Of course it is way early in his career, but looking ahead he seems to have a tough road to playing time... What is the likelihood he gets lost in the crowd?
Injuries aside, it appears the season will play out with Smythe earning most the first team reps, and Tyler getting the second "blocking" TE role. Both those players have eligibility next season, Smythe an additional 2 seasons after this year. If, and it is a solid "if," Chase gets a 5th year you have to assume he would be used in the event of needing a second blocking TE in running situations, although I'm not sure that removing Smythe to get Chase on the field is reasonable. Is Smythe that bad at blocking that his other offensive skills cannot outweigh the blocking skills of Chase (and lack of other offensive skills)?
And by all accounts Nic is not a blocking TE, anyway.
So it looks like Nic sits in a second team position behind Smythe for the passing catching TE, at a minimum, with Smythe repeatedly being labeled as pulling away from other TE's during spring practice. Meanwhile it has been said that Tyler looked better running routes and catching the ball with his off season weight loss. So...
Injuries aside, it is likely Smythe and Tyler combine for over 90% of the TE snaps played this season. I'm guessing here obviously, but I don't think I'm too far off. In any case snaps to a a third TE will be very limited, and Nic isn't exactly in position to lock down that third TE position, either, with Chase giving it is best effort to make a meaningful impact to the team before departing.
And then Jones arrives this summer, whom some people have mentioned could challenge to see the field immediately. Even if not this fall (hopefully it is not needed), you have to believe by Fall 2016 Jones will be a major factor in a position that is returning it's 2-deep. Is Jones, at a minimum, a skilled enough blocker to unseat Tyler as the number 2 TE? A two TE set of Jones and Smythe in 2016 and 2017 sounds formidable (of course with some hypothesizing on an unproven incoming freshman living up to the hype).
Is Nic able to carve out his niche in this offense or will he get lost in the crowd? It seems unlikely he can surpass Smythe as the number one during this season, but Tyler seems vulnerable holding onto the second TE position through 2016. Spring 2016 will be do or die for Nic.
I could see Nic as the TE that was very good in spot duty but unfortunately got sandwiched between a couple of great TE's.
Thoughts?
Injuries aside, it appears the season will play out with Smythe earning most the first team reps, and Tyler getting the second "blocking" TE role. Both those players have eligibility next season, Smythe an additional 2 seasons after this year. If, and it is a solid "if," Chase gets a 5th year you have to assume he would be used in the event of needing a second blocking TE in running situations, although I'm not sure that removing Smythe to get Chase on the field is reasonable. Is Smythe that bad at blocking that his other offensive skills cannot outweigh the blocking skills of Chase (and lack of other offensive skills)?
And by all accounts Nic is not a blocking TE, anyway.
So it looks like Nic sits in a second team position behind Smythe for the passing catching TE, at a minimum, with Smythe repeatedly being labeled as pulling away from other TE's during spring practice. Meanwhile it has been said that Tyler looked better running routes and catching the ball with his off season weight loss. So...
Injuries aside, it is likely Smythe and Tyler combine for over 90% of the TE snaps played this season. I'm guessing here obviously, but I don't think I'm too far off. In any case snaps to a a third TE will be very limited, and Nic isn't exactly in position to lock down that third TE position, either, with Chase giving it is best effort to make a meaningful impact to the team before departing.
And then Jones arrives this summer, whom some people have mentioned could challenge to see the field immediately. Even if not this fall (hopefully it is not needed), you have to believe by Fall 2016 Jones will be a major factor in a position that is returning it's 2-deep. Is Jones, at a minimum, a skilled enough blocker to unseat Tyler as the number 2 TE? A two TE set of Jones and Smythe in 2016 and 2017 sounds formidable (of course with some hypothesizing on an unproven incoming freshman living up to the hype).
Is Nic able to carve out his niche in this offense or will he get lost in the crowd? It seems unlikely he can surpass Smythe as the number one during this season, but Tyler seems vulnerable holding onto the second TE position through 2016. Spring 2016 will be do or die for Nic.
I could see Nic as the TE that was very good in spot duty but unfortunately got sandwiched between a couple of great TE's.
Thoughts?
