For Oregon football, at least in recent memory, the tight end position has been one that has continually brought a high level of production to the offense. With guys like Ed Dickson and David Paulson, who were honored as first-team all-conference selections in back-to-back years, the Ducks had a firm security blanket that could provide in both the rushing and passing game. But for tight ends coach Tom Osborne, the eventual NFL Draft picks at his disposal did not remain consistent and after Colt Lyerla leaving the team midway through last fall, the 33-year collegiate coaching veteran was handling an inexperienced group that wasn’t meeting his, or the program’s, expectations.
The group that took on the load at the tight end position put together 34 receptions for 475 yards in 2013 and due to health problems, never obtained a clear starter. That has changed this year with Pharaoh Brown assuming the role, and according to Osborne, Brown, who caught 4 passes for 46 yards versus Wyoming, continues to show progression in all phases of his game. Osborne took the time to speak with the Emerald about the ongoing growth of the tight ends and the mistakes that need to be eliminated for the group to continually succeed.
With three games under your team’s belt, how would you assess the tight ends group?
Pharaoh’s done really well. He has done a lot better than he did a year ago and he still needs to improve a bunch of his technique and fundamentals. But he still has played really well through three games.
What types of mistakes have they been?
When guys have played, they’re still making too many mistakes for our standard and overall the group’s got a ways to go, but Pharaoh’s played a lot better.
There’s plenty of variation within the passing attack, but Pharaoh Brown going from zero receptions one week to one of the top pass-catchers the next, is there anything within game plan that goes into that or is that just a matter of who’s open?
The number of balls a guy catches has nothing to do with it. I’ve had guys catch five balls and play horrible, I’ve had guys catch no balls and play great. It’s what they are doing each specific play in the running game, the passing game, the pass protection and what they’re doing to help our team on which particular play. It has nothing to do with the amount of balls they’re catching. They can’t control that. Pharaoh against Michigan State didn’t catch any balls but he had three key blocks on three touchdown runs. I think that’s more productive than catching four balls for forty yards. Those are three key blocks.
It’s now been over a year since Johnny Mundt burst onto the scene after his performance against Tennessee. How would you say he’s grown over the year despite his week-to-week stat sheet not remaining the way it was that game?
He’s still got a long ways to go as far as assignment and technique and fundamentals. He gives great effort most of the time and he’s just not at the level Pharaoh is. He’s like a lot of those guys that were thrown to the wolves when they were freshmen and got a ways to go before they’re A-list players. He’s a great kid and he’ll get there.
Follow Justin Wise on Twitter @JustinFWise