SEATTLE – While much of the attention this fall has been focused on the University of Washington quarterback competition, or maybe on the depth at running back, the situation at tight end has become an issue for the Huskies.
Kevin Nortz / The Herald
Three of the five players who entered camp at the position are out with injuries, forcing coaches to move a couple players to tight end.
“We’re thin and we’re inexperienced,” Washington tight ends coach Bob Simmons said. “We’re hoping that we get some of the guys back soon. But right now all we can do is work with what we’ve got.”
What Washington has is a group of players who have combined for five catches in their UW career, all from sophomore Robert Lewis, who entered fall camp competing with junior Dash Crutchley for the starting job. Crutchley, who played in four games but had no catches last season, is out with a hairline fracture in his foot. In addition, sophomore Jared Bronson (eye infection) and redshirt freshman Michael Gottlieb (shoulder) are both out with injuries. That leaves Lewis and true freshman Tim Williams as the only players who came to camp as tight ends still active.
To add some depth, running back Johnie Kirton and offensive tackle Jason Benn have also been working at tight end.
For a team with a long history of talented tight ends (Jerramy Stevens, Jeremy Brigham, Cameron Cleeland, Ernie Conwell, Mark Bruener, Aaron Pierce, Rod Jones) lack of depth at that position is an unfamiliar situation for the Huskies. But Simmons said it just means that younger players will have a chance to work and get better.
“We have good athletes, they just have to learn to play the position,” Simmons said. “It’s not an easy position to play so the more work they get, the better.”
Last season, Joe Toledo started at tight end, making 19 catches for 202 yards and two touchdowns. But Toledo was moved to offensive tackle this season, leaving the spot open. The 6-foot-5, 225-pound Lewis appears to be the likely starter. After moving from linebacker to tight end last year, Lewis had five catches for 32 yards last year. Simmons said that Lewis can catch the ball but is still learning the rest of the position.
“He has good hands,” Simmons said. “He’s still in the process of learning to do the other things. He’s gotten better since the spring. He’s starting to understand that a tight end encompasses not just catching the football but blocking, and that means blocking a guy that’s 30 pounds bigger than you. That means learning the proper technique and the proper footwork.”
The most intriguing option may be Kirton, the former Jackson High star. At 6-foot-3, 275 pounds, Kirton certainly has the size and athleticism to be successful at the position.
“He’s got to learn to block,” Simmons said. “We’re going back to the basics with him. He’s used to blocking smaller backs who he’s bigger than. Now he’s blocking linemen who are heavier than he’s used to. It requires a change in attitude away from running the ball and avoiding getting hit to finding a guy to hit. He’s big enough to play the position, he’s got good hands and he’s a good athlete. He just has to be willing to buy into what we’re teaching him.”
Simmons, who also is Washington’s special teams coordinator, spent the past three seasons coaching linebackers at Notre Dame. Prior to that, he was the head coach at Oklahoma State from 1995-2000. This is his first time coaching offensive players since he coached receivers at Bowling Green in 1976, his first coaching job.
“Coaching is coaching,” Simmons said. “When you’re a coach, you have to know about all the positions. I know what a tight end has to do. We need them to be physical, be willing to get dirty, and also be able to run routes, recognize coverages. It’s a physical position that also requires athleticism. We have some young guys who are capable of playing the position if they just keep listening and working on what we’re teaching.”
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