STATE OF THE U 2023: TE analysis

CaneSport continues its State of The U series with a closer position by position look, unfiltered and objective, based on what Miami has returning, the projections and whether this will be an improved unit or not.

Today’s focus: Miami’s tight ends position:

OVERVIEW

Miami fans used to Brevin Jordan and Will Mallory over the last five seasons will have to get used to the new guard at the tight ends position for Miami. And it probably will be a different way in which the tight ends are used in a new hybrid Air-Raid attack under first-year coordinator Shannon Dawson. Last year it was Mallory that led the team with 538 receiving yards (next highest was WR Colbie Young with 367). It would be a surprise if the tight ends position again finds itself atop the receiving leaderboard – Dawson has shown a propensity to target his wide receivers most, with a particular emphasis on the slot receiver. But that’s not to say the tight ends won’t have a big role as both receivers and blockers. This is a team that returns a couple of guys that have proven ability – Elijah Arroyo played as a backup the last two seasons, although last year was cut short by injury. And Jaleel Skinner is a former Alabama commitment who in his first year at Miami in 2022 had 129 yards and a TD (he had some drops issues). The team has since added a physical blocking presence in eighth-year Oregon transfer Cam McCormick, and there are also two highly touted signees on board in Riley Williams (who in particular has earned praise this offseason) and Jackson Carver. The most likely scenario is Arroyo starting (he missed the spring and has played in 17 games with three starts the last two years, with 152 yards and a TD), since he has the best combination of receiving and blocking skills. Then you’ve got McCormick who can attach to the line as a blocking threat and also make some catches here and there, and Skinner who can use his length and speed to beat linebackers/safeties on downfield routes. The true freshmen may factor in as well, although that’s less likely barring injury to an older player. So it’s a pretty good room, albeit somewhat unproven with Mallory gone.

STATE OF THE U: QB ANALYSIS … RB analysis … WR analysis

BIGGEST QUESTION

The biggest question to us is how Dawson will utilize this room. With some questions at wide receiver does he perhaps alter the way he’s targeted guys down the field in the past and incorporate a lot more throws to the tight ends? This past season at Houston, for instance, there were four players that had 450 or more receiving yards – none were tight ends. But Dawson didn’t have guys with the same kind of talent at the position he now finds at Miami. So that’ll be really interesting. Guys like Arroyo and Skinner can certainly be downfield threats if given the opportunity, with McCormick your extra blocker and a guy who can take some short catches in as needed.

BOLD PREDICTION

If there’s going to be a surprise here, it’s going to be Jaleel Skinner. He has a world of talent as a receiver but simply has struggled holding onto the ball. If he can get that fixed… well, we can see Dawson really wanting to get him on some downfield routes. So our prediction is going to be that Skinner has 400+ receiving yards in this offense. That would be pretty good and help keep defenses on their toes while giving Miami another dimension to the positions from which it can attack opponents (ie with two tight end sets where both tight ends can be weapons as pass catchers).

PROJECTION: POSITION WILL BE BETTER/WORSE THAN LAST YEAR?

The tight end position was in good hands the last five years with Brevin Jordan and Will Mallory. So it’s a little tough to just go ahead and say this year will be better than last at tight end when Mallory was a really good player in a subpar offense. We don’t really see a go-to receiving threat right now at tight end, but an Arroyo or Skinner should be able to make enough plays down the field to help keep the chains moving. Sprinkle in McCormick as a physical presence and you have the makings of a pretty good tight ends room. 2022 GRADE … B+; 2023 PROJECTED GRADE … B

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