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MARSHALL SPORTS
Tight ends are a strong spot for Herd
Marshall tight ends coach Phil Ratliff interacts with players during drills on the teams first day of practice Tuesday, August 5, 2008, at Joan C. Edwards Stadium.
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HUNTINGTON -- Ideally, tight end personnel won't reveal Marshall University's offensive hand.
Talent certainly isn't an issue with tight ends coach Phil Ratliff's group. Cody Slate is the Thundering Herd's leading receiver two seasons running and was a 2007 All-Conference USA selection. The speedy junior arguably is the team's most talented player and a candidate for national awards.
Lee Smith blends top shelf tight end size (6-foot-6, 258 pounds) with athleticism. After catching two passes as a redshirt freshman, Smith turned a corner with a breakout spring practice performance.
Maurice Graham is an intriguing unknown, but patience will be required with the junior college transfer. The 6-5, 306-pound junior experienced his first NCAA Division I-A spring drills on crutches following ankle surgery and continues to work into football shape.
From Ratliff's perspective, the No. 1 priority of preseason practice -- which opened Tuesday under overcast skies -- is developing diversity. For all of Slate's gaudy statistics compiled in just two seasons (109 catches, 1,502 yards, 11 TD), he remains committed to evolving into a complete tight end. Smith is refining his blocking and passing game abilities and Graham is working toward earning practice time.
Following are capsule breakdowns of one of Marshall's most talented positions, courtesy of Ratliff.
- CODY SLATE: "Cody is exceptional speed-wise," Ratliff said. "He's as fast as any tight end you would see. He's actually naturally able to read things on the field -- reading coverages -- and he's improved that tremendously the last two years.
- LEE SMITH: "If you're going to carve out what a tight end is supposed to look like he's what they're supposed to look like," Ratliff said of the sophomore. "He's a very, very motivated intense person and he's got his goals set. He's working very hard and I've been very pleased with his progress over spring.
- MAURICE GRAHAM: "He's very athletic to be as big as he is," Ratliff said of Graham, who received scholarship offers from Arizona State, Michigan State and California. "He's not got the top end speed of Cody, but he's got soft hands. He's athletic.
"He's a very gifted athlete and recently, this last spring ball he's improved his blocking skills, so he's not only a threat in the passing game. We can rely on his blocking abilities a little bit more as well."
The 6-4, 228-pound junior again was the offense's most dynamic and productive threat last season, totaling 818 yards and five touchdowns on 66 receptions. Slate has added weight for a second straight offseason without compromising his breakaway speed.
"For myself I just want to keep getting better," Slate said. "I don't have any exact goals, just as long as I progress from last year.
"For team goals, we need to get to a bowl game this year. If we do that, I'll be much happier with that than any individual goals.
"He's obviously a threat in the passing game with his size. He doesn't have the speed of a Cody Slate, but obviously he runs well. And he uses his size to his advantage.
"He has big hands and what I was really pleased with him during spring was how far he came in the running game. He's very physical in the blocking game."
Smith also appears well served by self-motivation. His stellar spring was highlighted by a tough catch over the middle during the Green-White Game, but the play ended with a fumble while Smith struggled to gain extra yards. Following the spring finale, Smith spoke of the turnover in lieu of a month's worth of progress.
"There's no doubt he's very hard on himself," Ratliff said. "He puts enough pressure on himself, so he can take what I give him and then some mentally."
That self-induced pressure has carried into preseason practice.
"This is definitely the year that I need to do something," Smith said. "I was kind of a puppy last year being a redshirt freshman. This is the year where I need to contribute to the team a little more.
"I think, as an individual, it's been my best offseason and I think as a team it's definitely been the best since I've been here."
"He's just been cleared this summer so he's out of shape right now so I'm anxious to get a good look at him and get him in shape.
"He seems to be a guy that's also motivated. He's a big target and he brings athleticism as well so we just have to get him in shape in a hurry."
Bottom line, the trio affords Ratliff and first-year offensive coordinator John Shannon options. Defenses necessarily can't read pass when Slate lines up; run plays can't be assumed with Smith and Graham.
"It complements what coach Shannon does," Ratliff said. "He's always been a believer in the tight end and moving them around and getting mismatches."
Best case scenario for Marshall's offense, two- and even three-tight end formations can work their way into Shannon's playbook, adding to opponent's guessing games.
"I hope that's the plan," Slate said. "I want to be on the field as much as possible, and I'm sure the other two tight ends do too. With Lee we're starting to know what to expect from him and we just have to see what Maurice has. From what I hear from his JUCO experience he's a real good tight end so if we can get all three tight ends on the field that would be wonderful."
