TE Alex Zmolik didn't have a catch in the game. He has gotten very good, so I was surprised he wasn't more of a target against Arkansas.

True freshman Linebacker Tyler Taafe played. Loved him on tape in high school. Must really be impressing the coaches to burn his redshirt so early.

I think I remember Zmolik being targeted with one pass (incomplete). Roberts had a couple nice catches and a couple more that could have been catches. If both of them get going, the TE position will be in good hands!

(09-16-2015 09:59 AM)bcunn3128 Wrote:  I think I remember Zmolik being targeted with one pass (incomplete). Roberts had a couple nice catches and a couple more that could have been catches. If both of them get going, the TE position will be in good hands!

As I remember, Roberts had two drops, one was over the middle...I think it was a third down play and we had to punt. The Rockets were moving toward the goal line on my end of the field. I had a good view of the drop! The other I think was inside the 10.

Roberts had three drops, and could have been four with another pass that tipped off his hands, up in the air, but right back to him. We were very fortunate that our many drops, a lot of which were on passes over the middle, did not result in turnovers. Roberts can be a big time weapon with his size, if he doesn't show up to the field with his hands on backwards.

Zmolik I think is playing the H-Back this year which is mostly a blocking position in UTs offense. That was Rosenbaur's position last year. Roberts is the receiving TE. Despite not getting thrown to, Zmolik is still a force as a blocker. He had the key block on DJMs TD run and can get downfield quickly to make the downfield blocks too. Big contributor either way.

(09-16-2015 05:25 PM)northcoastRocket Wrote:  Zmolik I think is playing the H-Back this year which is mostly a blocking position in UTs offense. That was Rosenbaur's position last year. Roberts is the receiving TE. Despite not getting thrown to, Zmolik is still a force as a blocker. He had the key block on DJMs TD run and can get downfield quickly to make the downfield blocks too. Big contributor either way.

probably became a necessity when Kulon was injured.

roberts had one bad drop, another play was the clusterf%ck over the middle when the ref got run over and everyone got off balance. looked like a bad drop at game speed but the replay showed it would have been a difficult catch. russell, roberts, zmolik and jones also each had drops on hard passes a hair behind them. all were very catchable but ely likes to put some extra zip on his short to mid throws and when they are kinda up around the back shoulder pad it's hard to make a clean hands catch on them.

i've always been a zmolik fan and hope he gets more looks as the season goes on. roberts is talented but i think zmolik has better hands and is also a very versatile athlete.

(09-17-2015 03:17 AM)pono Wrote:  roberts had one bad drop, another play was the clusterf%ck over the middle when the ref got run over and everyone got off balance. looked like a bad drop at game speed but the replay showed it would have been a difficult catch. russell, roberts, zmolik and jones also each had drops on hard passes a hair behind them. all were very catchable but ely likes to put some extra zip on his short to mid throws and when they are kinda up around the back shoulder pad it's hard to make a clean hands catch on them.

i've always been a zmolik fan and hope he gets more looks as the season goes on. roberts is talented but i think zmolik has better hands and is also a very versatile athlete.

+1 on Zmolick. BTW, the H Back hasn't been listed on any depth chart this year.

Taafe will be a beast at UT.

I didn't realize true freshman LB Taafe played, that's great news because it means the coaches think rather highly of him. Is TE Roberts a freshman as well?

(09-17-2015 01:19 PM)inductchuck16 Wrote:  I didn't realize true freshman LB Taafe played, that's great news because it means the coaches think rather highly of him. Is TE Roberts a freshman as well?

Roberts is a Junior. Had one big, long catch at the end of the Umass game i believe last year at a key moment.

(09-17-2015 01:24 PM)T4C8 Wrote:  

(09-17-2015 01:19 PM)inductchuck16 Wrote:  I didn't realize true freshman LB Taafe played, that's great news because it means the coaches think rather highly of him. Is TE Roberts a freshman as well?

Roberts is a Junior. Had one big, long catch at the end of the Umass game i believe last year at a key moment.

Not sold on Roberts. Too many drops last year and this.

(09-17-2015 03:19 PM)DetroitRocket Wrote:  

(09-17-2015 01:24 PM)T4C8 Wrote:  

(09-17-2015 01:19 PM)inductchuck16 Wrote:  I didn't realize true freshman LB Taafe played, that's great news because it means the coaches think rather highly of him. Is TE Roberts a freshman as well?

Roberts is a Junior. Had one big, long catch at the end of the Umass game i believe last year at a key moment.

Not sold on Roberts. Too many drops last year and this.

Yep. He has the physicality to be a beast, just needs to hold onto the ball a little better. Hopefully this is the year for improvement!

Roberts could become a dominant go to TE. He showed some soft hands catching the tip. I don't believe it was the same catch, but he also made a very athletic stretch of that big frame to get the first down. If he gets comfortable out there, he could be really tough. Hope so.