"I watched film on him before he came. He likes the tight ends," Ausberry said. "He likes to use the middle of the field, so we'll be there for him."
That leaves Ausberry to compete with second-year players Mychal Rivera and Nick Kasa and practice squader Brian Leonhardt for the starting role.
"It's one of those things I try not to think about too much," Ausberry said. "My job is to get on the field and be productive and do what I can do to help this team."
Schaub relied heavily on the tight end during his time in Houston,
wholesale jerseys, forming a strong partnership with Owen Daniels as he tried to do much of his work in the middle of the field. Schaub threw nearly 60 percent of his passes over the middle the past two seasons,
NFL Jerseys Outlet, according to game charting by Pro Football Focus, compared to less than half for Oakland last season when the tight ends combined for more than 45 catches.
This well could be the last chance for Ausberry, who has shown flashes of being a legitimate NFL tight end but has not done it consistently enough in his first three NFL seasons.
"I feel good about having some young guys at the tight end position and we're going to need those guys to step up," Allen said. "Somebody in that room has to step up and say they're the guy."
ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP)