The thought still makes Travis Tannahill shake his head a little.
Could Kansas State’s senior tight end become a consistent target in the passing game?
“I don’t know,” he said. “I have no idea how many catches I had last year. Winning games is more important to me. I’m perfectly good blocking.”
But the Wildcats might be better using
Tannahill for more.
Tannahill has played in 38 career games and started 16 in the past two seasons. He has a grand total of 19 catches, 10 of them coming last season. He has had two catches in a game only once in his career.
So his hands have not earned him playing time. It’s been his willingness to get his 6-3, 253-pound frame into the correct position to block.
But a funny thing happened in spring camp. The solid, consistent Tannahill was the talk of film sessions … for his highlight catches?
“Some ridiculous catches this spring,” center B.J. Finney said.
The change was a product of many factors, Tannahill said. One was his health. After surgery following the 2010 season, Tannahill felt “out of shape and beat up physically” for much of 2011.
“I feel a lot faster and stronger now,” he said.
But Tannahill’s receiving progress might have just as much to do with quarterback Collin Klein. Still adjusting to quarterback last season, Klein’s passing attempts tended to be all-or-nothing deep routes to keep the defense honest.
That’s not the case anymore.
“Collin’s a lot better, comfort wise,” Tannahill said. “His understanding of the offense has grown.”
And that includes a willingness to throw intermediate and short touch passes that require accuracy, the types of routes a skilled tight end can run.
“You have seen a lot more of that now,” coach Bill Snyder said.
But the spring game reminded Tannahill that having his hands ready is only one change in an evolving offense. As Klein attempted 56 passes in the spring game, Tannahill realized how much it required him to run all over the field.
While it was fun to catch five balls for
42 yards, he almost longed for a couple of more plays where he just hit the guy in front of him.
“It’s a lot of fun running around, though,” he said. “In the first half, we were throwing the ball around a ton. Ideally, we would like to have
a balanced offense, but it’s good to know we have those capabilities.”