James Lang | US PressWire

Virginia Tech tight end Greg Boone has seen his number of receptions decline this season over a year ago.

BLACKSBURG -- At 6 feet 3, 283 pounds, it's hard to miss Greg Boone.

That said, the mammoth tight end has been somewhat of an MIA member of Virginia Tech's improved offensive attack in the season's first seven games.

At least, that's what the numbers say. Boone has caught only five passes for 52 yards and no touchdowns, a precipitous falloff from last season, when he was the team's third-leading receiver with 22 receptions for 276 yards and two touchdowns in 14 games.

"We've talked about it as a staff," Hokies offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring said Saturday. "We've felt like it's been a disappointing aspect of our offense right now is we haven't gotten Greg involved like we wanted to. Certainly, it is not that we're not trying to."

Boone, who is about as easy to tackle as hauling down a Brahma bull, said he hopes he can get the ball in his hands so he can run over a few more defenders before his college career closes. Undoubtedly, the Lane Stadium faithful would go for that. The Hokie fans love exhaling "Boooooone!" in unison when the big fellow blows up somebody or shrugs off would-be tacklers like they were mere rag dolls.

"I mean, I like getting the ball," said Boone, a first-team All-ACC selection in preseason media balloting. "It gets to me sometimes, but it's what the game plan calls for in certain weeks. Yeah, it bothers me, but I'm just going with the team concept. So we just take it how we get it."

Certainly, it's not because Stinespring doesn't like his tight ends. The biggest reason why Boone, plus backups Andre Smith and Sam Wheeler, haven't been as active in the passing game is because they've been involved a lot more in pass protection and run blocking this season, Stinespring said.

"We've brought our tight ends into protection quite a bit this year, to be able to half-roll the quarterback [Tyrod Taylor], to be able to change the launch point, part of that is being able to get your tight ends to secure an edge," Stinespring said.

"Although their number of catches have gone down and touches in terms of receptions, they've enabled us to be more efficient throwing the ball. They don't get enough credit for that."

The improvement of Tech's wide receivers also has played a part in the tight ends getting a smaller slice of the pie so far. Guys like Jarrett Boykin, Danny Coale, Dyrell Roberts and Xavier Boyce have picked up their performances immensely.

"The way our receivers are playing, obviously, the ball has been getting spread out to them a little bit more," Stinespring said. "We're getting the ball to our tailbacks out of the backfield a little bit more, so it's getting spread out a little bit more.

"Last year, we moved our tight ends around ... they were our third receiver ... when we got into a third-receiver set they became our third receiver. Now we line up with three receivers or four receivers, that's come back also. Your receivers have grown, your receivers have started to make a lot of plays, there's a confidence level in the way our quarterback and our receivers are working well together, so that's also taken some of the touches [Boone] would normally get."

From the sounds of things, Boone's touches might be on the rise soon. Stinespring said that his offense's "Wild Turkey" set -- in which big Boone takes the ball in the shotgun and powers into defenses -- may resurface soon. Boone carried the ball 21 times for 76 yards and a touchdown last season in the scheme.

"A big part of that was because Greg wasn't healthy ... and we didn't rep it a whole lot," said Stinespring of Boone, who missed the second game against Marshall with a sprained SC joint -- the connection between the sternum to the collarbone.

"As he's gotten healthier, with the running of [tailback] Ryan Williams and Tyrod being able to the run the ball, and with Josh Oglesby, we haven't really put a lot of time into it. It's something you've got to put a whole lot of time into it in order to have any type of success with it. We've repped it more the last couple weeks and we'll continue to do so, and, hopefully, get it back in the swing of things."

Sounds like music to Boone.

"I miss it," he said. "I mean that was a good part of our offense, so I miss it.

"But that said, I'll keep doing the dirty work, too. I'm fine with it. I'm a team player."

Stinespring said he appreciated Boone's attitude.

"He hasn't sat around and moped a lot about it," Stinespring said. "I think he understands. Does he want to have a more viable role in the passing game? Absolutely. Because it seems like every time he catches it something positive happens and there's a bunch of people trying to drag him to the ground."

"I think he's a tremendous weapon ... I think he's been a viable part and he still is," Stinespring said. "It's a hidden commodity, so to speak ... he's actively involved in lot of the end-result plays, whether it's run blocking, whether it's helping us in pass protection.

"It's not the number of catches right now that's really sticking out to us, it's some of the other things that he's doing that's enabled us to move the ball. Yet, that doesn't get any statistic, doesn't get any name in the paper, but it's every bit as important as every catch he's made."

Boone has the size and speed (4.7 40) to possibly get a strong NFL look next spring. The Virginia Beach native says he's "hopeful" in those regards.

"I don't think [NFL scouts] that come through here don't get caught up in how many times, it's 'can you do it?' " Stinespring said. "He's proven what he's capable of doing, so I think he's got a chance to play at the next level."