Like many of you, I often seem to forget that pass catching TEs exist in our offense - particularly since Richard Dickson graduated. This position can play a pivotal role in keeping defenses honest, mostly by creating mismatches in coverage and/or giving the QB a "safety valve" option when going through his progressions.

Nevertheless, in the last 5 years, our TEs have essentially been transformed into "pass-eligible tackles" - rarely releasing from the LOS to try to get open downfield. While these guys have been instrumental in providing an extra blocker in the run game, their lack of production in the receiving game can be incredibly frustrating.

It is not like we have recruited duds at the position in the last 5 years. For instance, in 2010, we signed 4* Travis Dickson and 3* Nic Jacobs (eventually dismissed from the team). In 2012, we signed 3* Dillon Gordon. In 2013, we signed 4* DeSean Smith and 3* Logan Stokes (JUCO); and last year, we signed 4* Jacory Washington and 3* Colin Jeter (JUCO).

Although some of these guys were signed primarily as blockers (Gordon, Stokes, Jeter), the more "receiving-type" TEs have been sparingly utilized. What exactly is it that has inhibited the development of our TEs in the receiving game? Bad QB play? Maybe. But even during Mett's time at LSU, the TEs were hardly ever targeted.

One probability is the TE coach, Steve Ensminger. I just looked at the collective TE receiving statistics from 2010-present, and was shocked at the numbers. I knew that TEs were rarely used in our passing game, but to see the actual numbers was eye-opening. Below are the 5-year totals:

2010
Deangelo Peterson, 16 rec., 199 yards, 0 TD
Mitch Joseph, 5 rec., 51 yards, 0 TD
Chase Clement, 2 rec., 42 yards, 0 TD
TOTAL: 23 rec., 292 yards, 0 TD

2011
Deangelo Peterson, 18 rec., 181 yards, 1 TD
Chase Clement, 7 rec., 96 yards, 1 TD
Travis Dickson, 1 rec., 10 yards, 0 TD
Mitch Joseph, 2 rec., 9 yards, 1 TD
TOTAL: 28 rec., 296 yards, 3 TD

2012
Travis Dickson, 6 rec., 73 yards, 0 TD
Nic Jacobs, 5 rec., 58 yards, 0 TD
Chase Clement, 5 rec., 51 yards, 0 TD
TOTAL: 16 rec., 182 yards, 0 TD

2013
Travis Dickson, 5 rec., 109 yards, 0 TD
Dillon Gordon, 6 rec., 88 yards, 0 TD
DeSean Smith, 1 rec., 14 yards, 0 TD
TOTAL: 12 rec., 211 yards, 0 TD

2014
Travis Dickson, 7 rec., 60 yards, 0 TD
Logan Stokes, 1 rec., 3 yards, 1 TD
TOTAL: 8 rec., 63 yards, 1 TD

5-YEAR TOTAL: 87 rec., 1044 yards, 4 TD

The number that stands out to me most is the 4 touchdowns. Our TEs have averaged less than 1 TD per year since Ensminger's arrival at LSU. For a position that should thrive in the red zone, this statistic is pretty bad. I really hope that this begins to change in the next year or so, especially with DeSean Smith and Jacory Washington coming up in the mix. For a guy that collects a $310,000 salary - one of the highest in the nation for a TEs coach - I'd like to see a little bit more production from his group, especially in the red zone.