 |
 |
By Craig Sanders
Arizona Daily Wildcat
October 25, 1996
Mike Metzler was taught how to play football the hard way - by his older brother.
When Metzler was a child growing up near Fresno, Calif., his brother was on his way to a college career at Fresno State. The youngest of four children, Metzler often followed in his siblings' footsteps, and football was no different. Every time Metzler's brother tackled him in the grass, he bounced back up, gritted his teeth and accepted the challenge.
Metzler played at Clovis High School in California and found himself in the shadows of teammate Keith Poole, now a receiver at Arizona State. Poole emerged as the star, catching numerous touchdown passes, while Metzler was stuck blocking on the line. Yet every time Poole scored, Metzler gritted his teeth and accepted the challenge.
Metzler, a senior, walked on to the Wildcats in 1992, playing a limited role during his freshman season. In 1993 he transferred to a community college before returning to Arizona. This season, Arizona coaches moved Metzler from tight end, where he had played since seventh grade, to fullback before the game against Washington State on Oct. 5.
Metzler, who has shared time with sophomore Mike Lucky at tight end, just gritted his teeth and accepted the challenge.
In his career, Metzler has become used to being overshadowed and underscored. Yet because of it all, he has evolved into one of the best tight ends in the Pacific 10 Conference.
"I want to fill in wherever I'm needed," said Metzler, who has 12 catches this season. "I'm the kind of guy willing to do whatever it takes to win."
Metzler has quickly become one of the Wildcats' biggest threats this season. He is second on the team in receptions, behind injured wideout Richard Dice, and is tied with Dice for the team lead in touchdown receptions with two.
Whether it's blocking, running passing routes, playing in two tight-end sets or being used as a backfield threat, Metzler has adapted and played well.
Metzler's biggest adjustment this season may have been his move to fullback. In Arizona's games against Washington State and Southern Cal, he was placed in the backfield in order to offer a pass-catching threat and divert attention away from Dice.
"The adjustment was difficult at first," Metzler said. "I felt out of place during the first couple of plays. I tried to remember my coaching and eventually fit into the groove."
Part of Metzler's move may have been because UA head coach Dick Tomey faces a dilemma every week. Metzler is listed as a backup on the Wildcat depth chart behind Lucky, but both are clearly talented players. In an offense that struggles to gain yards at times, putting your talent on the field is essential.
"Both tight ends are capable," Tomey said. "Both have proven their worth to us and both deserve to play."
Both Metzler and Lucky have received plenty of playing time this season, and at times it seems as if the offensive scheme was designed around the two. The Wildcats have used a two tight-end set often this season, and first-year offensive coordinator Homer Smith is known for utilizing his tight ends.
But both have had to adjust to a running game that relies more on the quarterback's scrambling ability than on a straight-ahead blocking scheme.
"Blocking for Keith (Smith) is a little strange because you always have to be aware of where he is at on the field," Metzler said. "It is exciting though. Whichever quarterback is in there, I feel confident we can move the ball if we can get everything working the way we should. This team will just get better as they understand the entire system."
Metzler is not as certain about his own future. He said he would like to continue to play football, but if that doesn't happen, he would like to work as a cartographer.
"That's my thing," Metzler said. "I guess I'll have to go to work like everybody else."
|
|
|