Spring Spotlight: Tight Ends

In spread offenses around the country, tight ends can be viewed as an afterthought. But head coach Jeff Quinn believes in the abilities of what looks to be a deep position heading into the 2012 season.

"When you look at the term 'spread,' what we're trying to do is have a high-tempo, no-huddle system of offense, and the tight ends are very much a part of that," Quinn said. "What we are trying to do is gain a tactical advantage by taking a more athletic, big, skilled player like the tight end position, and utilize him in our passing game, our play-action game, and our run game, and that's the dimension that these kids have."

The kids who Quinn refers to are all young; there are no seniors at the position this year. With three juniors and a freshman, it can be easy to assume that they lack experience. But they have shown in the past that they can be counted on to make big plays.

"We want every position to lead by example," Quinn said. "And they have worked extremely hard in helping us with our run game. [Sophomore running back] Bo Oliver had an outstanding year last year, and we always talk about our offensive line, but our tight ends had a lot to do with it, too."

This year's crop of tight ends is very diverse, and can be used in a multitude of ways, even more so than in years past.

Alex Dennison

2011 Stats:

Receiving yards: 75 yards

Receptions: 5

Touchdowns: 1

Junior Alex Dennison is the most athletic tight end on the roster. Early in the 2011 season, he showcased his playmaking abilities, as he took a 57-yard pass to the house against Stony Brook.

He has come a long way since joining this Bulls squad a couple of years ago.

"He came in as a quarterback," Quinn said. "It took him a while to get used to how the tight end position is to be played. He's still growing, developing and learning, but he's got good ball skills and we're going to count on his pass-receiving skills this year."

Over the offseason so far, Dennison knows that to get more playing time and to be relied on an every-down basis he has to keep working on more than just his pass-catching abilities.

"I am looking forward to [playing] a lot because I'd like to think of myself as a receiving-type tight end. I have been working on my blocking most because I think that's most important," Dennison said. "I've been working on a lot of finishing my blocks, down-field blocking, getting myself in positions with my size."

Dennison looks to continue the process of being an all-around athlete at the tight end position to compete for the starting job. With his athletic ability, he can make a huge impact in 2012.

Jake Reeder

2011 stats:

No stats due to injury

2010 stats:

Receiving yards: 52

Receptions: 5

Junior Jake Reeder is a physical specimen that can run block as well as get out into space. He is another guy that has the potential to get the first snap against Georgia on Sept. 1.

"Jake is another talented young man," Quinn said. "He does a great job in terms of his blocking technique and his fundamentals, but he also has great hands and concentration."

Reeder is coming off an injury that kept him sidelined and unable to make an impact on the 2011 season. Much of his offseason was dedicated to the recovery process.

"I've been working with the training staff here," Reeder said. "They are phenomenal. They just got me doing workouts in the morning just to get back to 100 percent. I'm still working on it, but it feels better than it did before."

Like Dennison, Reeder is another guy that has learned to play different roles in Buffalo's offense. Under former head coach Turner Gill, he spent a lot of time playing offensive line, but Quinn has him at the tight end position.

Look for Reeder to challenge Dennison, and with his blocking and receiving abilities he will be itching to remind Bulls fans what they missed - a game changer in the Buffalo offense.

Jimmy Gordon

2011 Stats:

Receiving yards: 44 yards

Receptions: 5

Junior Jimmy Gordon is a big guy, and a bad man. At 6-foot-4 and 260 pounds, he loves to mix it up in the trenches, and he prefers to bring an edge when it comes to his run blocking.

"The most important thing for me is getting that push, not just blocking someone, but taking the line of scrimmage and moving it and bringing it back to the defensive side," Gordon said.

Last year he also used his physicality on special teams, as he was an asset to that unit. For this season, he knows that his preparation will be key to potentially being a full-time starter, which includes working on improving on his athletic abilities.

"I just hit the weights hard, worked on my fundamentals, footwork, handwork, weights and speed training," Gordon said. "I believe tight ends need overall everything. I feel tight end is a harder position; you need to be the physical lineman, but you also need the speed and hands of a receiver."

Like Reeder, he is more of a run blocker than a pass catcher, but don't be fooled. He is another guy who can go out and give opposing linebackers nightmares if they dare to guard him.

Matt Wieser

2011 Stats: Redshirted his freshman season

Even though he is the youngest of the group and lacks the experience that the juniors have, freshman Matt Wieser has an opportunity to wow the coaching staff and win a starting role.

But he is learning a lot from his elders.

"I did a lot of work with the older guys," Wieser said. "It was really helpful to see what they were doing and kind of follow them, follow their leadership, really work toward improving my game, either in the weight room or on the field catching or blocking. I'm really working hard to follow them, see how hard they work to make me work harder."

Wieser is a player who possesses great hands and speed - something that can and will be utilized in the pass game if he gets the chance to play. But he is working on improving his blocking technique, to maintain the balance that is very important at the tight end position.

"Part of the thing that makes the position of tight end so difficult is you have both worlds that you have to work at," Wieser said. "You have to be good at blocking because that's crucial; you also have to be able to go out and make the tough catch. I think it's one of those things you have to strive to be good at so we can excel in both areas."

With continued work in the run-blocking game - an aspect that is so important due to the emergence of Oliver and the run game - Wieser can have a chance to earn playing time, and to make plays all over the football field.

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