WSU FOOTBALL PREVIEWS: Tight Ends...Wait, What is a Tight End?

by Mark Sandritter on Aug 25, 2011 1:06 PM PDT in 2011 WSU Football News

One catch, four yards, one touchdown. Those are the receiving totals from WSU tight ends in 2010.

Unless you were one of the 26,356 people who attended the Montana State game last year, you likely haven't seen a WSU tight end catch a pass in a game since Skylar Stormo hauled in a 20-yard reception in week ten of the 2009 season.

WSU quarterbacks combined to attempt 383 passes in 2010 and three were intended for tight ends. Maybe this is just part of Todd Sturdy's diabolical master plan.

Wulff: Gee, Todd, what are we going to do today?

Sturdy: The same thing we do every game, Paul. Try to eliminate the tight end!

2010 Depth Chart

Skylar Stormo (RsSO), Andrei Lintz (RsSO), Aaron Gehring (RsSR)

2011 Depth Chart

Andrei Lintz (RsJR), Aaron Dunn (RsFR)

The 2010 group had a major advantage in the name category. Stormo's switch to defensive end really hurts the 2011 group there. However, nice job of Aaron Dunn stepping up in 2011 to fill the "Aaron" requirement.

Seriously though, if the 2011 tight ends fail to outproduce the 2010 group it's because Sturdy finally had enough and just started playing six offensive linemen. Dunn was highly ranked by recruiting services coming out of high school. He has potential, but I haven't seen much written about him during fall camp. Lintz caught a touchdown pass in the first scrimmage, so we have confirmed he is alive and has functioning hands.

Poll

How will the 2011 WSU tight ends compare to the 2010 version?

Major Decline

5 votes

Slight Decline

1 votes

Same

26 votes

Slight Improvement

86 votes

Major Improvement

93 votes

211 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 15 comments | 1 recs |

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Comments

Thinking two catches would qualify as a major improvement here.

And I’m only half joking.

CougCenter

by Brian Floyd on Aug 25, 2011 1:20 PM PDT reply actions

Exactly what I was thinking

That and being on the field in more than 10% of the sets. Major improvement by default.

by gbob on Aug 25, 2011 1:31 PM PDT up reply actions

Wow, that’s amazing. I wonder if they’ll start throwing to the tight ends as the pass blocking improves, or if not using TEs is just part of the offensive strategy going forward.

by jambo on Aug 25, 2011 1:33 PM PDT reply actions

What even constitutes as a major decline?

Zero catches and the depth chart listing the position as lefter left tackle?

CougCenter I Twitter

by Mark Sandritter on Aug 25, 2011 1:57 PM PDT reply actions 3 recs

Major Decline

means all tight ends on the roster are injured in practice prior to opening weekend and none of them see the field this year.

by t-line_coug on Aug 25, 2011 2:00 PM PDT up reply actions

TWO PEOPLE VOTED FOR MAJOR DECLINE.

I literally do not comprehend how this is possible.

twitter | CougCenter

by Kyle Rancourt on Aug 25, 2011 2:35 PM PDT up reply actions

I do:

One catch, 2 yds, no Td.

by msgp501st on Aug 25, 2011 4:51 PM PDT up reply actions

True Frosh

Mansel Simmons might be in the mix, too, though we know less about him than we do Dunn.

From reports early in camp, it seemed that Lintz has really come on as a pass catching TE. Which would be great if you can split him out and create mismatches, but he’s gotta be able to block as well to disguise what we’re doing with him.

I remember watching some blocking drills on youtube a few days ago where Lintz was manhandling his guy and completely stonewalled him. Yay blocking! The next time he was up the defender did a quick swim move and barely had to move off of a straight line to go around him to get the “sack.” Blurgh….

…Is it Sept 3rd yet?

#CougHarmonyonTwitter with your pants off, M*tha F*cker!

by TiltingRight on Aug 25, 2011 2:16 PM PDT reply actions

I'm not sure I want the TE's involved too much.

We are a single back spread team, or at least i hope we are. Does bringing Andrei Lintz into the base package make up for the loss of our fourth receiver? He allows teams to remain in the base defense by keeping the 3rd linebacker in. Is he a good enough blocker to justify allowing another defender in the box? Does his pass catching skill equal that of Gino Simone? Kristoff Williams? Bobby Ratliff etc…? The spread offense requires the field be spread horizontally, it is that simple. If a TE isn’t both an excellent blocker and pass catcher it is difficult to justify having the extra man in the box at the expense of a more explosive player with the ball.

by Fightfightfight on Aug 25, 2011 2:19 PM PDT reply actions

I should add that if a TE IS a dominant pass catcher and blocker then he can be very valuable in the base spread offense.

He allows for a lot of different looks and mismatches, not to mention his blocking contributions. He just has to excel in every aspect of his game to make up for what his inclusion allows the defense to do.

by Fightfightfight on Aug 25, 2011 2:24 PM PDT up reply actions