Instant Reaction | Tremble Declares for the Draft

Notre Dame tight end Tommy Tremble has declared for the NFL Draft.

It might have been unexpected to some who are only thinking about production in the passing game. It seemed likely for those who understand a player like Tommy Tremble’s value to NFL teams.

I wasn’t surprised to see Tremble elect to enter the NFL Draft.

http://instagr.am/p/CJw1nKJhH0M

Anyone who has watched him knows he has a unique skill set that is different than any tight end Notre Dame has had in recent memory. It’s exactly that which makes him an intriguing NFL prospect.

He’s a hybrid player in every way. He can line up in multiple positions and that flexibility made him a weapon for the Irish this past season.

Last February I wrote about Notre Dame utilizing Tremble the way the San Francisco 49ers deploy Kyle Juzsyck and that’s exactly what Tommy Rees did with Tremble this season. Tremble had the highest run blocking grade at the tight end position on PFF. He was used as a lead blocker on counters, as a fullback running isolation plays, and in-line handling defensive ends. They could line him up in the slot out wide to block in the screen game.

His 19 receptions will be easy to replace. Replacing his Swiss Army Knife ability as a blocker will be much more difficult.

Michael Mayer is certainly athletic enough to do some of what Tremble did in the running game. Notre Dame did use him similarly at times and his role should expand even more as a sophomore. He’s not yet the blocker Tremble is and is such a unique weapon as a receiver that I’m not sure if Notre Dame will ask him to expend the same amount of energy Tremble did as a blocker. No one would want to see that take away from being a priority target on 3rd downs.

I still expect to see the Irish offense use multiple tight ends on the field at the same time with Mayer, George Takacs, and Kevin Bauman. This opens up an opportunity for Mitchell Evans or Cane Berrong to come in and play in their first season as well.

We may see a little bit less 12 and 13 this season without Tremble, though.

Notre Dame will always be fine at tight end because of the way they recruit, but not having Tremble will make the offense a little less versatile and likely a lot less nasty. I think he has a very bright future in the NFL. He was fantastic at Notre Dame in his short time there and they will miss him as a tone-setter for the offense.