After spending seven years in San Francisco as second fiddle to Vernon Davis, tight end Delanie Walker is ready to blossom in Tennessee.
“It’s like you’re getting a divorce,” Walker recently said, via Greg Pogue of FOXSportsTennessee.com. “And now you get a new wife. You gotta learn all over again. You are on your best behavior.”
Walker gained plenty of positive attention in NFL circles with a stout performance in Super Bowl XLVII, which demonstrated his full range of skills. But he wants to be more than a versatile No. 2 tight end.
“When I was with the Niners, I played 70 percent of the time,” Walker said. “Being here and having the ability to play 100 percent of the time, I think I fit into that role.”
With that role, in Walker’s mind, will come plenty of receptions.
“My goal is to get 70 catches and go from there,” Walker said. “How many touchdowns I get, we’ll see. But I’m just worried about getting the catches and helping the team move the ball.”
That would be a major jump over his career high of 29 catches, and it would constitute nearly 57 percent of his career total. With Jared Cook gone for the Rams, however, Walker will get the opportunities.
Of course, Titans running back Chris Johnson would say that Walker’s primary opportunity will be to block.