Clemson tight ends eager for return to prominence
Since the beginning of time, Clemson has wrestled with how and when to efficiently use tight ends.
There were flashes a generation ago with Bennie Cunningham and Jim Riggs – when the pass was more a tool of desperation or curiosity – and it improved with Michael Palmer and Duane Allen, but whether it was identifying the right player or designing the ideal scheme, Clemson tight ends most years seemed to be accidents or afterthoughts.
To say that’s changed would be an understatement.
A year ago, Clemson went into the bowl game with one healthy tight end. The position was so depleted by injury that defensive tackle Rod Byers received a crash course in blocking on short yardage and goal line. When preseason practice began last week, Byers was returned to defense and there were eight tight ends on the roster, including veterans Jordan Leggett and Stanton Seckinger.
Tight end, said Tony Elliott, “makes this system go.”
“You’ve got to have a tight end that’s versatile enough to play in space and also be able to be tough enough and physical enough to come into the box and be that lead blocker,” said Elliott, in his first season as co-offensive coordinator. “So, it’s imperative that we have quality depth at that position.”
Questions about the absence of a qualified tight end at Clemson dogged Tommy Bowden and the first generation of the spread scheme until he hired Rob Spence, who promised that as much as 40 percent of the offense would run through the tight ends.
“Mad scientist” indeed.
In four seasons, Spence rarely threw to a tight end. Spence even grouped tight ends and fullbacks, a breed from another era, and still seldom targeted them. In Spence’s second season, Thomas Hunter caught 16 passes for 305 yards in 2006, and the next year tight ends caught a total of 25, the Spence Era high.
Palmer, Allen and Brandon Ford helped change the thrust under Dabo Swinney as Chad Morris looked to create mismatches while reinforcing the integrity of the run game and pass protection. But the production has since waned.
Clemson upgraded the talent the past two recruiting classes, signing Milan Richard last year plus Garrett Williams and Cannon Smith this year. Swinney believes tight ends as a group “are going to surprise people” this season and said he intended “to challenge them personally.”
“They’re really talented,” said Seckinger of his younger teammates. “It’s nice not only to have the numbers, but to have the athletes. They’re going to be special.”
Leggett and Seckinger combed for 23 catches, 283 yards and two touchdowns last season. Seckinger continues to recover from a late-season knee injury, and Leggett has matured.
“There’s not going to be a drop off if one of us goes down,” said Leggett, an honor student who said he shelved his lackadaisical attitude and began mentoring the younger players – much like Allen did with him. “While our roles may be bigger this year, we need them to know what they’re doing when they’re out there.”
A rededicated Jay Jay McCullough, a redshirt junior, could be a major asset. As gifted as any of them at 6-foot-3 and 245 pounds, McCullough was suspended last year during the season for violating team rules. Swinney said he’s not going to expect anything from McCullough only to be disappointed again, but Elliott said he’s seen flashes.
“Jay Jay’s getting back into playing shape,” he said. Leggett has been “steady” in camp thus far, Elliott said, and he’s been patient with Seckinger. Williams has been the most impressive early, and Smith “gives us that nasty demeanor.”
With inordinate depth also at running back and receiver, the production at tight end might not appreciate substantially, but Swinney called out anybody who might characterize the position as a “weak link.”
“We’re very talented there, very deep,” he said. “Last year was the first year since I’ve been head coach that our tight ends didn’t have the production like we’re used to and like we need in all areas.
“That group has to step up.”