The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Yale’s Conte getting passing grades in move to tight end
NEW HAVEN — Patrick Conte knew he was venturing into a world full of eyeopening experiences when he made the decision to attend one of the world’s most prestigious universities.
However, never in Conte’s wildest dreams did he envision a scenario where he would lead the Yale football team in receiving yards in the first game of his junior season. Yet, there was the former Fairfield Prep quarterback hauling in all three of his targets for 54 yards in the victory over Holy Cross. When the Bulldogs play host to Cornell in Saturday’s Ivy League opener (1 p.m., ESPN+, WELI960), don’t be surprised to see Conte getting more work in the passing game.
“It was awesome,” Conte said. “There is nothing better than going out with your boys on Saturday and coming away with a W, that is the best feeling out there.”
At first glance it might look as if Yale made the decision to throw the 6foot5, 240pound Newtown native out there to run pass patterns after starting tight end JJ Howland left the Holy Cross game due to injury. The reality, however, is that Conte has been preparing to diversify his offensive role for months. Although he got onto the field as a reserve quarterback in each of the previous two seasons, he knew that Kurt Rawlings was returning for his final season and Ivy League Rookie of the Year Griffin O’Connor is back after twice topping the 400yard passing mark filling in for an injured Rawlings.
“It kind of happened in the offseason when I was grinding and obviously Kurt and Griff are pretty good at what they do so just kind of find a way to get guys on the field,” Conte said. “I’ve got 20 games of football yet to play so let’s go have some fun.”
Conte would not be the first quarterback to switch positions. What makes this story a little more unusual is that he is still considered to be a quarterback who has also worked to learn how to play tight end and receiver.
“He’s a really good athlete,” Yale coach Tony Reno said. “He has been playing quarterback all week, has taken some reps at tight end so we are trying to use him in a multitude of ways. I think you will see him at a variety of positions, you will see him flexed out, see him in the backfield, see him at tight end. He is one of those guys who we felt was playing behind two really good players and Pat is too good of a player to be sitting on the bench.”
Conte made it look pretty easy in the season opener when he recorded backtoback catches of 22 and 10 yards on the same drive in the second quarter and set up a touchdown in the third quarter with a 22yard reception. However, the reality is that Conte has been working overtime on the practice field and in the film room as he needs to stay up to date with the game plan at both the quarterback and tight end positions.
“I am in and out of multiple meeting rooms trying to get my fill in,” Conte said. “If I am in with the tight end coaches, I have to go and see Coach (Kevin) Cahill (Yale’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach) at other times to make sure I am fully prepared to play the role I have on Saturday.”
As long as Rawlings and O’Connor are healthy, Conte isn’t likely to see snaps at quarterback for the Bulldogs. However, he certainly could find his way onto the field as a tight end
especially is Howland is unable to take the field.
“It is a little more heavy on the route running because obviously I spent two years playing quarterback already so it is like learning a whole new position,” Conte said. “It is not necessarily what to do, it is how to do it. I know where they are supposed to be playing quarterback but it is how you get there, intricacies of the position so it is a little more time spent route running, blocking and stuff like that.”
Blocking, yes that is a bit of a challenge. A quarterback for his entire football career before this season, Conte hasn’t exactly been asked to throw many blocks in past years.
“We talk about it a lot, at the end of the day it is a mentality, mano a mano,” Conte said. “Are you going to get in his way? Are you going to do your job and do what you can and give everything to your teammates? Obviously the form, the intricacies of that is going to come with time the more I play it but right now it is can you get in there, stick your nose in there.”