jiggafini19
The Pope
- Messages
- 7,370
- Reaction score
- 58
BigIrish said:
He was good for around 4 or 5 catches a game. Towards the end, I don't think he was getting as many yards per catch.
Whatever he does, I think he'll be alright in the end.
He was good for around 4 or 5 catches a game. Towards the end, I don't think he was getting as many yards per catch.
Whatever he does, I think he'll be alright in the end.
jiggafini19
The Pope
- Messages
- 7,370
- Reaction score
- 58
December 14, 2005
A Tight End’s Dream Offense
by LOU SOMOGYI
Shortly after the Fiesta Bowl, senior tight end Anthony Fasano will have to decide whether to return to Notre Dame for a fifth season or take his talents to the NFL, a la defensive end Justin Tuck last season. Whichever route he chooses, Fasano knows it’s a win-win situation.
One of three finalists for this year’s John Mackey Award, Fasano lost out on the hardware to UCLA’s Marcedes Lewis. Yet Charlie Weis contends there are few tight ends even in the NFL — and he should know — who combine Fasano’s pass catching, blocking and running acumen. Weis’ respected influence at the next level will likely facilitate Fasano’s draft status.
“There’s no better system in the country to be in for the next level,” said Fasano of playing tight end for Weis.
Indeed, it appears Notre Dame is embarking into another golden age with its tight ends, not that the Irish ever were lacking at that position. The difference is that the tight ends once again will be more than glorified tackles.
Remember the days at Notre Dame when the tight end was a rumor in the Irish passing game? In 2001, future NFL player John Owens and Gary Godsey combined for eight catches the entire year. In 2000, two other future pros, Jabari Holloway and Dan O’Leary, totaled 16 catches between them.
The 1994 tight end, Oscar McBride, who also played in the NFL, snared six balls in 11 starts. In a home game against Brigham Young that year, when McBride caught his third pass of the year in the seventh contest, about half of Notre Dame Stadium stood up to deliver a mock cheer.
Lou Holtz even liked to poke fun about the criticism he used to receive for not throwing more often to the tight end. One time when Holtz was in Notre Dame Stadium during its reconstruction phase in 1995-96, he went to the top row of the new seating and yelled down, “Throw it to the tight end!”
First-round draft pick Irv Smith caught 28 passes in four seasons (1989-92), and another first-round choice, Derek Brown, never caught more than 22 passes in a season during his four years (1988-91) at Notre Dame.
But Weis had a tight-end friendly system in the NFL, and Fasano was the beneficiary of it at Notre Dame. His 45 receptions this year were the second highest total ever at the school. Walter Camp Player of The Year Ken MacAfee latched on to 54 in 1977, Weis’ senior year at Notre Dame.
Yet even if Fasano were to turn pro, Weis pointed out earlier this year that junior John Carlson has been quickly noticed by pro scouts who have visited Irish practices. He would be the heir to a tight end tradition that is primed to flourish again, especially if this year’s top high school tight end prospect, Konrad Reuland, ends up signing with the Irish.
All-American Dave Casper played tight end at Notre Dame one year (the 1973 national title campaign) and caught only 22 passes, including three in that year’s memorable Sugar Bowl. But like Holtz in later years, head coach Ara Parseghian emphasized a ground-oriented attack that season.
MacAfee (1974-77) was a three-time All-American who snared 128 career passes, and he was followed by two other outstanding pass catchers at the position such as Dean Masztak (1978-81) and Tony Hunter (1979-82), originally a split end, during the Dan Devine years. Mark Bavaro (1981-84) was then signed by Gerry Faust, and he grabbed 32 passes as a senior.
Under Weis, the impressive pass catching stats are likely to consistently return at tight end. Fasano is just the beginning.
A Tight End’s Dream Offense
by LOU SOMOGYI
Shortly after the Fiesta Bowl, senior tight end Anthony Fasano will have to decide whether to return to Notre Dame for a fifth season or take his talents to the NFL, a la defensive end Justin Tuck last season. Whichever route he chooses, Fasano knows it’s a win-win situation.
One of three finalists for this year’s John Mackey Award, Fasano lost out on the hardware to UCLA’s Marcedes Lewis. Yet Charlie Weis contends there are few tight ends even in the NFL — and he should know — who combine Fasano’s pass catching, blocking and running acumen. Weis’ respected influence at the next level will likely facilitate Fasano’s draft status.
“There’s no better system in the country to be in for the next level,” said Fasano of playing tight end for Weis.
Indeed, it appears Notre Dame is embarking into another golden age with its tight ends, not that the Irish ever were lacking at that position. The difference is that the tight ends once again will be more than glorified tackles.
Remember the days at Notre Dame when the tight end was a rumor in the Irish passing game? In 2001, future NFL player John Owens and Gary Godsey combined for eight catches the entire year. In 2000, two other future pros, Jabari Holloway and Dan O’Leary, totaled 16 catches between them.
The 1994 tight end, Oscar McBride, who also played in the NFL, snared six balls in 11 starts. In a home game against Brigham Young that year, when McBride caught his third pass of the year in the seventh contest, about half of Notre Dame Stadium stood up to deliver a mock cheer.
Lou Holtz even liked to poke fun about the criticism he used to receive for not throwing more often to the tight end. One time when Holtz was in Notre Dame Stadium during its reconstruction phase in 1995-96, he went to the top row of the new seating and yelled down, “Throw it to the tight end!”
First-round draft pick Irv Smith caught 28 passes in four seasons (1989-92), and another first-round choice, Derek Brown, never caught more than 22 passes in a season during his four years (1988-91) at Notre Dame.
But Weis had a tight-end friendly system in the NFL, and Fasano was the beneficiary of it at Notre Dame. His 45 receptions this year were the second highest total ever at the school. Walter Camp Player of The Year Ken MacAfee latched on to 54 in 1977, Weis’ senior year at Notre Dame.
Yet even if Fasano were to turn pro, Weis pointed out earlier this year that junior John Carlson has been quickly noticed by pro scouts who have visited Irish practices. He would be the heir to a tight end tradition that is primed to flourish again, especially if this year’s top high school tight end prospect, Konrad Reuland, ends up signing with the Irish.
All-American Dave Casper played tight end at Notre Dame one year (the 1973 national title campaign) and caught only 22 passes, including three in that year’s memorable Sugar Bowl. But like Holtz in later years, head coach Ara Parseghian emphasized a ground-oriented attack that season.
MacAfee (1974-77) was a three-time All-American who snared 128 career passes, and he was followed by two other outstanding pass catchers at the position such as Dean Masztak (1978-81) and Tony Hunter (1979-82), originally a split end, during the Dan Devine years. Mark Bavaro (1981-84) was then signed by Gerry Faust, and he grabbed 32 passes as a senior.
Under Weis, the impressive pass catching stats are likely to consistently return at tight end. Fasano is just the beginning.
Irish YJ
Southsida
- Messages
- 25,888
- Reaction score
- 1,444
dublinirish
Everestt Gholstonson
- Messages
- 27,320
- Reaction score
- 13,088