2009 tOSU TE Discussion

[osugrad21]

For 2009

[Buckskin86]

Ohio State football: Tall tight ends expect to add to passing game
Friday, April 24, 2009
By Tim May
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

In 1971, John Wayne starred in the film Big Jake. This fall, the Ohio State football team could field a sequel of sorts. The Buckeyes' towering tight ends are the Big Jakes -- 6-foot-6 Jake Ballard and 6-5 Jake Stoneburner.

Although the two are similar in height, they only in recent months have traveled opposite directions to become closer in weight.

Ballard, a senior, is 260 pounds, lighter by 10 pounds or so from the end of last season. Stoneburner, a redshirt freshman from Dublin, is at 230 now that he has stopped "just eating apples," as coach Jim Tressel put it, so he could maintain the svelte look of a receiver.

Stoneburner hasn't had to look the receiver part since he was moved to tight end this spring, in part because of a lack of depth at the position after the departure of Rory Nicol. Coaches also are excited by the prospect of using Stoneburner to probe the depth of the field with his receiver pedigree.

Of course, when the subject is the Buckeyes possibly throwing passes consistently to their tight ends, the response usually is a laugh and a dismissive response of, "Yeah, right." But Ballard thinks it could become reality.

The possibility certainly existed Saturday at the jersey scrimmage, when quarterbacks Terrelle Pryor and Joe Bauserman found Ballard and Stoneburner, respectively, for big plays in the offense's comeback attempt against the defense.

"When we need a catch and they rely on us, that's a big thing for us as tight ends, that they have that much confidence in us," Ballard said. "That makes us feel better and keeps us wanting to work hard and get better, because when it comes time to make a play, they're throwing it our way."

BuckeyeXtra - The Columbus Dispatch : Ohio State football: Tall tight ends expect to add to passing game

Position breakdown
Friday, April 24, 2009
By Tim May
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Dispatch beat reporters Tim May and Ken Gordon have analyzed each position group on the Ohio State football team through spring practice.

TODAY: TIGHT ENDS

? Key loss: Rory Nicol

? Key returnees: Jake Ballard, Nic DiLillo

? Time to step up: DiLillo, banged up this spring, and Jake Stoneburner, who was moved from receiver to tight end. The coaches want him to bring the receiver mentality to the fight. At the same time, they want more oomph in the red zone, which is why they are trying defensive tackle Todd Denlinger and center Andrew Moses there, too.

? What it was: Nicol and Ballard were often more extensions of the offensive line last year than parts of the passing game. Plus, the Buckeyes threw the ball less with freshman Terrelle Pryor at quarterback.

? What it might be: Jake and Jake. Ballard has slimmed down and Stoneburner has bulked up for his new role. The tight end at Ohio State is always going to be counted on to help in the running game, but the coaches also think Stoneburner could stretch the field as a giant receiver. Incoming freshman Reid Fragel, 6 feet 7, 260 pounds, might eventually fit that mold.

? What they are saying: Tight ends coach John Peterson, when asked why several new faces and different body types have been tried at the position this spring, said, "There are guys who have been in the program who can impact the team in different ways. And if that's putting them in the tight end position for certain situations, then that's what it is."

BuckeyeXtra - The Columbus Dispatch : Position breakdown

[Kahuna825]

I read that article and find this could really be used as a weapon this year. Stoneburner could really be that breakaway TE from the LB's we are looking for. Ballard slimming down, adding to his mobility, already a good blocker too. Stoney has no problems getting low and blocking too, which is really good to hear.

I like the two TE set of Jake Jake too. lol

[BB73]

[RB07OSU]

Originally Posted by Kahuna825

I read that article and find this could really be used as a weapon this year. Stoneburner could really be that breakaway TE from the LB's we are looking for. Ballard slimming down, adding to his mobility, already a good blocker too. Stoney has no problems getting low and blocking too, which is really good to hear.

IMO, I think it could have been since Nicol was here. Nicol was a good pass catcher with above adequate athletic ability. However, I think Jake has the kind of athletic ability that would be tough to ignore. Plus he switched from WR, which tells me that we actually might be serious about throwing to TE's. I realized Jake might be a better blocker than half our OL, but he can catch the ball as well. With both Jakes, this year would be the year to actually use them. If not, move Stoney back.

[xcrunner]

Originally Posted by RB07OSU

IMO, I think it could have been since Nicol was here. Nicol was a good pass catcher with above adequate athletic ability. However, I think Jake has the kind of athletic ability that would be tough to ignore. Plus he switched from WR, which tells me that we actually might be serious about throwing to TE's. I realized Jake might be a better blocker than half our OL, but he can catch the ball as well. With both Jakes, this year would be the year to actually use them. If not, move Stoney back.

IMO it was the staff's plan to use the TE's a lot more last year, with Ballard & Nicol. Then there was a giant mess at both QB and OL and that sort of held that plan back a bit... But this year I think they're ready again.

[RB07OSU]

Originally Posted by xcrunner

IMO it was the staff's plan to use the TE's a lot more last year, with Ballard & Nicol. Then there was a giant mess at both QB and OL and that sort of held that plan back a bit... But this year I think they're ready again.

Could be, good point. However, I thought Ballard and Nicol got more catches when Pryor was in trouble...both were good safety nets. Either way I agree, they wanted to use them more last year.

[osugrad21]

CPD

Ohio State football: The tight ends at least look more like receivers

by Doug Lesmerises Tuesday April 28, 2009, 3:00 PM


D.L.Receiver Taurian Washington, quarterback Terrelle Pryor and tight end Jake Ballard after Saturday's spring game. Smart move by the tight end to stand next to the QB.
Now that spring practice is complete, I'll have five thoughts on each Ohio State position group this week: offensive line, receivers, running backs, quarterbacks, defensive line, linebackers and defensive backs.
Ohio State receivers

Thought No. 5
Let's not go nuts over the tight ends, but there could be more going on in the middle of the field.
Jake Stoneburner has been a hot topic this spring. The redshirt freshman shifted from receiver to tight end, but at 6-foot-5 and 230 to 240 pounds, he's much more of pass catcher than a blocker. He moved to tight end in part because he was naturally too big to play receiver. He's been working on the blocking.
There is an idea that Stoneburner's skills will offer Ohio State a new look at tight end, but senior Jake Ballard is 6-5, his first career touchdown was a one-handed, 1-yard grab from Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith his freshman season in 2006 - and he has caught only 18 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns the last two years.
So I'm not counting on Stoneburner for a 30-catch season.
Cont..

[Buckskin86]

Could This Really be the Year? We've been hearing about the tight end at Ohio State for as long as we can remember, but since Ben Hartsock left OSU the tight end has frankly not been a big part of the OSU offense. Part of that is due to the fact that the Buckeyes had several years in which they used four and five receivers (The Ginn, Holmes, Hall, Gonzales era) and that kept the tight end either off the field or relegated him to a blocking role. In other years, quite frankly, they were just plain better equipped for blocking than receiving.

At the Big Ten media gathering in Chicago current OSU tight end Jake Ballard boldly predicted that this would indeed be the year that the tight would be an important part of the offense. The-Ozone freely admits to some skepticism at the time, but Ballard caught three balls in the jersey scrimmage and accounted for the only touchdown scored by the offense. Maybe this WILL be the year.


Jake Ballard
Photo by Dan Harker

"I think so," said Ballard after the jersey scrimmage.

"The tight ends are going to provide Terrelle with open receivers down field or toward the sidelines. We're going to be reliable and if our number gets called we're going to make some plays."

What we have noticed at all the open practices we have seen this year is that the OSU passing game is definitely using the center of the field much more this season, and that would bode well for the prospect of tight ends catching some balls. That does not, however, mean that that the tight end will suddenly cease to be a blocker. At 6-6, Ballard is all of 255 pounds, maybe 260, so he has all the tools to be an effective blocker. Incoming freshman tight end Reid Fragel is about the same size, and just for good measure, the OSU coaching staff is continuing to groom defensive lineman Todd Denlinger for those occasions when they want to add a little beef to the position, particularly in short yardage situations or coming off the goal line.

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