd down. Shanny is clearly holding back. He is holding back more and longer because the D is letting him. Jake and Javon have connected, Tatum is stronger and confident, Rod is so rested he is barely in game shape(kidding). San Francisco could score more points than the Broncos have on some good Shanny scripts. I expect a good script after halftime in Cleveland and some Jake tune up passes. Jake will throw less than 10 picks this year. Indy has no D and no Eddgerin, Pitt. won one for the Bus and is running on 2 flats. S.D.’s 1st year Q.B. will hand Broncos D a few big plays. Seattle will be frozen and slow, and Cincy can’t even spell defense. Shanny won’t have to target any teams impact player until the playoffs unless he wants to. This D wants to intimidate more than 97′s D wanted to win one for John. Time to win one for Pat.
NOT to sure about how much we will see out of this kid this year, so far thrown to 13 times TWO catches, 15 YARDS.
IN years past the TE has been a main part of the O, part of the trifecta, yet in their rookie years NONE have performed. Not even Sharpe.
Are we expecting to much from him? Was he over hyped like every TE that has hit the since since Sharpe was a pup.
Sheffler probably just needs time to adjust. I can think of 2 passes in the Oakland game that hit him in the hands that he dropped. Hopefully he isn’t this years Darius Watts and will come out of it because he has huge potential. He already blocks better than Putzier used to and is faster, now all he has to do is start hanging onto the ball when it comes to him, if it is in reach.
Jake needs to be a little more precise on his passes too, but the line is more at fault for not giving him time than Jake is himself. He is having to just throw the ball away to beat the rush way too often.
I miss Jeb’s timely catches to keep drives going and eventually getting points. Jeb isn’t fast but he makes the key plays and performance is more important than potential just ask (Ryan Leaf and Kurt Warner)! Anyways Scheffler needs about a year to catch up!