Tight ends provide triple threat
One of the most important and often overlooked positions on the
football field is tight end, but this season the Rams’ tight ends
are looking to be seen and heard.
At 6-foot-3-inches and 249 pounds, Matt Bartz, a two-year
letterman, is the returning starter at tight end for CSU.
Last season, Bartz led the tight ends in receiving, grabbing 23
receptions for 331 yards (fourth most receiving yards on the team)
and a touchdown. He also caught a fourth-down pass to set up the
game-winning field goal last year at California. Bartz will be seen
as a leader on this team, even as a junior, bringing 23 consecutive
starts and 24 total.
“I’m trying to take on part of the role; we don’t have too many
seniors,” said Bartz following practice Friday. “I got thrown in
the mix right when I got here, so I am one of the most experienced
as far as game time goes.”
Senior Joel Dreessen starts at the H-back position, but he is
versatile enough to play tight end as well.
Last season Dreessen pulled down 29 catches for 323 yards, good
enough for third in receiving on the team and three touchdowns
while earning second team all-conference honors.
“I knew I was going to be asked to be a versatile player in a
very demanding offense,” Dreessen said. “I love it. The more I can
do, the better.”
Clint Oldenburg is backing up Bartz at the tight end position
and looks to give the Rams a bright future. The 6-foot-5-inch,
255-pound sophomore has been playing offensive line as well during
two-a-days and played a backup role in 2003.
“I’ve been an offensive lineman for two weeks now, but I feel
like I’ve done well. I’m kind of beat up, but the mental
preparation for me comes easy,” Oldenburg said, following the final
two-a-day practice on Friday.
The tight end’s duties do not end with getting into the open
field, catching and running with the ball, either. This position
also involves standing toe-to-toe with 250- to 300-pound defensive
linemen and trying to push them backwards to make holes for the
running backs and quarterback.
“It’s pretty physically demanding. We are expected to block some
defensive linemen who weigh close to 300 pounds,” Bartz said. “Over
the years I have learned that it doesn’t matter how much they
outweigh us, it’s the effort that gets it done.”
The tight ends have also had to make some minor adjustments to
new starting quarterback Justin Holland, who took over for Bradlee
Van Pelt.
“Pretty much the same offense that we ran last year, less
options and QB draws,” Dreessen said. “But no adjustments, just
getting better every day.”
With the end of two-a-day practices, the last few weeks have
helped these players find their fit and fitness as the regular
season approaches. It marked the first year of a new NCAA rule that
only allows two-a-day practices every other day. Nevertheless, the
Rams maintain a hard-work attitude.
“That’s what it’s all about,” said Bartz. “Being a tight end,
you just have to outwork people.”
Pull quote- “It’s pretty physically demanding, we are expected
to block some defensive linemen who weigh close to 300 pounds. Over
the years I have learned that it doesn’t matter how much they
outweigh us, it’s the effort that gets it done.”
Matt Bartz, junior tight end
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