"Finding a Unicorn !" Is Justin Shorter the Next Kyle Pitts ?

[Jeff from Jax]

Kyle Pitts - 6'6" - 249 lbs
George Kittle - 6'4" - 250 lbs - 2019 1st Team All Pro TE
Justin Shorter - 6'4" - 230 lbs

Conner Clarke - GT Roundtable - The former five-star recruit is a physical specimen and has solid top-end speed to stretch the defense, make tough contested grabs and even out-physical smaller defensive backs when going up for the ball. With his frame and athletic ability, I also believe he could play some of the Kyle Pitts role from last year and allow Pitts to play more of a traditional tight end role in 2020.

Joseph Hastings - GT Roundtable - I can envision the Gators using Shorter with Kyle Pitts and Trevon Grimes in red-zone packages, where they just throw a bunch of height and size at defensive backs.

We think he is a good recruiter; but how good of a TE coach is Tim Brewster ?

 

[ih8f$u]

Kyle Pitts - 6'6" - 249 lbs
George Kittle - 6'4" - 250 lbs - 2019 1st Team All Pro TE
Justin Shorter - 6'4" - 230 lbs

Conner Clarke - GT Roundtable - The former five-star recruit is a physical specimen and has solid top-end speed to stretch the defense, make tough contested grabs and even out-physical smaller defensive backs when going up for the ball. With his frame and athletic ability, I also believe he could play some of the Kyle Pitts role from last year and allow Pitts to play more of a traditional tight end role in 2020.

Joseph Hastings - GT Roundtable - I can envision the Gators using Shorter with Kyle Pitts and Trevon Grimes in red-zone packages, where they just throw a bunch of height and size at defensive backs.

We think he is a good recruiter; but how good of a TE coach is Tim Brewster ?

Do we want Pitts playing a more traditional TE role though? Isn’t he dangerous bc he can stretch the field more like a WR and put pressure on positions that traditionally defend TE but don’t have the speed or agility to guard a WR? It seems like he creates a lot of mismatches and puts a lot of pressure on the defense. Do we still have that if he takes a more traditional TE role? And that’s a serious

 

[LizardGrad89]

No. He's shorter.

 

[Jeff from Jax]

Conner Clarke "he (Shorter) could play some of the Kyle Pitts role from last year."

Do we want Pitts playing a more traditional TE role though? Isn’t he dangerous bc he can stretch the field more like a WR and put pressure on positions that traditionally defend TE but don’t have the speed or agility to guard a WR? It seems like he creates a lot of mismatches and puts a lot of pressure on the defense.

Curious, how do we define the traditional TE role ? What was Kyle Pitts role last year ?

TE position in flux at both the CFB & NFL level.

George Kittle - 6'4" - 250 lbs - 2019 1st Team All Pro TE
Justin Shorter - 6'4" - 230 lbs

When you look at the measurables for them there is little difference. Under Savage, Shorter could easily muscle up to Kittle's size; but, as ih8f$u said, is that necessary ?

Does the use of "Old School" terminology have us locked into a physical stereotype of what a "TE" looks like & what his role/duties are ?

What if Pitts & Shorter are the 1st of a new breed & their skill sets demand a new name for their position ?

Look at our "Star" position; a hybrid of LB, S, & CB, & how difficult it is to find & teach someone to play that position.

Mullen called it "Finding a Unicorn !"

Perhaps this new breed of receiver TE/WR is the same !

Winning offense is all about creating mismatches !

Line up Pitts / Shorter on same side as slot receiver - Toney ?

Did someone say "PICK PLAY ?"

Clemson used 2 pick/rub plays to beat Bama for 2017 Nattie. Good coaching key to avoiding the offensive pass interference call ! LOL
https://www.sbnation.com/2017/1/9/14221614/clemson-alabama-pick-play-pass-interference-rub

 

[instaGATOR]

Listing the Gator receivers (WR-TE-RB) by HEIGHT :

10 WR's, 4 TE's, 5 RB's.

Keep in mind, these are the 2019 listed Ht/Wt numbers.

6 WR's and 3 TE's that are 6-3+

TE K.Pitts 6-6 239 Jr

WR T.Grimes 6-5 214 Sr

TE J.Odom 6-5 250 Fr

WR J.Shorter 6-4 226 rsSo

WR J.Fraziars 6-3.5 194 Fr

WR X.Henderson 6-3.5 189 Fr

TE K.Gamble 6-3 241 rsJr

WR J.Weston 6-3 217 rsFr

WR T.Whittemore 6-3 192 rsFr
-----
TE K.Zipperer 6-2 232 So

WR J.Pouncey 6-2 205 rsJr/Grad? -- eligible???

WR R.Wells 6-0 202 rsSr

RB Lorenzo Lingard 6-0 190 rsSo

WR J.Copeland 6-192 rsSo

RB M.Davis 5-11 195 rsJr

WR/RB K.Toney 5-11 194 Sr'

RB I.Clement 5-11 193 rsSo

RB D.Pierce 5-10 207 Jr

RB N.Wright 5-9 195 rsFr

In Dan's system, everybody at least gets a good look in practice and games.
==========

Know the playbook and the check offs.

BLOCK

Run the correct and precise route, then adjust or break it off as needed to get open.

Make the damn catch and hold on to the ball when hit.

Who lines up and where is the least important part imo.

Soon enough we will all get to see how the passing game unfolds....