TIGHT END-FRIENDLY OFFENSE
4/22/2023 8:56:00 AM | Football
Grimes likes the depth, versatility of his position group
By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider
Jake Roberts readily admits that one of the main reasons he transferred from North Texas to Baylor was because of the "obviously very tight end-friendly" offense that Jeff Grimes runs.
Truth be told, though, having the offensive coordinator as also your position coach can be a blessing and a curse. Ben Simmons was the Bears' third-leading receiver last year with 31 catches, and the tight end room combined for 57 receptions for 499 yards and three touchdowns.
"I love it, because he uses us in unique ways, NFL-style offense," said sophomore Kelsey Johnson. "We watch George Kittle, Travis Kelce, a lot of really good tight ends, and things that they do and how versatile they are. And I feel like (Grimes) gives all of us the best opportunity to make it to the next level because of the way he uses in a lot of ways."
The other side of the coin is that Grimes is maybe more demanding on the tight ends than any other position on the field.
"The thing I say to them all the time is, 'Look, I can't expect this of the offense if the guys that I coach every day don't do it the way it's supposed to be done,''' Grimes said. "So, off-the-field stuff, going to class, being on time for workouts, meeting with their tutors, showing up with integrity to everything they do. That's something I just never have to worry about with this group.
"I'm just really impressed with the group as a whole and seeing more guys being willing to step outside themselves and try to be an influence on other people."
A FULL ROOM: Grimes likes to utilize a lot of two- and even three-tight end sets in his offense. But that was difficult to do last season when Johnson and Drake Dabney both went down with injuries and Yates "dealing with knee problems."
"It was kind of hard to be fresh and go out there and play green all the time," Johnson said.
That's no longer a problem. In addition to Roberts, the Bears added true freshmen Hawkins Polley, Matthew Klopfenstein and Jonathan Nielsen to a group that also includes redshirt junior Mark Patton and redshirt freshman Cody Mladenka. Including the returning trio of Dabney, Johnson and Yates, that gives Grimes nine at the tight end position.
"My vision when I took the job was to build that room up to the point where we could have a lot of competition there and play a lot of tight ends," Grimes said. "It's been a work in progress. As we've continued to add to the group each year, we got it to where we want it now. We've got some young guys who are really talented, too, that aren't as far as long as some of the older guys. But they're really talented and may contribute some this fall as well."
Grimes said last year's injuries "probably kept me from being able to play the way I'd like to some. But really pleased with the room as a whole."
HIS OWN NICHE: At barely 6-2, Gavin Yates is a "little different than everyone else in the tight end room," the junior tight end says.
"I always get called short, and I have little arms," he said. "But yeah, I think I do (have my own niche). I'm kind of more a fullback/H-back style, but I'm not letting that limit me. This spring, I'm really working on my all-around game and blocking to play side, which I haven't done a lot in wide zone. But I'm trying to develop myself to be a more well-rounded tight end."
With linebacker Dillon Doyle graduating, Yates will likely take on even more of the fullback role in short-yardage and goal-line situations.
SWISS ARMY KNIFE: Playing for a 7-7 North Texas team that lost to Boise State in the Frisco Bowl, Roberts caught 28 passes for 394 yards and three touchdowns last season.
But the 6-4, 244-pound Roberts is much more than just another receiving tight end.
"We're a little bit different than a lot of teams. We look for tight ends who can do kind of everything – run block, pass block, play in his face, play attached to the box, run routes from the box, run routes when we're split out," Grimes said. "(Roberts) is just a great all-purpose player. I'm really impressed with his ability to be a jack of all trades, a guy who can really do about anything we ask in our offense."
For Roberts, one of the biggest adjustments to Baylor's offense is learning how to block in the wide zone.
"That's a little different than what I'm used to," he said. "There's a lot of different techniques and stuff, intricate parts of the offense that maybe I haven't done as much in the past. That's what I've been focusing on this spring . . . as well as other things that I've done in the past, just trying to take the next step in those areas. But blocking in the wide zone would probably be the biggest one."
GREEN & GOLD GAME: Baylor will conclude its 15-practice spring football schedule with the annual Green & Gold Game at 12 p.m. Saturday at McLane Stadium, which will be streamed by ESPN+, with John Morris, J.J. Joe and Ricky Thompson calling the action.
Admission and parking will be free, with Gate C opening at 10:30 a.m.
The spring game is featured as part of Green & Gold Weekend, a community-centered event that also includes the Michael Johnson Invitational at Clyde Hart Track & Field Stadium and 16th-ranked Baylor Softball hosting top-ranked and two-time defending national champion Oklahoma at Getterman Stadium.
"Every time we are in McLane, it's exciting," Johnson said. "It's way better than being on the grass (practice) fields. Even in the summer, when we have a conditioning test, if it's on the grass fields, it's terrible. But when we go up to McLane, the energy is always there. When we get to put on our jersey and rep the logo, it's just always good energy."
Baylor Bear Insider
Jake Roberts readily admits that one of the main reasons he transferred from North Texas to Baylor was because of the "obviously very tight end-friendly" offense that Jeff Grimes runs.
Truth be told, though, having the offensive coordinator as also your position coach can be a blessing and a curse. Ben Simmons was the Bears' third-leading receiver last year with 31 catches, and the tight end room combined for 57 receptions for 499 yards and three touchdowns.
"I love it, because he uses us in unique ways, NFL-style offense," said sophomore Kelsey Johnson. "We watch George Kittle, Travis Kelce, a lot of really good tight ends, and things that they do and how versatile they are. And I feel like (Grimes) gives all of us the best opportunity to make it to the next level because of the way he uses in a lot of ways."
The other side of the coin is that Grimes is maybe more demanding on the tight ends than any other position on the field.
"The thing I say to them all the time is, 'Look, I can't expect this of the offense if the guys that I coach every day don't do it the way it's supposed to be done,''' Grimes said. "So, off-the-field stuff, going to class, being on time for workouts, meeting with their tutors, showing up with integrity to everything they do. That's something I just never have to worry about with this group.
"I'm just really impressed with the group as a whole and seeing more guys being willing to step outside themselves and try to be an influence on other people."
A FULL ROOM: Grimes likes to utilize a lot of two- and even three-tight end sets in his offense. But that was difficult to do last season when Johnson and Drake Dabney both went down with injuries and Yates "dealing with knee problems."
"It was kind of hard to be fresh and go out there and play green all the time," Johnson said.
That's no longer a problem. In addition to Roberts, the Bears added true freshmen Hawkins Polley, Matthew Klopfenstein and Jonathan Nielsen to a group that also includes redshirt junior Mark Patton and redshirt freshman Cody Mladenka. Including the returning trio of Dabney, Johnson and Yates, that gives Grimes nine at the tight end position.
"My vision when I took the job was to build that room up to the point where we could have a lot of competition there and play a lot of tight ends," Grimes said. "It's been a work in progress. As we've continued to add to the group each year, we got it to where we want it now. We've got some young guys who are really talented, too, that aren't as far as long as some of the older guys. But they're really talented and may contribute some this fall as well."
Grimes said last year's injuries "probably kept me from being able to play the way I'd like to some. But really pleased with the room as a whole."
HIS OWN NICHE: At barely 6-2, Gavin Yates is a "little different than everyone else in the tight end room," the junior tight end says.
"I always get called short, and I have little arms," he said. "But yeah, I think I do (have my own niche). I'm kind of more a fullback/H-back style, but I'm not letting that limit me. This spring, I'm really working on my all-around game and blocking to play side, which I haven't done a lot in wide zone. But I'm trying to develop myself to be a more well-rounded tight end."
With linebacker Dillon Doyle graduating, Yates will likely take on even more of the fullback role in short-yardage and goal-line situations.
SWISS ARMY KNIFE: Playing for a 7-7 North Texas team that lost to Boise State in the Frisco Bowl, Roberts caught 28 passes for 394 yards and three touchdowns last season.
But the 6-4, 244-pound Roberts is much more than just another receiving tight end.
"We're a little bit different than a lot of teams. We look for tight ends who can do kind of everything – run block, pass block, play in his face, play attached to the box, run routes from the box, run routes when we're split out," Grimes said. "(Roberts) is just a great all-purpose player. I'm really impressed with his ability to be a jack of all trades, a guy who can really do about anything we ask in our offense."
For Roberts, one of the biggest adjustments to Baylor's offense is learning how to block in the wide zone.
"That's a little different than what I'm used to," he said. "There's a lot of different techniques and stuff, intricate parts of the offense that maybe I haven't done as much in the past. That's what I've been focusing on this spring . . . as well as other things that I've done in the past, just trying to take the next step in those areas. But blocking in the wide zone would probably be the biggest one."
GREEN & GOLD GAME: Baylor will conclude its 15-practice spring football schedule with the annual Green & Gold Game at 12 p.m. Saturday at McLane Stadium, which will be streamed by ESPN+, with John Morris, J.J. Joe and Ricky Thompson calling the action.
Admission and parking will be free, with Gate C opening at 10:30 a.m.
The spring game is featured as part of Green & Gold Weekend, a community-centered event that also includes the Michael Johnson Invitational at Clyde Hart Track & Field Stadium and 16th-ranked Baylor Softball hosting top-ranked and two-time defending national champion Oklahoma at Getterman Stadium.
"Every time we are in McLane, it's exciting," Johnson said. "It's way better than being on the grass (practice) fields. Even in the summer, when we have a conditioning test, if it's on the grass fields, it's terrible. But when we go up to McLane, the energy is always there. When we get to put on our jersey and rep the logo, it's just always good energy."
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