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The tight end issue
Written by Duane Long   
Monday, 02 November 2009 13:33
This is a subject we keep returning to. Tight end recruiting. It drives fans nuts.

Jim S. said this is a recent thread:

"...
written by JimS, November 01, 2009
Who is the tight end that UC beat OSU out for? The only one I can think of that OSU had any interest in whatsoever is Alex Smith but that doesn't count of course because OSU never offered him. "

We did not offer him because we knew he was not going to change his mind. It is a player choosing Cincinnati over Ohio State. An instate player choosing Cincinnati over Ohio State. That is a precedent that you want to avoid if at all possible. Matt James may make it a moot point but you have to offer a lineman of that caliber. You have to take the shot. With a tight end you don't have to do that. Not here. Fans get so worked up over the lack of the tight end in the offense. Recruiting doesn't have anything to do with it. That is why I am coming back to the topic.

We don't use the tight end in the offense. Not in the way fans want to see the tight end used. Here, the tight end is a blocker first. We did not offer Brandon Moore from Trotwood  a couple of years ago because he did not play tight end as a junior. He did not show as a blocker. This year Alex Smith was a preseason national top 10 tight end prospect. He is an early offer talent. We did not offer because he is not an elite blocking tight end. He does not have the body of a kid that will ever be a good blocking tight end.When you look at film I know fans get excited about the elite athletic tight ends, and even when they are in state we don't get any. Makes you crazy. We would not use him anyway. That is not what we do. We run and we throw to the wide outs. That we would throw to an elite athletic tight end if we got one is not going to happen. The staff can tell these unique athletes that all they want. I don't believe it. The elite tight ends obviously don't believe it. We actually have one right now. Jake Stoneburner. We still aren't throwing to the tight end.

We can be more effective at tight end and it has nothing to do with recruiting. We just need to throw the ball to them. When is the last time we had a tight end who did not show he could catch the ball? The way the tight end fits into our offense is with being good inline blockers, and catch the ball if we throw it to him. A receiving game first tight end does not fit our offense well. He would never be the players he could be and if we take a tight end who is not a really good inline blocker, the offense would suffer. If we can find a player who is a great blocker and a great receiver, like Kyle Rudolph, the staff will go after him. I think Ben Koyack is a player like that. We need the classic tight ends. Block great/catch good players. Run that underneath stuff, be where the quarterback can't miss him, catch the ball, get first downs. That is all we would ever ask of a tight end in this offense. That is not a bad thing. Actually, it is a really good thing. Look at the NFL. For every Tony Gonzalez I will offer you a Dallas Clark. For every Vernon Davis you throw in front of me, I will give you Owen Daniels.We have players who could be that kind of tight end. The bad thing is that we don't use the tight end. That we don't is not a recruiting matter. It is a scheme thing.

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Comments (8)Add Comment
...
written by OSU Matt, November 02, 2009
When is the last time we had a tight end who did not show he could catch the ball?


Ryan Hamby. Texas 2005. Dear God, make it stop.
...
written by Miko, November 02, 2009
Reid Fragel & SToney will be a good pair ...... What ever happened to Nick D ?
...
written by Loganbuck, November 02, 2009
I saw Fragel in the game Saturday, unless I am mistaken wasn't that his first game action?
...
written by Jim S, November 03, 2009
Duane,

Do you think DiLillo will ever see meaningful minutes?
...
written by poe mcknoe, November 03, 2009
We need the tight end to block because the 5 guys on the line aren't enough to get it done.
Fragel
written by markt, November 03, 2009
Fragel has played special teams in every game and got some TE minutes vs. Toledo, IN, MN and NMST. It was his block that set Boom free in the last game for his 54 yard TD.
...
written by Duane Long, November 03, 2009
...
written by OSU Matt, November 02, 2009
When is the last time we had a tight end who did not show he could catch the ball?


Ryan Hamby. Texas 2005. Dear God, make it stop.



I feel your pain. Let it go.
...
written by Duane Long, November 03, 2009
...
written by Jim S, November 03, 2009
Duane,

Do you think DiLillo will ever see meaningful minutes?



I do. He has been injured. He fits the mold of the tight ends that can be productive in this offense. He is going to block well and catch everything thrown to him. Better athlete than he is given credit for. He could do some damage after the catch.

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