Big targets becoming popular for Spartans
Western Michigan safety Andy Dorcely tackles junior tight end Charlie Gantt while he catches the ball. Gantt had two catches for 40 yards in the Spartans’ 49-14 victory over the Broncos Saturday afternoon at Spartan Stadium.
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The MSU football team’s tight end position was considered to be strong when this season began. But early in the year, the talent didn’t seem to be used to its full potential.
But in the last few games, the quarterbacks have been finding those big targets who often create defensive mismatches.
The tight ends — junior Charlie Gantt, sophomores Brian Linthicum and Garrett Celek and freshman Dion Sims — have 15 catches in the past two games and four touchdowns.
“All those guys have good hands, so it really becomes who’s open on the quarterback reads,” head coach Mark Dantonio said. “We’re not exactly sending someone in there to run this particular route … so they’re getting opportunities and they’re making the best of them.”
Linthicum, who transferred from Clemson, recently has become a popular target for the Spartans’ quarterbacks. He has nine catches in the last three games after having the same number in the previous seven games combined.
“I said all along, Linthicum has great hand-eye coordination — gets the run after the catch,” Dantonio said.
Backfield cluster
Just as it was early in the season, the Spartans have three running backs listed as “OR” starters.
Freshmen Larry Caper and Edwin Baker and sophomore Ashton Leggett all are listed as starters for Saturday’s game at Purdue.
Caper missed last week’s game with a head injury and Leggett took advantage of the carries he was given, rushing for a career-high 110 yards on 14 carries to put himself in the mix to be the No. 1 running back.
Dantonio said the coaches will go with whichever running back is having the best game, even if it is a challenge to give them all a chance.
“That’s always a little bit of a challenge, but we look at the combined total. I think what you have to look at is the combined total and see where we’re at in terms of how successful were we running the football,” he said.
“As the game continues, we’ll go with the guy who’s hot.”
Commentary
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Tim
(11/11/09 9:56am)Report
It’s great that these TE’s are starting to get the plays called their respective way. I’ve “blogged” all along that using the TE’s for possession can work magic in keeping a drive going…for getting that all-important first down…and for controlling the clock. One question would be, “where has this part of the offense been for the past ten games?” Has Treadwell just awakened to the fact that there are TE’s available.
In many of those rediculous first and goal at the 3 instances this past season when we’ve busted it up the gut three times only to settle for a FG, we could have rolled Cousins and hit a TE crossing in the endzone. A simple play, but vastly under utilized.
With four quality TE’s to supplement the wide-outs we should have been using them more in the passing game.
Why we have not is a mystery..but I hope the success continues vs Purdue and PSU to end the season on a high note.