no sports writers or football media outlets have really zeroed in on when talking about Oregon is how in the hell is any team going to defend the slew of TE's we have? The focus has been on replacing DT and LMJ in their eyes, but what about how to put enough helmets two deep on Colt, French, Pharaoh, Baylis and then what about Stanford who's listed as a reciever but is 6'5? If Oregon put Colt and Baylis in at the same time both can block off the line or go into motion if that happens Mariota has two huge targets if only one blocks and the other goes in motion than DAT, Barner or any of the recievers will be wide open. I just don't see with Chip's great offensive mind how we wont have one huge target open at almost every pass play and if not then DAT or Barner will be going for a long run! The TE's we have are going to be a nightmare for coverage and just as much as decoys I think.
Probably because it isn't much of an issue. We're a run oriented offense. To be sure, or TE plays a part, but not a major part.
With the arm both Mariota and BB have, imagine if we went pass first this year to our huge and two deep tide ends and huge reciever in Stanford not to mention Blackmon, Huff and Dungy... It certainly would suck the LB's out and the corners deep leaving a shuffle pass to DAT or Barner quite interesting to defend, not counting what kind of 1st downs both BB and Mariota are capable on their feet. Pac-12 teams may plan for our run, but our pass for the next few years might make our runs even more LETHAL!!!
And it may come to that if we can't get consistency running in the 'A' gaps. If so, then the TE position takes on more significance.
I just think it's such a waste having four TE's and a reciever that average 6'6 or bigger not to use them readily because they are so hard to bring down; and they make the defense sag which really opens the field for huge run plays and we have the speed for that to be a thing of beauty!!!!
You can only use so many TE's. Besides, they work best when they are the 3rd or 4th option- running a wheel route...
2 years ago Stanford was in Autzen and Luck used those TE's to perfection in the first half and they were beating our asses! Unexplainably in the second half they just stopped. Could never understand that and we beat them into the ground for the rest of the game. That said I'd like to see us use them a bit more next year cause I really think that will make DAT a weekly highlight reel when the defenses get playing more prevent than attack....
