First Look
The Chattanooga Mocs started the summer months with a new storyline for the football program. Out is the weekly preview series and in is a new version focused on a single word. Each position coach shares his outlook for his crew in a single word.
This week we look at the tight ends. It may be the most versatile, multi-use position on the field. Part receiver, part offensive lineman, toss in a smidge of fullback…but one thing is constant, 100% football player. For that reason, our word for the day is "adjusters".
Coach
Zeb Speir talked about his position group which looks fully stocked for any adjustments needed on offense this fall.
First Thought
"You have to have guys that can do multiple things. That's why we like to try and recruit guys that have length, can run, are smart and are tough. That's kind of what I'm looking for because you gotta be able to throw your face on somebody and play a physical brand of football, but you also have to be able to split out, run routes, get open and catch the ball. I used the word adjusters because week to week, it's going to change what our role is based on the plan of attack against a particular opponent." –
Speir on "adjustors"
Breakdown
A Quick Peek at the Room
- McIntyre started six games as a true freshman last season while playing significantly in all 12 games. He made an impact in the passing game and grew as the season went on in the run attack. McIntyre played mostly running back in high school and was slated for tight end as a senior before an injury pushed him back into the backfield.
- Eberly-Rodriguez was a little bit snake-bitten with injuries limiting him to six games and two catches (18 yds). He committed himself by transforming his body and taking full advantage of all DI life has to offer in the weight room, recovery and nutrition. He's taken on a noticeable change in frame which bodes well for a strong senior send off.
- Green's 2024 was taken away before he got on campus due to an injury. His potential impact in the running game has a very high ceiling while he possesses good hands that can be exploited in '12' and '13' groupings.
- Redshirt freshman Hunter Teal transferred from Miami (Ohio). The Marietta, Ga., native had 128 receptions for 2,167 yards and 22 TDs over three seasons (41 games) at Walton High School averaging 16.9 yards per catch.
- True freshman TJ Briggs certainly looks the part checking in at 6-6, 236 lbs. He played football and basketball at Lipscomb Academy helping lead the Mustangs to 34 wins on the gridiron over his career.
- True freshman Landon Strickland is another athletic performer coming into the program. From Union Grove, Ala., he was a strong receiving threat in high school who has already started filling out his lanky frame to be a multi-faceted addition. His Arab Knights went 32-13 in his high school career.
History is Deep in this Room
How important are tight ends in Chattanooga football history? Well, depends on who you are talking to but since the head coach was a tight end for the Mocs, you know it has a special place in his heart. After six seasons playing for the Mocs, former tight end
Jay Gibson just can't get away staying in the Scenic City to serve as the offensive quality control coach. So, while the offensive staff room features three former QBs (OC
Joe Pizzo, WR coach Rick Spradling & Speir), a RB (RB coach DJ Knox) and a guard (OL coach
Kevin Revis), Gibson and
Rusty Wright can fully relate to the current crop of TEs.
Did You Know?
A little TE 101 here. When Speir talks 11, 12 or 13 personnel, it describes the combination of running backs and tight ends on the field. The first number is running back which in today's game is typically a '1". The second number is tight ends.
Hear from John McIntyre
The annual "Meet the Mocs" cavalcade of stars kicked off in June with the start of this web series. Sport Talk on WGOW 102.3 FM welcomes a Mocs student-athlete each week that pairs with the position group featured on GoMocs.com. This week, sophomore
John McIntyre joins Quake, David Paschall and Cowboy Joe live and in studio. Tune in at 4:35 p.m., for the interview either on your radio dial or
online here.
Final Thoughts
"It's going to change week-to-week based on the game plan. It might be a heavy blocking week. It might be a heavy pass pro week. It might be a heavy receiving week for us. We can be in 11, 12, 21 and other personnels all in the same gameplan and have to be ready to handle that." –
Speir continuing on how the tight ends adjust
"We ask our guys to know a lot. They need to know the whole offense. They have to know the entire pass concept because we can run a majority of our pass game out of all our different personnel groupings. You can't just remember what you have on the 11 version of it. You have know the reads, because there's adjusting routes based on coverage. Then you go to the run game and there's 11 personnel runs, 12 personnel and more. We have to be able to execute different run schemes against different defensive fronts and also handle any blitz adjustments." –
Speir on the variations that go into tight end play
"When I first got here, there were three on scholarship. Now we have five (and a strong preferred walk-on). We kind of doubled our tight end numbers. It's an impactful position." –
Speir on the growth of the room
"Dependability and consistency go hand in hand. You have to be a guy that shows up every day. It's a hard job. You're getting physical in the run game. You're blocking guys that are bigger than you. Then you gotta go run down the field and make plays in the passing game. Consistency is big. The tight end position has to be blue collar and dependable." –
Speir on key components to playing tight end
Tickets on Sale
The 2025 season kicks off August 30 at Memphis. It begins on the road with intrastate matchups at the Tigers followed by the short trip to Cookeville to visit Tennessee Tech. The home opener is Sept. 13 with the first-ever meeting with Stetson.
Season tickets are on sale beginning at $60. Purchases can be made
here on GoMocs.com.
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