8A — Wednesday, April 10, 2019
Sports
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

What’s the role of the tight end in 
Gattis’ “speed in space” offense

In 2017, Sherrone Moore 
— then an assistant coach at 
Central Michigan — helped 
facilitate an offensive overhaul. 
The 
Chippewas’ 
hiring 
of 
Chris Ostrowsky as offensive 
coordinator 
prompted 
a 
schematic 
shift, 
from 
a 
traditional pro-style offense to 
a spread.
Moore, who coached the tight 
ends as part of his duties, had to 
make the requisite adjustments.
Sound familiar?
Two years later, the hiring 
of Josh Gattis as Michigan’s 
offensive coordinator has put 
Moore in a similar position. 
Talk of Gattis’ “speed in space” 
mantra has enveloped much of 
the spring oxygen, implicitly 
and explicitly promising more. 
Faster tempo. More big plays. 
More opportunities for skill guys. 
Production against the best. 
Maybe, oh maybe, some big wins.
So, 
how 
does 
the 
tight 
end — a hallmark position in 
Michigan’s pro-style offenses 
under Harbaugh — fit into that 
equation? That’s the question 
Gattis and Moore are tasked 
with answering, ahead of a 
summer filled with intrigue and 
uncertainty aplenty regarding 
the offense as a whole. Moore 
believes his experience making 
a similar transition at Central 
Michigan in 2017 can help 
instruct his parallel task in 2019.
“When I was at Central we 
went from a pro offense to a 
true spread offense,” Moore 
said. “So I’ve been through 

the adjustments and making 
the kinks of having to coach 
this position and having to go 
from, you’re always doing one 
thing to switching up and doing 
different things.”
That 
year, 
the Chippewas 
went 
from 
the 
84th-best 
offense in the 
country to the 
64th. They won 
eight games for 
the first time 
in eight years. 
And, pertinent 
to Moore, their 
tight end Tyler 
Conklin posted 504 yards and 
five 
touchdowns, 
parlaying 
that season into a fifth-round 
NFL Draft selection. (An aside: 
Central Michigan’s quarterback 
that season? Shane Morris).
That past experience is only 
part of the equation informing 
Moore’s task of transitioning 
the tight end group to Gattis’ 
“pro spread” offense. Moore 
said Tuesday that he spent the 
offseason studying Alabama’s 
offense. Regular collaboration 
with Gattis also has been 
integral toward smoothing out 
kinks thus far.
“He didn’t really come in and 
say, ‘Hey, we’re going to do this,’ 
” Moore recalled. “He said ‘this 
is not my offense, this is our 
offense.’ ”
That ultimate product, as with 
any scheme, will be beholden 
to its personnel. Visions of 
Alabama 
All-American 
tight 
end Irv Smith Jr. shredding 
defenses as a mismatch tight 

end out wide are inevitably 
restricted by the fact that junior 
Nick Eubanks, for all his merits, 
is not there yet. Perception that 
junior Sean McKeon can slot 
into the Conklin role ignores 
the reality that 
McKeon doesn’t 
have 
Conklin’s 
versatility.
Still, 
despite 
losing 
Zach 
Gentry 
to 
the 
draft, 
the 
Wolverines 
have the depth 
and 
talent 
to 
meld the group 
into a strength. 
Eubanks, 
who has just 
10 
career catches, has the athletic 
potential to thrive in a more 
spread 
out 
scheme. 
Moore 
singled out McKeon as an 
improved 
receiver, 
noting 
he “hasn’t dropped a pass in 
practice.” Early-enrollee Eric 
All has turned heads in the early 
going, highlighting Saturday’s 
open practice with a 30-yard 
catch along the sideline after 
beating the corner.
“It’s all about your personnel 
and what you can do with the 
guys you have,” Moore said. “So 
it’s been really helpful that I 
know the guys — from a physical 
standpoint what they can do 
on the field. And then from a 
personal 
standpoint, 
getting 
to know them a little more, 
since I’ve been here a year, it’s 
helped.”
Coaches and players have 
already noted some growing 
pains 
within 
the 
scheme 
change. 
The 
tight 
ends, 
Eubanks said, are no different.
“Knowing 
all 
the 
assignments (has been the 
biggest 
adjustment), 
as 
in 
lining up outside and inside 
and knowing all the concepts 
on offense,” Eubanks said. “It’s 
been a big lesson for me to do 
that, and I’m taking advantage 
of that right now.”
In terms of specifics, his 
answer implies the tight ends 
will play a more versatile role. 
Eubanks, for example, could 
more frequently line up out 
wide. Presumably, the spread 
scheme will de-emphasize the 
two-tight end sets that heavily 
populated prior offenses.
Still, 
until 
real 
game-
settings arive, it will all remain 
speculation.
Through all the anticipation, 
uncertainty 
and 
semblance 
of 
collaboration, 
Eubanks 
distilled the platonic ideal of 
Michigan’s offense — and, by 
proxy, the role of the tight end 
— down to two short sentences 
last week.
“Coaches 
are 
giving 
an 
opportunity for the playmakers 
to make plays,” he said.
“That’s 
what 
(Gattis) 
is 
emphasizing on offense.”

MAX MARCOVITCH
Managing Sports Editor

Brazdeikis, Poole and Matthews 
to hire agents, enter NBA Draft

Ignas 
Brazdeikis 
will 
attempt 
to 
become 
John 
Beilein’s first ever one-and-
done.
The freshman forward told 
ESPN’s Jonathan Givony on 
Tuesday afternoon that he 
will hire an agent and enter 
the NBA Draft. And he’ll be 
followed by Jordan Poole and 
Charles Matthews. All three 
intend to sign with agents, per 
a release from the program.
“Charles, Jordan and Iggy 
have all decided to take the next 
steps in pursuing their dreams 
of playing in the NBA,” said 
Michigan coach John Beilein, 
per the release. “The new 
process is a unique experience 
and one that my staff and I will 
assist in every way we can. We 
want each of them to utilize 
this opportunity to get more 
feedback so they can make 
the best decision possible for 
themselves and their families. 
All three are remarkable young 

men with amazing futures in 
front on them.”
After Michigan’s loss in the 
Sweet Sixteen to Texas Tech, 
Matthews was widely expected 
to declare for the draft and stay 
in it. Those inside the program 
openly acknowledged that it 
would be his last year in Ann 
Arbor, and Matthews was even 
honored on senior night despite 
having a year of eligibility left.
“Many people have known 
about 
my 
desire 
to 
play 
professionally, and my family 
and I are blessed to begin that 
process again,” Matthews said, 
per the release.
Brazdeikis and Poole, on the 
other hand, were both expected 
to at least test the waters. Based 
on ESPN’s report, it seems that 
Brazdeikis is gone for good.
“My intent is to be drafted 
this year as high as I can be,” 
Brazdeikis told ESPN.
The 
freshman 
was 
Michigan’s 
leading 
scorer 
and Big Ten Freshman of the 
Year. Per ESPN, he will be 
represented by YouFirst Sports.

As of publication, Brazdeikis 
has not responded to a text 
from The Daily.
The Wolverines have had 
players good enough to leave 
after one year during the 
Beilein era, namely Trey Burke, 
but none have. At least until 
now.
After 
Michigan 
lost 
to 
Texas 
Tech 
in 
the 
Sweet 
Sixteen, Brazdeikis and Poole 
were mum about a potential 
decision, but this will come as 
no surprise.
It’s less clear whether Poole 
will stay in the draft than the 
other two. Thanks to new rules 
changes, players can now hire 
agents and still withdraw from 
the draft if they so decide.
“Being able to play in the 
NBA has always been my dream 
since I was young,” Poole said 
in the release. “I am confident 
that with my faith in God 
and hard work that I, and my 
family, are prepared to look at 
all options and make the right 
decision for the next step of my 
playing career.”

ALEXIS RANKIN/Daily
TIght ends coach Sherrone Moore went through a transition to a spread offense during his time at Central Michigan.

ETHAN SEARS
Managing Sports Editor

KATELYN MULCAHY/Daily
Charles Matthews, Ignas Brazdeikis and Jordan Poole, who all entered the draft, were Michigan’s top three scorers.

McKeon, others stepping up

After completing a drill in 
practice earlier this spring, senior 
linebacker Khaleke Hudson went 
up to Sherrone Moore with one 
thought to share.
“Man, (Sean McKeon)’s gotten 
so much better,” Hudson told 
Moore.
Just six months ago, the senior 
tight end hit a low as he let a 25-yard 
pass against Northwestern slip 
through his hands, continuing his 
early-season troubles and giving 
the Wildcats — already up 10-0 — 
possession at midfield. When the 
Wolverines got the ball back, Nick 
Eubanks lined up as their second 
tight end, behind Zach Gentry.
Over the rest of the season, 
McKeon 
managed 
just 
eight 
receptions for 60 yards, falling well 
short of the expectations he set for 
himself after a 31-reception, 301-
yard sophomore season in 2017. 
Gentry, meanwhile, finished his 
final season third on the team with 
541 yards.
On Jan. 2, though, Gentry 
declared for the NFL Draft, 
opening the door for competition to 
fill his void, though the tight ends’ 
role could decrease in Michigan’s 
spread offense under new offensive 
coordinator Josh Gattis. Whatever 
the role, McKeon has taken full 
advantage.
“Sean as a blocker’s been really 
good as he’s always been,” Moore 
said. “But his receiving ability 
(has improved), catching the ball 
in traffic, making the competitive 
catches. … It’s a credit to him and 
what he’s done this offseason. He 
hasn’t had any drops, he’s gonna 
catch the ball, he’s gonna make 
the competitive catches. I’m really 
proud of him as a receiver.”
McKeon’s impact has been felt 
far beyond the tight ends room 
this offseason. Tuesday afternoon, 
redshirt senior left tackle Jon 
Runyan Jr. was asked which of the 
tight ends has been most impressive 
in Gentry’s absence.
His response came without 
hesitation: 
“Definitely 
Sean 
McKeon.
“He’s 
kinda 
just 
like 
the 
stalwart of the tight ends, just does 
everything right.”

Amid the deepest receiving 
group Jim Harbaugh has had at 
Michigan, McKeon’s ability to 
follow through on such praise 
will be critical in Shea Patterson’s 
ability to follow through on his 
senior-year expectations.
“If you want to try to stop Sean, 
then you’re gonna have to deal 
with Donovan,” Moore said. “If 
you stop Donovan, you’re gonna 
have to deal with Nico. Then you’re 
gonna have to deal with Nick, then 
you’re gonna have to deal with 
all the other guys that we’ve got. 
So Sean’s really taken the part of 
trying to be that security blanket 
for (Patterson).”
The competition to replace 
Gentry’s targets, though, goes past 
McKeon and further into that 
talented receiving group.
Eubanks, always a downfield 
threat with a career average of 
21.8 yards per reception, has seen 
limited playing time over his first 
three years thanks to limited 
blocking skills. That has become a 
focus for Moore this offseason.
“Eubanks is really coming into 
his own as a blocker,” Runyan said. 
“And that’s really something that 
we need with him and Sean in our 
tight end sets and that’s gonna be 
really beneficial down the road.”
Redshirt freshman Mustapha 
Muhammad, a four-star recruit 
in 2017, has shown Moore flashes 
akin to his high school film after 
not being able to practice much 
a year ago. Luke Schoonmaker, a 

three-star in the same class, was 
also mentioned by Moore when 
asked about the Wolverines’ young 
tight ends.
But no matter to whom that 
question was posed, Erick All’s 
name was the prevailing response.
All, a four-star early enrollee 
from Fairfield, Ohio, possesses 
many of the pass-catching skills 
that Michigan lost in Gentry, 
regularly 
practicing 
with 
the 
Wolverines’ wide receivers. When 
freshman 
quarterback 
Cade 
McNamara 
wooed 
Michigan 
Stadium with a perfect deep ball at 
Saturday’s open practice, it was All 
on the receiving end.
And Tuesday afternoon, when 
asked about the tight ends’ role 
in a crowded receiving corps, 
Moore tossed out a comparison to 
freshman receiver Mike Sainstrill, 
the star of spring ball.
“The 
young 
guys, 
young 
receivers, people talked about 
Mikey (Sainstrill), people talked 
about (sophomore) Ronnie Bell,” 
Moore said. “But especially Mikey 
and Erick (All), those guys have 
really stepped up for being kids 
fresh out of high school.”
Of course, all of this is just talk 
shrouded in the reputation that 
is Michigan’s signature offseason 
optimism, and the extent to which 
the public has seen Shea Patterson 
without Gentry came in a handful of 
7-on-7 drills on Saturday.
But with five months until 
kickoff, it sure beats the alternative.

EVAN AARON/Daily
Junior tight end Sean McKeon will be counted on to help replace Zach Gentry.

THEO MACKIE
Daily Sports Writer

He said ‘This is 
not my offense, 
this is our 
offense.’

