It’s Time For Owen Daniels to Take Over
After the very upsetting news released earlier today that starting tight end Dennis Pitta would miss the rest of the season due to a dislocated hip, it’s time for the next man to step up. That next man is veteran tight end Owen Daniels.
The Ravens acquired Daniels in the offseason, signing him to one-year deal. He has made a big splash in the receiving game thus far. The biggest performance for him so far came in the Ravens Week 2 victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers, in which he caught two short-yardage touchdowns in a 26-6 victory.
So why did Daniels get his number called in those short-yardage situations instead of Pitta? The answer is short and simple (no pun intended). The answer is two words – Gary Kubiak.
The former Houston Texans head coach was hired by the Ravens to be their offensive coordinator after being fired by Houston following a season in which they went 2-14. He had some successful years in Houston, but that one abysmal campaign was enough to overrule all of the other seasons.
Oct 21, 2012; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans tight end
Owen Daniels(81) in action against the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth quarter at Reliant Stadium. The Texans defeated the Ravens 43-13. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Like Kubiak, Owen Daniels is also a former Texan. You see the gist there?
They have carried their bond from the south over to Baltimore. Kubiak likes to call on players that he feels comfortable with and has coached before. Owen Daniels falls under that category. You might also notice this with running back Justin Forsett who has received more carries than any other player on the team this season.
Daniels has recorded more receptions than Pitta this year because of Kubiak, and really, why not call his number?
The 10-year veteran has a very good track record in his years with the Texans. He eclipsed 60 receptions and 700 yards three times in his career, and has totaled 395 catches so far through his NFL stint. However, a lot of those years were decimated thanks to injuries. He is quite the injury-prone receiver. He has missed 25 games in the last five seasons, but still managed to put up solid numbers in those years.
He’s got great hands, decent quickness, great route-running skills, and has a high football IQ. It was a big-time move by the Ravens to acquire him in the offseason, even though most people saw the move as an irrelevant one. As we say here in Baltimore: In Ozzie we trust.
Add this to the long list of genius acquisitions by Ravens General Manger Ozzie Newsome.