2015 LSU Football Depth Chart Preview: The Tight Ends
By Scotty Nola
When Les Miles hired Cam Cameron to run his offense LSU fans expected a lot more passing in general, and a lot more passing to the Tight Ends in particular.
After all — Cameron had coached some great Tight Ends in his NFL career, Pro Bowlers like Todd Heap and Stephen Alexander and future Hall of Famer Antonio Gates.
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After two seasons with the Tigers the expected Tight End renaissance hasn’t materialized.
Cameron is calling passing plays to his Tight Ends at an even lower rare than his predecessors.
Personnel is part of this equation.
When your QB’s struggle and your best TE is a road grader built to be the third tackle on running plays, you have to run with what you’ve got.
LSU fans are hoping for more from the Tight Ends this year.
Improving on last year’s record means improving on last year’s weak passing game.
Steady production from the Tight Ends will go a long way to stabilizing the Tigers aerial attack.
The Returning Vets
Nov 23, 2013; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; Texas A&M Aggies defensive back Howard Matthews (31) and linebacker Steven Jenkins (8) tackle LSU Tigers tight end Dillon Gordon (85) during the first half of a game at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Tight End Dillon Gordon is probably the lowest name recognition 3rd year starter in school history.
He has toiled in relative anonymity in spite of appearing in 39 games and racking up 25 straight starts for the Tigers.
He rarely gets his name called in broadcasts, having only 6 total receptions to show for all those starts. Run blocking has always been Dillon Gordon’s specialty.
He was primarily a blocker in high school in John Curtis run heavy attack and for him college has been more of the same.
He is an integral part of the offense though, able to use his 6’5″ 300 lbs. frame to blow defensive players off the line and open up holes in the running game.
Gordon will probably get a look from an NFL team needing a blocking Tight End for short yardage packages, but he will not provide the answers the Tigers need in the passing game.
The Returning Veterans
Nov 27, 2014; College Station, TX, USA; LSU Tigers place kicker Trent Domingue (14) is congratulated by tight end DeSean Smith (89) after making a field goal during the second quarter against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
LSU has two Juniors providing depth behind Senior Starter Dillon Gordon– Colin Jeter and DeSean Smith.
Jeter is listed second on the depth chart, but he is a transfer without a tremendous amount of game time so he’s a bit of a question mark.
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If Dillon Gordon has always been a prototypical blocking Tight End, then DeSean Smith is his polar opposite — he has always been a down-the-field threat as a receiver.
He was a teammate of Trey Quinn’s at Barbe and the two formed one of the greatest pass catching tandems in High School history.
He showed Tigers fans a glimpse of the future in the second half of the Notre Dame game, where he caught 4 passes including a pair for big games.
He also reeled in a 50 yard touchdown catch in LSU’s spring game.
Freshmen Who WILL Play
Jan 2, 2014; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Team Highlight wide receiver Jacory Washington (88) reacts after he scored a touchdown against Team Nitro during the first half in the Under Armour All America football game at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
No true freshmen are listed on the depth chart this year.
This is a disappointment for Tiger fans who saw Hanner Shipley flashing during spring practices and wanted to see more of him this fall.
Redshirt freshman Jacory Washington is on the depth chart, a sign the Tigers plan on using him in games.
A 4th Tight End is likely going to see more time on special teams than in the offense but Washington has some skills that can help the Tigers passing attack.
Like DeSean Smith he was a very highly regarded recruit coming out of high school with a great combination of size, speed and hands.
Seeing him line up with the offesne will be a good sign for the development of the Tigers passing game.