Griz scholarships

[rimrockgriz]

Where this conversation seems to go off the rails, is really about a position that totaled 26 or so catches and 9 TD's last year. We are obsessed, in the past and present about a position that several coaches for differing reasons, don't utilize in the same way we see on Sunday.

Bruce Arians advocates for a big guy who can block, but doesn't need to stretch the defense. He wants an inline blocker. Others like to split TE's out, but whatever it is the scheme is, but we have had this inane debate over the position from the days of willie walden.

This offense pushes vertical on the edge and with slot receivers. Our TE's don't split out a ton and are expected to bring an ability to set the edge in the run game. So Harper's skill set as a vertical threat is lost in the general scheme of this offense.

Yet we seem to rail, over and over again, how our OC's misuse players. My question is why does it seem logical to create a scheme, that doesn't fit with the overall design of the offense, just to fit a positional matchup that we want to see. Sometimes it seems so Madden to me in some of the logic used.

In the end, I hate to see anyone who has value to the program leave. There are a myriad of issues that we cannot possibly know that is going on behind the scenes. I wish Harper the best of luck in his future endeavors whatever they may be.

Good post.

Disappointed to see Harper go though. His agility allowed him a special ability to break open in the end zone. That is a very difficult match up to cover. I think Saylor is as good of an athlete and maybe a bit faster, but he didn't run as precise of routes or seem to have as reliable hands. I could see him being one of the those surprisingly improved players though if he can stay healthy.

I'd like to see one of our bigger TEs step up. Our OL could use an extra guy and it would be good to get a big reliable target on the field that can mix it up with backers and get us 5 or 7 yards.

I think we got a little spoiled when we had Pfahler and Beaudin manning the position and have been missing that asset ever since. Kind of like we were spoiled when we had Colt and Shann at safety. Those guys were high level players though that don't come along very often. Lucky for us they were late bloomers from small local schools.

I always like opinions expressed when a guy backs it up with extended comment or theory. I understand completely where you guys are coming from. Damn, we would've been a stronger team with BOTH of these guys competing on the roster. I see where situational play from both te's could have worked... :egriz:

 

[AZGrizFan]

The Grizzlies starting tight end in 2013, Clay Pierson, used up his eligibility in a 10-3 season. Without Pierson and Harper – who started twice last fall as a freshman after serving a two-year LDS mission – Montana will look to redshirt senior Mitch Saylor and redshirt freshman Mike Ralston.

Ralston, who played at the same high school as Griz quarterback Jordan Johnson (Sheldon High, Eugene, Oregon) is best equipped to handle the run blocking in Montana’s pro set scheme. The 6-5 1/2, 245-pound upstart has also shown he can catch the ball, snaring two receptions in Montana’s spring game in April.

I can't WAIT to see Ralston play. He reminds me of the guy who left and went to Oregon State after a RS Freshman year, Hayden Craig.