Tight End Group Promising But Inexperienced

Tight End Group Promising But Inexperienced

Reported by Brandon Gruber on March 6, 2013
In Inside Zone Read | 2 Comments

Colt Lyerla is the face of Oregon tight ends the way David Paulsen and Ed Dickson were before him. As in years past, starting tight end is not a question mark heading into spring camp; but also like past years, tight end depth is. A plethora of athletic and sizable bodies decorate the Ducks roster, but will anyone step into a more prominent role aside Lyerla?

Lyerla is a proven warrior, but it’s the uncertainty behind him that’s worrisome.

One of Oregon’s many young positions heading into the 2013 season, the TE position is full of talent. Sophomore Pharoah Brown and redshirt sophomore Koa Ka’ai are the two most experienced players after Lyerla. Both played enough snaps last year to avoid the “newbie” category, but they certainly didn’t get a lot of looks. Redshirt freshman Evan Baylis and incoming freshman John Mundt will add cushion to another athletic and talented TE group at Oregon.

If a future star emerges from the depth chart before or during fall camp, the Ducks may be able to run more “power” plays to counter Stanford’s bear front strategy. A second blocker with the ability to move and block at the line would allow the Ducks’ rushing attack a new angle.

Categories: Inside Zone Read Tags: Evan Baylis, John Mundt, Koa Ka'ai, Oregon Ducks, Oregon Ducks Football, Oregon Ducks Tight Ends, Pharoah Brown

Brandon GruberBrandon is a senior at The University of Oregon majoring in Film Studies and minoring in Communications. Brandon has been a Duck fan for ten years since he moved from southern California to Salem, Oregon, and quickly realized the Ducks were the missing piece in his life. A Pac-12 fan since birth, much of his family attended UCLA and has since converted all of them to the Quack Attack. Brandon interned for the Statesman Journal covering the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes and hopes to work for the Pac-12 in the near future. He also hopes to see the "Flying-V" formation played out on the football field in the fall of 2013. Brandon would love your feedback on any and all articles. Tweet me: @BrandonGruberView all posts by Brandon Gruber →

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http://www.facebook.com/TheBruceleeroy Jason Curtis

Seems like this article gets written every year. 2 years ago we only had Paulson. Last year Colt missed a practice and we were going to have no one. Seems like the recruiting, especially at the TE position, is on point and we’ll be fine. I remember Bayliss getting a ton of good press early last year and in the Spring Game he caught 2 (?) balls and I liked the way he moved the ball forward like Colt does. For a long time I’ve felt like this is our most underutilized positions.