Tight end Tommy Sweeney gives BC offense a big target
Rich Thompson Friday, August 12, 2016
Sophomore Tommy Sweeney has taken the tight-end position off the endangered species list at Boston College.
BC hasn’t produced a significant pass catching tight end since Chris Pantale departed The Heights for a spot on the New York Jets roster in 2012.
Sweeney has the speed and size to give the BC quarterbacks a sticky-fingered target that will open up avenues for the tailbacks and wide receivers.
“The tight end is huge because we block and we catch and we are always going to be a team that runs the football,” said Sweeney during media day at Conte Forum. “That feeds into the play action and stuff and if you can block and catch the ball the defense never really knows exactly what you are going to run.
“Being a big target over the middle opens up things on the outside for fast guys to get around and go deep and come back. In the same vein when they go down the field it opens up the middle for us.”
First-year offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler installed multiple pro set components into the offense. The Eagles became a one-dimensional running attack last year because of injuries at quarterback. Sweeney played in 12 games in 2015 and had five catches for 68 yards.
The tight end plays a huge role in what Loeffler is trying to build. Sweeney has shown he could fill that void.
“I have to be technically sound and I’m not just trying to run by the linebacker and with the defensive backs, you have to use your size with them,” said Sweeney. “I think there have been good tight ends over the years and Pantale was a great player. But we now have a good group that can play the position.”
The 6-foot-5, 258-pound redshirt from Ramsey, N.J., is working with seniors Michael Giacone and Brendan Nosovitch and sophomore Jake Burt to make tight end a relevant option. Lanky wide receiver Charlie Callinan has bulked up to 240 pounds and could be used at tight end or H-back.
“We’ll always play with tight ends here and it’s been a pleasure to be working with this group,” said Loeffler. “I think they are all doing a great job learning the offense and they are going to help us win games on Saturday no question.”
Sweeney made an immediate impression on quarterback Patrick Towles in spring practice. Towles, a graduate transfer from Kentucky, sees the whole field and found Sweeney an inviting target over the middle on short and intermediate routes.
“Tight ends can make a lot of mismatches on defenses and they make my life a heck of a lot easier,” said Towles. “He looks a heck of a lot better now than he did in April, and he looked really good in April.”
Sweeney was incumbent quarterback Darius Wade’s weapon of choice in a Maroon team victory over the White team in the Jay McGillis Memorial spring football game at Alumni Stadium. Sweeney hauled in six Wade passes that he extended with yards after the catch.
“Tight ends are huge regardless of the offense,” said Wade. “I definitely went to him six times, he’s a great big target for me and he’s making plays. He is great but the tight end in general is pretty much ralways a mismatch.
“If that group keeps getting better we are definitely going to do something with that.”
Rich Thompson Friday, August 12, 2016
Sophomore Tommy Sweeney has taken the tight-end position off the endangered species list at Boston College.
BC hasn’t produced a significant pass catching tight end since Chris Pantale departed The Heights for a spot on the New York Jets roster in 2012.
Sweeney has the speed and size to give the BC quarterbacks a sticky-fingered target that will open up avenues for the tailbacks and wide receivers.
“The tight end is huge because we block and we catch and we are always going to be a team that runs the football,” said Sweeney during media day at Conte Forum. “That feeds into the play action and stuff and if you can block and catch the ball the defense never really knows exactly what you are going to run.
“Being a big target over the middle opens up things on the outside for fast guys to get around and go deep and come back. In the same vein when they go down the field it opens up the middle for us.”
First-year offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler installed multiple pro set components into the offense. The Eagles became a one-dimensional running attack last year because of injuries at quarterback. Sweeney played in 12 games in 2015 and had five catches for 68 yards.
The tight end plays a huge role in what Loeffler is trying to build. Sweeney has shown he could fill that void.
“I have to be technically sound and I’m not just trying to run by the linebacker and with the defensive backs, you have to use your size with them,” said Sweeney. “I think there have been good tight ends over the years and Pantale was a great player. But we now have a good group that can play the position.”
The 6-foot-5, 258-pound redshirt from Ramsey, N.J., is working with seniors Michael Giacone and Brendan Nosovitch and sophomore Jake Burt to make tight end a relevant option. Lanky wide receiver Charlie Callinan has bulked up to 240 pounds and could be used at tight end or H-back.
“We’ll always play with tight ends here and it’s been a pleasure to be working with this group,” said Loeffler. “I think they are all doing a great job learning the offense and they are going to help us win games on Saturday no question.”
Sweeney made an immediate impression on quarterback Patrick Towles in spring practice. Towles, a graduate transfer from Kentucky, sees the whole field and found Sweeney an inviting target over the middle on short and intermediate routes.
“Tight ends can make a lot of mismatches on defenses and they make my life a heck of a lot easier,” said Towles. “He looks a heck of a lot better now than he did in April, and he looked really good in April.”
Sweeney was incumbent quarterback Darius Wade’s weapon of choice in a Maroon team victory over the White team in the Jay McGillis Memorial spring football game at Alumni Stadium. Sweeney hauled in six Wade passes that he extended with yards after the catch.
“Tight ends are huge regardless of the offense,” said Wade. “I definitely went to him six times, he’s a great big target for me and he’s making plays. He is great but the tight end in general is pretty much ralways a mismatch.
“If that group keeps getting better we are definitely going to do something with that.”
