Film Review: Texas Bowl

Trey’Dez Green has a long road ahead, but the end of it looks exciting

Bowl games aren’t what they used to be, but consequence-free game reps to examine potentially important pieces are far from meaningless. For several guys that started the Texas Bowl, LSU’s coaches had only practice and garbage time tape to go on, which creates a degree of unknown you’d like to avoid. A full month of preparation and gameplan integration as a starter, as well as the opportunity to do some skill development that can’t be done during the breakneck pace of the season, is something that has had a major impact on plenty of developing players in the new bowl landscape. For instance, the opt-outs of Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson allowed Marvin Harrison Jr, who had a limited role in his freshman season, to formally assume a starting role with proper runway and show Ohio State what they had to work with.

Some guys take longer than others to develop, and some positions take longer by nature to develop. When you look at a guy like Trey’Dez Green, he fits both categories. Tight End is a heavily developmental position, and Green is nowhere near ready to play it in a full-time role. Additionally, unusual frames and skillsets give some players a longer cook-time than others. He does, however, possess puzzle pieces that if/when properly assembled, will display the image of a star TE. The Texas Bowl was LSU’s opportunity to see where he’s at and force him into the deep end of the pool.

He’s already starting to come along well as a route runner. You can see his natural movement skills and how smooth he is in and out of breaks. He has a natural quickness to him and with more development he should be a big weapon in the intermediate.

His frame is going to make him a prime low-red zone target as well. This has always been a key area to excel for Tight Ends. The windows here are most contested and the ability to not only go up for balls but make catches in traffic is paramount, as is your feel for space. As essential aspects of pass-catching for TEs, this is naturally where the position really shows up. Green has the potential to go above and beyond that with his basketball background, 6’7”stature, and ultra-long arms. If nothing else, he’ll be a monster TD target.

Moving on to the real Tight End aspects, this was where it gets rough. As a blocker on the line, Green struggled, his technique is nowhere near developed.

As you can see, his base is under him instead of behind him, which prevents him from anchoring and driving against the defender. He ends up off-balance and driven into the pullers by the DE’s initial strike.

Mackey winner Tyler Warren demonstrates how this particular block, on this particular run scheme (counter strong or ‘Trey”), is supposed to look, as well as the importance it has. Blocking takes time and is all about technique if you’re big enough, so it’s not a worry I have if they spend the proper time on it. The thing I’m encouraged by is his effort level. Everything else can be developed, but Green worked hard, got his nose in there, and showed a willingness that has me excited.

The effort was most visible in how well he understood his assignments even when they got muddy. He’s quick here in picking up the blitzing LB (2) off the edge, who becomes his new assignment instead of doubling down to help the tackle and climbing to 2 which is what he’d initially do. Pressure pickups in the run game are important but tricky for someone without a lot of experience in a primary blocking role, so I was impressed by how hard Green studied. We can work with this.

The TE’s role in the passing game extends beyond the routes and catches. You need to be part of protections when needed as well. Sometimes you need to stay in, and sometimes you need to chip the edge and release like he does here. He could have done a bit better job displacing the rush path but he gets out with proper timing and presents an outlet for Nussmeier. Overall he displayed a real commitment to playing the position the way LSU needs him to.

Greener Pastures

Green is going to need a big offseason if he’s going to step into a bigger role next year, and it will be totally understandable if he needs another year to develop. He’s not nearly athletic and explosive enough to play WR full time, so he’ll have to become a real Tight End, for which he has a dream physical and athletic profile. He’s only 245 in a 6’7” frame, which means he’ll need to put on about 20 pounds to get to the body he needs. You can see in some of his blocking snaps that the strength isn’t where it needs to be. He isn’t even close to maxed out physically though, and that extra weight will be easy to add (especially in Louisiana, LSU can find the nation’s ultimate weight-room advantage in kitchens across Baton Rouge), without impacting his movement. He’ll develop his technique as a blocker, and he’ll become more comfortable in his body, more comfortable with college defenders, and more refined as a route runner. In the end, I can easily see someone who stretches the middle of the field, dominates in the seams and red zone, and uses his overwhelming reach and mass to handle DEs at the point of attack. At 6’7”, 265. (where he should end up), and athletic, you have S-Tier traits that are hard to contend with for college defenses. When you combine these raw materials and Brian Kelly’s history of developing PROPER Tight Ends, there are hopefully exciting times ahead for LSU’s most unique freak of nature.