Bad news comes in bunches, and Pitt received more today on Tyler Sear per a report from Pittsburgh Sports Now
.@PghSportsNow sources: #Pitt TE Tyler Sear is leaving the football team.https://t.co/deDmrz61OR pic.twitter.com/6z08wQZJWX
— Alan Saunders (@ASaunders_PGH) October 10, 2018
Both Alan Saunders and Chris Peak followed up that a Pitt official had announced Sear had left the team for personal reasons.
The official word is that #Pitt sophomore TE Tyler Sear has taken leave from the team for personal reasons. His return is unknown.
— Chris Peak (@PantherLair) October 10, 2018
Pittsburgh Sports Now has reported Sear left the team after a disagreement with head coach Pat Narduzzi over the use of the tight ends in the offense. However, Brian Batko was told it did not have to do with his role on the team.
Starting tight end Tyler Sear has left the Pitt football team midseason, with the program citing personal reasons. I'm told it has nothing to do with his role, despite his 1 reception in 6 games. His future is up in the air, but I don't see him returning: https://t.co/KJr0vUZnzh
— Brian Batko (@BrianBatko) October 10, 2018
If you’ll remember, Pitt had a decommittment from a tight end a week ago that cited use of tight ends in the offense.
It’s easy to crush Pitt offensive coordinator Shawn Watson on this, but it might be a case of the chicken or the egg. Is it that Pitt doesn’t use tight ends in its offense, or that the tight ends aren’t good enough in the passing game to use? Pitt has also struggled in pass protection, and offensive line coach Borbely actually mentioned that one of the sacks Pitt gave up on Saturday could be attributed to Tyler Sear. Sear also had a drop of a shovel pass during the game as well. Overall, the tight ends have 6 catches for only 45 yards through 6 games.
I truly don’t know if it’s the offense or the skill of the players, but in either case Pitt isn’t using tight ends, and their depth is now really dire. The need to get two tight ends in the upcoming recruiting class became even more important than it was before.