Spring Preview: Tight Ends

(The coaching staff will need Hagan to step up among others.)

The team is on Spring Break right now which coincides with the short hiatus I took from blogging. While they're away, we keep chugging along with the next unit: the tight end group.

2011 Position Wrap-Up
After a solid sophomore campaign, departed senior Anthony Miller never seemed to get quite back to the level that most expected him to perform at. Miller caught just 26 passes for 263 yards and 3 TDs. While much of it was a product of Cal's offense that focused less on the tight ends in the passing game, needless to say, Cal's TEs were not a huge part of the offense last year.

The only other tight end to record any stats was Spencer Hagan, the converted WR turned H-Back. Hagan was asked to make the switch due to a lack of depth at the position, and was a pleasant surprise for a guy who had been a walk-on WR just the year prior. Hagan caught 12 passes for 94 yards and 2 TDs, including a TD catch in the Big Game. His hard work and commitment to the team led him earning a scholarship, capping off a nice story.

Other than that, tight end productivity was nowhere to be seen, with Spencer Ladner no longer a part of the program. And no, he ain't coming back either.


Spring Preview
With all that that said, Anthony Miller's presence will certainly be missed this year. Due to some recruiting misses this past recruiting cycle, the Bears will be featuring a group of talented, but untested players.

The coaching staff is expecting sophomores Jacob Wark and Richard Rodgers to step up into Miller's role as the primary tight end.

Wark is a big body at 6'4, 265 pounds, and was praised by the coaching staff his freshman year for his blocking abilities, and actually played as a true frosh before injuring himself in the first game of the season. His hands have been inconsistent though, so he may be a better fit as the blocking tight end in two tight end sets.

Richard Rodgers may be the favorite to slide into Miller's spot, as he features the same prototypical tight end size, but with nice pass catching abilities as well. Rodgers played as a true freshman, but was relegated to special teams as he struggled to pick up Cal's blocking schemes. Rodgers has admitted that the blocking game was a struggle for him last year, but has put the time in the weight room as well as familiarizing himself with the offense.

As for Hagan, the junior has continued to put on weight, and stands at a respectable 6'5 225 pounds. While he'll likely never be big enough to be a true tight end, he'll see plenty of playing time this year in the H-back role. He plays with nice pad level, and though he rarely dominates defenders, he usually holds his own. Look for Hagan to continue to be an asset in passing downs or in the blocking game.

Much like last year, the depth at tight end will be a huge issue. Don't expect a dramatic jump in terms of productivity, and despite my high hopes for Rodgers and Hagan, it's too premature to assume tight end numbers to spike dramatically.

In fact, at this stage in the game, most fans would likely be okay with the tight ends not falling off the map or becoming a complete liability in the blocking game. It's all you can really ask for with two schollie tight ends and an H-back.