Antony Auclair | Inside the mind of a tight end

Meeting with the only Quebecer to have reached the NFL as a tight end, a position which has drastically transformed in recent years, to the point of justifying the fact that we are now celebrating – today – national day of tight ends in the USA. Who would’ve believed that ?

Nicholas Richard

The Press

Few positions have evolved as quickly as tight end in the NFL. Not only on the field, but also in terms of the notoriety that athletes playing in this position benefit from. To some extent, they may be becoming the most valuable players.

There was a time when tight ends were an extension of the offensive line. “Blockers who had good hands to catch passes,” notes Antony Auclair, tight end who wore the colors of the Houston Texans and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. We are talking here about players like Antonio Gates, Shannon Sharpe or Jason Witten.

But over the years, “he’s more of a pass receiver who is capable of blocking,” continues the Quebecer. He cites Travis Kelce and Darren Waller as examples.

And the trends prove him right. Among the ten players with the most receptions since the start of the season, we find two tight ends: Kelce and TJ Hockenson.

And times are changing. From the last draft, two tight ends stand out: Sam LaPorta and Dalton Kincaid. Mainly thanks to their ability to catch the ball and get clear. This was also the case for Hockenson and Kyle Pitts just a few years ago.

Further consideration

By catching more balls, tight ends necessarily make more touchdowns. Since they score points, they automatically become more popular. And because they exist in the public eye, their notoriety is constantly growing. Players like Mark Andrews, George Kittle and Zach Ertz have become extremely popular. Just like certain quarterbacks or running backs.

Now, players can even celebrate National Tight Ends Day on the fourth Sunday of October. And George Kittle, Travis Kelce and Greg Olsen set up the “Tight End University” in 2021, where young tight ends will learn the basics of the trade for three days thanks to the expertise of several established players in the NFL.

Finally, believes Antony Auclair, players like him are recognized for their true value. Simply because for a long time, the amount of work necessary to excel has not been given enough consideration. After all, they have to work double duty.

“You also need to know defensive positions to block the right people at the point of attack. We don’t talk about it much, but it’s complicated, because you have to learn complete coverage, blitz tendencies, who block certain plays…”

Challenges

Even if their impact is growing, their job is essential and they work extra, tight ends still have trouble being taken seriously by managers.

The highest-paid tight end in the NFL in 2023 is Darren Waller, with an additional $17 million in his bank account at season’s end. All positions combined, he only reaches 102^e rank of the highest earners in the NFL. Right behind tackle Ed Oliver and guard Elgton Jenkins.

Travis Kelce arrives at 131^e rank on the circuit with just over $14.3 million. Just behind blocker Dion Dawkins and safety Eddie Jackson.

“Tight ends make less than a left tackle, even if we’re asked to block the same player. And we earn less than a receiver even if we are asked to do the same pass route. It is [Travis] Kelce who spoke about it and it’s true. We are asked to do everything, but we don’t earn as much as players who have only one task,” explains Auclair.

The model

With this reform at the position, teams also benefit from several options. This is why coaches use different tight ends during the same game, as Antony Auclair points out.

It also allows each type of tight end to shine. There will be the hybrid, the “Y” player. The one who can block, but also catch balls. “Like Rob Gronkowski, who is truly a jack of all trades. » Moreover, Gronk will remain the greatest to have played in this position. There is not even room for debate. “I’m biased, because I played with him, but Rob is probably the most complete in history. »

There will also be player “S”, who is more of a receiver. “Like a Darren Waller, who is not so involved in the block. »

Then, there will also be old-school players, like Auclair, who are “really more blockers”.

In his opinion, even if everyone only has a thing for the spectacular tight ends who throw the ball on the ground after scoring a touchdown, “the tight ends who block, that has a value, because today’s , the youngest, want to be a little less involved in the bloc.”

They are also arriving younger and younger, he points out. And they wait less and less time before becoming essential. The average age of the ten tight ends with the most touchdowns this season is 27 years old. Three years younger than Auclair, an eternity in the NFL. And among this group of ten, four are 26 and under.

Welcome to the new NFL. Welcome to the era of tight ends.

Antony Auclair’s bet

Absent from public space for several months, Antony Auclair has taken the time to think about his future. What he wanted and aspired to. Here he is back from Indianapolis where he met with the Colts staff to try to return to the NFL.

Things have shaken up a lot for Beauceron in recent years. A Super Bowl title with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, his first NFL touchdown and major knee injury with the Houston Texans, then a contract and waiver with the Tennessee Titans.

“I did not officially announce my retirement, because I wanted to give myself the season to think, to see where I stood. I didn’t want to make too hasty a decision. I really wanted to experience a season without football,” revealed the tight end.

On Monday, Auclair was visiting Colts headquarters, he confirmed to The Press.

During this meeting, he took part in physical tests, training and a tour of the facilities. The idea for the Colts was above all to see where the Quebecer was in his return to play process. The 30-year-old player set foot on an NFL field for the last time on January 9, 2022.

Their reserve team is complete and Auclair will have to wait his turn before joining it. Despite everything, the leaders of the Colts showed him encouraging signs: “They told me to stay healthy if a place becomes available. They want to work with me, but right now it’s a bad timing. »

Bet on yourself

When he was younger, Auclair grew up dreaming of the NFL. Like all kids who were raised with an oval ball in their hands. Never, therefore, would he have imagined deliberately turning his back on offers from teams on the Goodell circuit.

However, this is what happened at the start of the year. Still inconvenienced, on guard and, above all, hesitant to force an early return, Auclair refused invitations from certain teams to participate in organized team activities (OTA) and training camp.

These refusals are explained by the fear of being injured again. He didn’t want to go through another rehabilitation process that could have further delayed his return to the best league in the world.

The former Rouge et Or of Laval University preferred to save money, even if it meant starting the season later. A risky bet, but one with which he is at peace.

And as the risk of injuries is at its peak in the pre-season camps, since each player is working hard to get a place on the team, Auclair wanted to pass.

The last miles

At 30, Auclair is aware that time is passing. “In the NFL, it’s not that young! The average [d’âge] guys in my position are around 25 years old,” he notes.

However, after tasting the exhilaration of the Super Bowl alongside Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski, he realized the value of the experience in a locker room.

“In Houston, I was named leading position. Young people arrive in the NFL and don’t really know where to line up. And it always made me happy to help them. This is what I would like to leave. I got there. In Indianapolis, I met some players… and they are so young! »

But if Auclair is ready to travel to the four corners of the United States to convince an NFL team, it is also to end on a good note.

He arrived at the start of the boom in Quebec talent, in 2017. In his position, he is certainly one of the pioneers. And he wants to run on an NFL field again before hanging up his cleats.

He asked the Titans last year to release him after signing a new contract, because he felt unable to meet expectations and his own standards.

Impossible, he swears, to estimate his chances of playing in the NFL again this season. “I’m a bit in the dark. »

After traveling, training and thinking, he’s got his fingers crossed that he’ll be wearing a horseshoe on his helmet before long. Otherwise, he’ll need a little luck. But in any case, he is fulfilled by the simple fact of having the opportunity to prove himself again. That’s what he’s done his whole career.