Football
Role of Tight Ends Not What Was Predicted, but Still Important
By John Porentas

It doesn't take a whole lot of analysis of the numbers to see that things aren't the way we thought they would be.

Jake Ballard

All the talk this fall was of the new, expanded role for the tight ends this season. Offensive coordinator Jim Bollman talked about it, tight ends coach John Peterson talked about it, Rory Nicol talked about it, and Jake Ballard talked about it. So three games into the season the duo of Nicol and Ballard have combined for a total of five catches for 33 total yards. Backup Brandon Smith also has a catch for nine yards. That's not exactly what we expected, and apparently not what the people we talked to this fall expected either, but Peterson is anything but worried.

While the receiving numbers are not exactly impressive, Peterson is extremely pleased with the performance of his tight ends as blockers thus far this season. Ballard has captured two-consecutive Jim Parker Offensive Lineman of the Week awards including one last week for his game against Washington. Peterson smiled broadly when asked about that.

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"Jake is getting better every single day. He's a young, strong, powerful player that has explosive hips. The more he learns and understands the blocking schemes the better he's doing," said Peterson.

Ballard and Nicol play almost interchangeably and are often both on the field. OSU's preferred lineup this season includes two tight ends, two wide receivers and a single running back. That running back more often than not is Beanie Wells, and to a large part Nicol and Ballard have been instrumental in helping Wells get off to a good start this season. After a sluggish game in the opener against Youngstown State, Wells has registered two-consecutive 100 yard games, and both Nicol and Ballard contributed to those efforts.

"No question we have two starting tight ends and Brandon Smith is right there in the wings ready to jump in," said Peterson.

"Both of them have the ability to be dominant blockers. Both of them are front side/back side so you can't get a pinpoint on where the play's going, they do both, so they do complement each other very well.

Rory Nicol

"I think it's really a position that when you can have guys that can impact and block the perimeter, that allows a lot of things to happen within the run game and pass protection. We've got two guys that are able to do that."

Ballard was particularly effective blocking in the Washington game earning him his second-consecutive Jim Parker award.

"He was able to dent the edge, which is knock guys off the ball," said Peterson of Ballard's performance against Washington.

"It's one thing to get into position to block and it's another thing to be able to get movement on a defender, and he was able to do that at times," Peterson said.

Peterson is pleased, but you have to wonder if either Nicol or Ballard or both are disappointed in the lack of thrown balls headed their way so far this season. Peterson said not.

Brandon Smith

"There's only one football. They can't catch the ball every down, they're not going to be handed the ball like a running back does, but they have the opportunity to block almost every down, so that's part of their craft that they take seriously and work very hard at," said Peterson.

At least for now, the tight ends will have to be content with helping out in the running game, taking an occasional pass, and acting as a decoy on passing plays. That isn't going to result in big receiving numbers, but Peterson says his guys are fine with that.

"Those guys are just extremely motivated on team efforts and whether it's the run game or being able to run a vertical and hold a safety from a receiver and know their role in the passing game on that concept, they're just as happy," said Peterson.

"That's why it's really an outstanding, fun group to be around. They're just a pleasure to coach and be around every day," Peterson said.

Peterson isn't ready to say that the role of the tight ends will be limited to what we've seen thus far this season. In fact, he remains confident that their role as receivers will expand this season as it unfolds.

"The catches will come in time," Peterson said. "You just have to be patient and see how things evolve and develop."

One of the things that has developed is that Peterson has one less tight end to work with. Freshman Andrew Miller came to OSU as a tight end, but Peterson said yesterday that Miller has been moved to offensive tackle. The backups at tight end are now Smith and J. D. Larson.

"I think Andrew has exceptional hands. I think he has big, strong hands and with some of the numbers at tight end and some of the numbers at offensive line, I think it was a natural move that was the best thing for the team," Peterson said.

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