for next year

gfallscat · Post by **gfallscat** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 7:38 pm

what is the most immediate need?

i think someone to replace eddie sullivan...i am not sold on the guys we have.

i also am concerned about filling the void of blake wolf...he had a great year and i think the younger guys are to small as of now.

what does everyone else think?

close 3rd is a kick and punt returner!

BobcatDad · Post by **BobcatDad** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 9:22 pm

next years tight ends to(o) small?????????
Blake was 6-1" @240lbs....Next year tight ends size up at: Ouilhon 6-5" @240lbs, Bostick 6-4" @245lbs , Parker 6-4" @230lbs and Barnhardt 6-3" @240lbs. Where is size an issue?!?!? Now lack of experience at the the TE position for next year is a concern of mine ....NOT lack of size

BozoneCat · Post by **BozoneCat** » Thu Dec 09, 2004 1:45 am

Maybe lack of size isn't accurate, but I think lack of strength may be more appropriate. No knock on these young guys, and I don't know what their lifting scores will look like, but Blake was flat out a horse in the weight room! It is pretty damn impressive when a guy leads your team in lifting THREE years in a row! Whatever these young guys are lifting, I'll bet they have a little catching up to do if they want to be anywhere near Blake.

gfallscat · Post by **gfallscat** » Thu Dec 09, 2004 8:06 am

maybe that came out wrong..strength and experience to those filling the TE void is a concern and how physica they are.

BobcatLionFan · Post by **BobcatLionFan** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 3:54 pm

BozoneCat wrote:Maybe lack of size isn't accurate, but I think lack of strength may be more appropriate. No knock on these young guys, and I don't know what their lifting scores will look like, but Blake was flat out a horse in the weight room! It is pretty damn impressive when a guy leads your team in lifting THREE years in a row! Whatever these young guys are lifting, I'll bet they have a little catching up to do if they want to be anywhere near Blake.

Tight end isn't all just strength or size or .... It's a combination.
Last year Wolf had a great year because
1) he caught the ball (which he didn't the years before)
2) subsequently Lulay got confidence in him and he threw him the ball more.
3) WRs had a better year, that opened up opening for the TE which were not there before
4) He wasn't needed to pass block because the OL was so good at protecting Lulay, Blake could go out for passes.

His backup last year was Daws and Barnhart (Dusty was a little slow so didn't catch passes). Barnhart only caught one pass so it says he didn't burn up the paths, BUT he was the top of the heap of the new TEs (all the others were not in the fix).

TE has to be considered one of the weak spots because there is only 1 catch between all the ones returning and only Barnhart practiced with the varsity so it kind of says it all. They are just not going to be stars immediately or they would have been there when Blake was hurting so bad this year.

Also, big and strong helps if you need protection for Lulay, which you don't. So speed, catching, and some blocking. A JC transfer or 1A dropdown sounds like the best solution.