Witten's made a big splash in the NFL, earning a Pro Bowl trip after
last season with his performance for the Dallas Cowboys. He set single
season Cowboy records for receptions and yardage by a TE.
Two of the indelible memories from Witten's three years on the Hill are
his clutch sixth overtime TD grab versus Arkansas and the image of him
speeding past the Michigan secondary on his way to a TD in the Citrus
Bowl. In 2001 Witten totalled 28 receptions for 293 yards and two
touchdowns. Stalwart blocker John Finlayson added 4 receptions for 34
yards that year. In 2002, Witten had 39 receptions for 493 yards and 5
TDs for the Vols. No recent Tennessee tight end has come close to hose
numbers.
Since Jason Witten left early for the NFL draft, receptions by Volunteer
TE have been rare events. In 2003 converted guard Victor McClure
provided the only reception by a Vol TE. He made his catch against
Miami, good for 11 yards. In 2004 current Vol Chris Brown had six
catches for 74 yards and a TD. Brad Cottam added two catches for 34
yards and Justin Reed made the most of his only Vol reception with
sixteen yard TD versus Florida. So far in 2005, Brown has nine catches
for 91 yards.
For those scoring at home (and don't we all wish we were scoring at
home) that equals only 19 receptions for 226 yards and two scores by all
UT TE in almost three seasons of the AW era (after Witten).
Around the league there is variable enthusiasm for the TE as a weapon in
the passing game. Current conference elite teams like Georgia, Alabama,
and Auburn use the tight end as a significant part of the attack.
Georgia Bulldog TE Leonard Pope represents the kind of giant target that
is a nightmare mismatch for most DBs. Thus far in 2005 he has 27
catches and 400 yards for two TDs. Bookend UGA TE Martrez Milner has
added 11 catches for 259 yards and two TDs. The pair make up almost
one-third of Georgia's passing yardage on the season. Auburn's duo of
Cole Bennett and Cooper Wallace have 24 receptions and 278 yards between
them. They have helped ease the transition for first year Tiger
starting QB Brandon Cox, providing him with inviting targets and safety
valves.
Vandy's TE Dustin Dunning has 34 catches so far in 2005, most among SEC
TE, for 381 yards.
Catches and yardage for other SEC team TE corps include: Alabama 25/231;
Mississippi State 14/190; Ole Miss 10/86; LSU 15/198; Kentucky 24/226;
South Carolina 8/93; Florida 7/61; and Arkansas 3/33.
While there will always be differences in offensive style, it is
surprising to find that so few teams across the SEC throw to the TE with
any frequency. True, physical specimens like Leonard Pope or Jason
Witten don't come along every year, but many of these teams keep five
and six tight ends on their rosters. (The Vols have five.) The
league's offenses line up against many common opponents, so why don't
more teams use the TE to good effect?
First, some offensive styles are just not geared to the TE. South
Carolina's Steve Spurrier would rather have four WR making plays in
space, than a big man who creates his own space. The Spurrier system
has never relied on a TE as a major player. Urban Meyer's patented
spread offense also has little use for a tight end, although his Utah
teams had a slightly greater TE role than his 2005 Florida unit has
used.
Second, the SEC has been prime territory for big wide receivers. Guys
like 6'4" Sidney Rice at South Carolina, 6'3" Dallas Baker at Florida
or
LSU's 6'4" Dwayne Bowe give coaches the height mismatches that were once
only found when the TE was used.
Third, I believe SEC linebackers are faster than their counterparts in
most other conferences. Bigger and faster weakside linebackers in the
SEC make life harder for TE's looking for a mismatch. Coaches choose to
have another blocker in the line, hoping to create mismatches of another
sort in the running game.
Still, it seems that the tight end is underutilized at Tennessee. Even
if only a decoy to occupy a linebacker, a few tosses a game could keep
linebackers honest and perhaps open up the running game a bit.
Linebackers who have less fear of getting beat on a pass route can cheat
up a bit or blitz more often. Sometimes an effective pass route is
better than great block.
The "wide tackle" position may change at UT in coming years. Several
of
Tennessee's verbal commitments have played TE in high school, although
moves to other positions seem likely once these prospects arrive on
campus. Other than fulllback sized Brown, the Vols have the Cotttam
bothers, Brad and Jeff, back for 2006. At 6'7" and 6'8", perhaps we'll
see them stretching the defense vertically, in the original meaning of
"vertically".
NFL Hall of Fame tight end (and legendary tough guy) Mike Ditka said. "A
good tight end can be a struggling quarterback's best friend." It seems
that UT's quarterbacks could use all the friends they can get.