Bear Down Wildcats

OK, I know what you are thinking. Why should I even learn the names of the tight ends? Coach is going to talk them up during camp, but in the end they are just extra blockers who aren't fully used in the offense. Fair enough, but despite rarely throwing to a tight end the coaches have been able to collect quite an impressive group of them.

Call me Charlie Brown, but I believe we are actually going to incorporate the tight end into the passing offense this year. I say that despite Coach Rod's actual history of using tight ends while at Arizona:

Catches by true tight ends
2015 - 11 (long of 16 yards and 2 TDs)
2014 - 0 (Austin Hill had 49 and was used sometimes as an h-back)
2013 - 0 (Terrance Miller had 40 and was primarily an h-back)
2012 - 0 (Taimi Tutogi had 10 as an h-back)

Here are this year's tight ends:

Starting experience (1)
Kern (4) (RS Sr)

Returning (2)
Matt Morin (RS Sr)
Trevor Wood (RS So)

Newcomers (2)
Brion Anduze (RS Fr)
Jamie Nunley (FR early enrollee)

Expected depth chart
Wood/Kern, Morin, Anduze

Useless, these guys should be killing it on seam routes and in the red zone but for whatever reason we go away from them

I think we see more TE receptions this year. Solomon has the offense down to the point where they can put that wrinkle in the mix now. RR likes to keep a changeup in his pocket and this option may join the wheel route throwback to the left side as one of those trump cards when he needs a late TD against a defense that has figured out the offense during the game. Trevor Wood being back may play into this.

I think we will have the same conversation next year.

OSUCat wrote:I think we will have the same conversation next year.

Seems Kern has been around for 8-10 years.

Looking at his stats, 2 catches in the last 6 games, 4 which were losses.

Remember when Kern was Stoops' star QB recruit?