One-Play One-on-One: Zach Gentry
[Upchurch]
The broadcast angle kind of cut out what happened at the top of your route. Did the linebacker get his feet tangled or did you break at the right time, or what happened there to the guy with inside leverage? Did he go to jam you and fall?
“Yeah, exactly. I think if I remember correctly what happened was I pushed upfield and made an inside move and kind of broke him off a little bit and took it underneath.”
For you, what’s different about going against a linebacker in space versus a defensive back?
“Those guys are usually nontraditional cover guys. They’re on their toes more; they’re looking to come downhill, so they’re obviously not as fast. They’re a little more physical but their hips aren’t as loose so it’s a little easier definitely in man coverage.”
Once you make the break, at what point do you know the ball’s coming your way?
“Well, we’re taught as soon as you make the break, get your eyes around. So it came right at me and I kind of had a feeling that I was open so I got my head turned around right away and it was just right there. It was already in the air and it was a perfectly-timed ball by Wilton.”
What led to the decision to keep running toward the sideline instead of turning upfield? Could you feel that bunch of DBs that were back there or were you just going?
“Yeah. When I caught it and turned my head upfield I could see some white jerseys in my peripheral and I knew that they were just going to try to edge me out to the boundary, so I just kept going upfield and Ty got a nice block that I was able to get around and take it to the sidelines.”
Is Ty being there and knowing that you have him on the outside influencing your decision to run that direction, knowing that he can block for you and give you some space?
“Yeah, definitely once I saw his leverage on the defender and saw that his back was to the sideline, I knew he was going to keep him out and I just took it right off his butt.”
Once you get near the sideline and those guys all start to bear down on you, can you see them in your peripheral and feel that or are you just going up the sideline and whatever happens happens?
“You can definitely feel those guys, and there were a bunch of them on that play, too.” [laughs] “I could definitely see that and knew they were closing in pretty fast.”
What helps you most being a former quarterback as a tight end?
“I’d say just being familiar with identifying defenses and the coverages and things of that nature and understanding matchups; like we talked about, tight ends and linebackers and things like that.”
As a tight end, where do you think you’ve made the biggest strides purely in receiving?
“I’d say overall just route running, getting in and out of breaks and my routes. Catching the ball was something that always came a little naturally to me but just working at that.”
September 12th, 2017 at 4:11 PM ^
September 12th, 2017 at 4:14 PM ^
Dude is a monster! I have to say, with that size and athleticism, part of me is still curious to see what he could've done at QB.
September 12th, 2017 at 5:05 PM ^
Maybe someone can enlighten. I'm assuming that when Rudock came in the coaches felt that afterward one of Speight, O'Korn or Morris would pan out. Or was it something like arm strength, mechanics, etc.?
September 12th, 2017 at 7:52 PM ^
September 12th, 2017 at 4:15 PM ^
I'm irrationally excited about his prospects as a receiver this season....especially in the redzone....or really any zone. Match up nightmare.
September 12th, 2017 at 4:19 PM ^
September 12th, 2017 at 10:30 PM ^
September 12th, 2017 at 4:22 PM ^
September 12th, 2017 at 7:56 PM ^
September 12th, 2017 at 4:32 PM ^
Jerame Tuman would box out for balls thrown to the back and side corners of the end-zone. If the ball is placed correctly, the TE is the only person who can get to it. I'd love to see Gentry's length used to do that.
September 12th, 2017 at 4:57 PM ^
When Tuman was playing though, were DBs allowed to push an airborne player out of bounds to prevent a completion like they can now though? Obviously, the ability to push airborne receivers out makes that tactic more difficult. I know they changed the rule in te NFL in the last 10 years, but am not sure about the college rules back then.
September 12th, 2017 at 4:49 PM ^
Throwing to Gentry might be just what Wilt needs.... 6'6" target might be the answer.
September 12th, 2017 at 4:58 PM ^
Gentry listed 6'-7". LOL, the DB's barely come up to his shoulder.
September 12th, 2017 at 11:27 PM ^
September 12th, 2017 at 5:39 PM ^
September 16th, 2017 at 12:18 AM ^
Harbaugh can see the future, because hes been there.
September 12th, 2017 at 6:15 PM ^
Folks out this way are loving this, been a while since Alan Branch. Also was great to see O'maury Samuels of Los Lunas on the field last Saturday.
September 12th, 2017 at 10:21 PM ^
Where in NM are you? I'm on the westside of ABQ. My wife knows Branch, went to high school with him.
September 12th, 2017 at 6:46 PM ^
Does Gentry remind anyone of John Kolesar a little bit? Big target, long stride, deceptively fast, good hands, matchup nightmare.
September 12th, 2017 at 10:47 PM ^
Wasn't Kattus the big guy?
September 12th, 2017 at 6:51 PM ^
It really gets into what the players are thinking on the field, what the scheme is, what they're looking for, etc.. Far less 'surface-y' than a presser
September 12th, 2017 at 7:12 PM ^
September 12th, 2017 at 8:59 PM ^
Great to hear the plays directly from the players perspectives!
September 13th, 2017 at 2:46 AM ^
Gentry reminds me of Reimersma.
Recruited as QB...converted eventually to TE.
Genry could end up having a solid NFL career just like Jay.
GoBlue
September 13th, 2017 at 8:14 AM ^
He really wants to stone the DB, but he realizes that the guy is exposing his back to him, so he freezes and makes sure that the guy can't turn around and make a play.
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