Dawn of the Dawg
Fansided

Georgia Football has wealth in tight ends

By Kyle Funderburk

Sep 3, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs tight end Jeb Blazevich (83) high fives fans prior to the 2016 Chick-Fil-A Kickoff game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 3, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs tight end Jeb Blazevich (83) high fives fans prior to the 2016 Chick-Fil-A Kickoff game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

If you paid attention to Georgia’s offensive personnel Saturday against North Carolina, you might have noticed that Georgia used a lot of tight ends.

Related Story: Upon Further Review: Why a Georgia-Clemson only profits the Tigers

Four tight ends appeared on offense exactly. Jeb Blazevich and Charlie Woerner started, while Issac Nauta and Jackson Harris appeared a lot throughout the game.

Offensive coordinator Jim Chaney used almost as many three-tight end sets as he did three-wide receiver sets. He had the tight ends line up tight, he had them line up in the slot and a few times they would line up wide.

Why not use the tight ends in this fashion? Georgia has the deepest and most talented group of tight ends in the country.

Blazevich is the most experienced member of the group as a junior in 2014. Out of high school, 247 Sports rated him as the no. 3 tight end in the country. He has 33 career catches for 413 yards coming into 2016.

Harris joined Georgia a year later as the No. 5 tight end in the country according to 247 Sports. Last year, he had four catches for 50 yards as a freshman last season.

Nauta and Woerner are the newest tight ends in Athens. Nauta arrived with a ton of hype as a five-star player and the No. 1 tight end by 247 Sports. So, it should surprise many that Woerner started over Nauta.

Woerner is the nephew of Bulldog legend Scott Woerner and wasn’t even a tight end in high school. 247 Sports named him the no. 25 wide receiver in the country. But his 6-5, 230 pound frame he came to Athens with prompted the coaches to move him inside.

With Georgia’s emphasis on the run game, having four tight ends capable of starting for numerous programs in the country is a blessing. They will also give quarterback Jacob Eason consistent targets to pass to until another receiver can emerge beyond Terry Godwin and Isaiah McKenzie.

More from Dawn of the Dawg

Under Brian Schottenheimer in 2015, the tight ends were not targeted nearly as much as they had been in years past. It doesn’t help them that Lambert struggles when he needs to check down to other receivers.

But with Eason taking over as the starter this week in Chaney’s offense, a tight end renaissance may be beginning in Athens. This group proved their prowess as blockers against North Carolina, leading the way for Nick Chubb’s 222 rushing yards and a team total 307 yards on the ground.

Against Nichols State, the tight ends can assert themselves in the passing game as dangerous and dynamic targets. If used properly, this group can start a tradition that brings more great tight ends to Athens adding to the wealth they have at the position. But for right now, the University of Georgia is still clearly “Tight End U.”

Home/Georgia Football