Tight ends -- VERY interesting

[Dement-ed]

Did everyone see the note in Wednesday's Morning News that Paulius Ritter is practicing with the football team as a tight end? That means we have:

• Ryan Kennedy (6'5" and 255 or so, fast, very good hands)
• Vincent Chase (6'5" and 250, and one of the top TE recruits in Texas -- if not the nation -- last year)
• Andrew McKinney (6'4" and 235 and we know he can run)
• Paulius Ritter (6'7" and 255, can run, seems willing enough to run through {block} someone, can probably catch a little.

Anyone know if he's played any football before? Or is he completely new to this?

If they all can actually play, Coach Burns has got to be laying awake at night thinking up ways to drive defensive coordinators nuts.

[Pony Fan]

Too bad we don't seem to throw to the tight ends that much. I was thinking make a giant offensive tackle out of Ritter, but being a basketball player, you would think he could catch.

[Grider]

Didn't BYU used to have a pair of pass catching tight-ends that used to really cause some problems for thee defense? Maybe we'll try and implement something similar.

[Governor Lepetomane]

pass catching tight-ends

Pass catching tight ends? BRILLIANT!

[Corso]

I've read somewhere (here, I suppose) that the tight end is expected to be a bigger part of the offense this year. With targets like this, I don't see how there's any option. I still remember two or three years ago seeing Boise State come in and line up 4 tight ends at once, and thinking that was the strangest alignment I'd ever seen. And it was quite effective. If some of our big TEs can run like WRs -- not like the fastest WRs, but really cover some ground -- this has got to be an alignment that will cause defenses to scramble.

And don't forget Mario Walker and Jeff Brock. I assume they'll both redshirt, per Coach Bennett's desire to redshirt all (or at least most) of the true freshmen. (So in 2006, we'd have Kennedy, Chase, McKinney, Ritter, Walker and Brock. Wow. I'd think the quarterbacks suddenly might become more accurate.)

[DiamondM75]

Here is the set I would love to see some time.

5 receivers, 2WR and 3 TE's. This means the corners will have to cover the WR's running semideep routes, the linebackers will have to cover the TE's, and the running back runs through the hole in the line.

7 yard gain.

Next play, QB throws to crossing TE's.

12 yard gain.

This also provides one on one coverage of a WR.

30 yard gain

[me@smu]

Hate to be a pessimist but you can't have a RB with a 5 receiver set, we would have to hide a 12th player from the ref or go without an OL

However, the thought is nice, the many TEs should create some one on one situations for our WRs

[DiamondM75]

Hate to be a pessimist but you can't have a RB with a 5 receiver set, we would have to hide a 12th player from the ref or go without an OL

Oops, I can't count can I. But we could go with 4 OL's. in this set.

[Phil Fan]

Or just go with an empty backfield -- take the RB off and you can go five-wide.

[Charleston Pony]

It's not uncommon to see guys double in fball/bball and play the TE position. I'm sure many of you remember Oscar Roan.

[Dooby]

It's not uncommon to see guys double in fball/bball and play the TE position. I'm sure many of you remember Oscar Roan.

Antonio Mofo Gates!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jtstang]

Didn't Ollie Hoops (greatest named BB player in SMU history) line up at WR for Ron Meyer or Bobby Collins a time or two?

[that's great raplh]

makes you ponder the good ole days of Johnny Hampton

damn - he was good

i love tight ends (not in a gay way)

[ClassOf81]

I didn't see Ritter at the scrimmage today. Anyone know what's up?