Mike Owen plays tight end, but he’s often an extension of the offensive line lining up next to an offensive tackle. At 6-foot-4 and 251 pounds, the senior is an integral part of Syracuse University’s run game and pass protection schemes. The reason: Not many men of that size have his athleticism.

This week against a brutal South Florida pass rush, he’ll be doing exactly that. Here’s what the senior had to say about his role in the offense:

The Daily Orange: How would you define your role in offensive coordinator Rob Spence’s offense?

Mike Owen: ‘I’m more of a traditional tight end. I do a lot of blocking. Blocking is what I do. I’ll run routes, but I take more of the blocking responsibility. And also, just being a leader on the offense. I try to do everything, but blocking is my main thing.’

Have there been more multi-tight end sets under new offensive coordinator Rob Spence?

MO: ‘We get moved around a lot. We’re on the line, we’re split out, we’re in the slot, we’re in the backfield. So we move around a lot to different places. I do all of that, but mostly I’m on the line.

Would you like to go out for more passes?

MO: ‘No, I’ll just do anything to help the team. My biggest strength is blocking. So if one tight end will be blocking and another one will be going out, I’ll say I like to block. Whatever the coaches need me to do, I’ll do.’

Do you pride yourself on this type of role, somewhat flying under the radar?

MO: ‘I appreciate just blocking. The linemen don’t get a whole lot of credit for all the blocking that they do. The guys that put up the stats get looked at. But linemen are the biggest part in all of that. I know I could go out and run routes all the time, but I like to block and help protect (quarterback) Greg (Paulus), so he can get the ball off.’

How important is that for this week, considering South Florida’s defensive ends?

MO: ‘It’s going to be very important. I have a lot of confidence in the offensive line that they’re going to hold up. I might have to stay in sometimes to help contain these defensive ends because they’re very fast and very athletic.’

So in your film preparation, what are you looking at in the pass rush and the secondary?

MO: ‘I’ll watch the defensive ends and the linebackers. It’s a great team. They have a lot of speed and a lot of athleticism. It’s important for us to hit our targets and make some plays.’

How do you neutralize their speed?

MO: ‘You just have to fire off, and hit your target. You take one false step and it’s going to hurt you because they’ll blow right past you. We have to make sure we have great technique and great fundamentals out there.’

You came to Syracuse as a linebacker and moved to tight end. What are some similarities and differences with the positions?

MO: ‘Defense, you fly around and smack people. That’s what I’ve tried to bring to the offense when I’m blocking. Just fire off, hit people and bring that defensive mentality. The defensive mentality is just aggressive, fast and hitting. It’s a different mentality. It’s hard to describe.’

Do you ever wonder what it would have been like if you stayed at linebacker?

MO: ‘Sometimes when I’m sitting around, I wonder what I would have done. But I’m grateful for everything that’s happened.’

What has been your focus this week in preparing for South Florida?

MO: ‘Go out there, be the leader on the offense and make sure everybody is ready to go. Go out there and block, run my routes and help this team win.’

Have you ever seen a defensive end like George Selvie and have to help out in blocking?

MO: ‘I’ve gone against Selvie for the past two years since I’ve been playing tight end. So I’ve seen him play. He’s a great player. I went against a good end last year against Cincinnati in Connor Barwin. He got drafted. He was a great end. So in the Big East, I’ve seen some good ends. I remember going against Jameel McClain in practice all the time and now you know what he’s doing in the NFL.’

Do you have to take on ends one-on-one sometimes?

MO: ‘Sometimes you do because we’re more athletic than the tackle. So it helps against better pass rushers and speed rushers. We can get our hands on them quicker. Going against guys like George Selvie and guys like Aaron Maybin in the past, it’s sometimes better to have a tight end once in a while take on the defensive end.’

What was the key with Selvie?

MO: ‘Just getting on him as quick as possible. You can’t sit there and play around with him. He’s fast. He’ll blow right past you in a heartbeat. You just want to get on him as fast as possible.’

Can you simulate that speed in practice?

MO: ‘It’s hard to simulate that right now because he’s in a higher class. He’ll be a first-round draft pick, All-American, one of the fastest defensive ends in the nation. So it’s hard to simulate what it is. You just work on technique and stuff so when it comes to game time, you’re ready. If you get beat, you see what you need to do and get better.’

thdunne@syr.edu

Published on October 1, 2009 at 12:00 pm