IMO- Tickle gets caught in the "Nice Guy Syndrome"... he definitely has the talent, he has the heart, and the work ethic. However, he sometimes seems to lack the "fire under your ass" that more aggressive type personalities have.
I believe this can play into your confidence level. It seems that once he gets rolling, his finishes are higher up the food chain.
I think that the change of awning/program/ and a few other things this season will throw a log or two on the proverbial fire, and we'll see him up front more often.
That being said, he's a hell of a nice guy! Maybe to a fault...
Straight Outta Compression