It really has been a glaring question since Greg Olsen left town after the 2006 season; what happened to the go-to tight end at ‘The U’? Sure, there’s been a guy here or there, but it’s been a far cry since the Canes boasted the run of Bubba Franks, Jeremy Shockey, Kellen Winslow II and Olsen. Obviously a run like that isn’t the norm, but when your new head coach was a solid tight end at Penn State, you hope that this is a position that grows in time.
Al Golden made it clear after the loss to Maryland; Miami didn’t get the ball to the tight ends enough in game one. Golden is committed to making tight ends a prominent part of the Canes’ passing attack in 2011.
“Anyone who has followed my career knows I like to use tight ends,” said Golden, last week.
Last season Miami tight ends combined for 21 catches, 236 yards and one touchdown. As a sophomore in 2002, Winslow alone almost tripled that, hauling in 57 receptions for 726 yards and eight touchdowns. As a senior in 2001, Shockey led the Canes with 45 receptions, 604 yards and eight touchdowns, as well.
Against Maryland, three combined catches for ten yards between Clive Walford, Asante Cleveland and Chase Ford. A slow start for a position that didn’t do much last season, either.
In 2010, Cleveland led all tight ends with eight receptions for 110 yards while Ford hauled in seven grabs for 96 yards and a touchdown. (Walford redshirted last season.)
Miami brought in Southern Cal transfer Blake Ayles this off-season, but the senior has been out the past few weeks which is said to be a head injury. As a Trojan, the 6-foot-5, 265-pound Ayles payed in 27 games and had 14 receptions for 182 yards and one touchdown. Ayles’ availability for next Saturday’s showdown with Ohio State is still undecided.
Coach Golden and offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch have both mentioned Walford, with Fisch stating that the 6-foot-4, 245-pound redshirt freshman has a chance to be a really good player for Miami. Golden went further when stating, “we have to do a better job of getting them [tight ends] into the game, and most particularly, getting Clive touches.”
Regarding Walford getting the extra bit of love, Fisch might’ve made it clear when stating that Walford has also improved daily as a blocker.
Miami won’t be “Miami” again until there’s that commitment to living up to the Tight End U moniker. The last time the Canes were proficient at tight end, a former tight end was calling the shots – former offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski.
Coach Golden is a big believer in working the tight end into the offense and as the season rolls on, you can expect just that. – C.B.
(Note: Received some emails about Jimmy Graham, who is lighting it up with the New Orleans Saints. He didn’t make the cut with Franks, Shockey, Winslow II and Olsen for the lone reason that he only played at UM for one season, with 17 receptions for 213 yards and five touchdowns. Olsen is on the fringe regarding Franks, Shockey and Winslow II, but over three years at UM – two as a starter – he totaled 87 receptions for 1,215 yards and six touchdowns.
Had Graham had another successful season – or two – with the Canes, he’d definitely make the list, but one year makes it hard to consider his collegiate year great.)