MORGANTOWN - That Tyler Urban's role in West Virginia's offense has changed is plain to see.

There's a huge difference between playing tight end in an offense that seemed to ignore the position and slot receiver in a pass-friendly scheme.

There's a lot more to it, though, than just where Urban lines up and his vastly increased chances of catching thrown balls in Dana Holgorsen's offense. He's had a big adjustment to make, too, in blocking - both mentally and physically.

"During spring ball it was a lot for me. They [the defenders he had to block] were a lot shiftier,'' Urban said. "The best thing to do is when you get out there you have to relax a little bit and just focus. You don't just rush out there because they're going to do some quick maneuver to get around you.''

Here's the deal: When Urban was lined up next to an offensive tackle in a three-point stance, his blocking responsibilities were generally confined to a defensive end or a linebacker. Generally it was a pretty even match because those guys tend to be in the same stature range as the 6-foot-5, 251-pound Urban.

Now he's lined up typically 10 yards away from the tackle, running routes. Out there are usually safeties, linebackers quick enough to be in coverage or even cornerbacks.

None of them are in a three-point stance within whisper range, as was the case at tight end.

"I had a couple conversations with him about it and in the spring it was probably an adjustment,'' inside receivers coach Shannon Dawson said. "He even told me a couple of times how much tougher it was to block out there in open space than inside with your hand on the ground where [the defender] is right there over you. But blocking at receiver is a lot about effort, and Tyler gives great effort.''

Urban has also found that his former perceptions about what it was receivers did in terms of blocking were wrong.

"I used to complain to them during camp because I had to run and block linemen. They were just out there, maybe blocking a corner every once in a while,'' Urban said. "But Coach Holgorsen, he likes the contact. He doesn't like you [using cut blocks]. He wants you to stay up and get after them.''

There's a lot of blocking to be done out there, too, on running plays, screens and downfield after the ball is thrown. Unlike at tight end, Urban and the other wideouts have to search out a blocking victim rather than having the defender come at them.

"But the thing about blocking out there is you don't have to have a killer block to be successful,'' Dawson said. "The ball carrier just has to be able to make a play. You just can't get beat, totally beat.''

Of course, blocking style isn't the only adjustment for Urban as he morphs into something he probably never envisioned - a target. In his three years at West Virginia, virtually all of them as the team's top tight end - he has started just 14 of his 37 career games, but that's because most of the time there was no tight end in the starting lineup - Urban has caught just 17 passes. For the record, that's less than one catch every two games. He caught two touchdown passes as a freshman and one in his 24 games since then.

"Sometimes last year you were surprised if the ball was coming to you,'' Urban said. "Now, you have to be prepared at all times. If you run your routes well, you know you're going to have an opportunity to catch a ball.''

Urban will have those chances. He will likely be part of a rotation of receivers that numbers eight to 10 - he'll also occasionally line up as a tight end - and everyone brings something different. For instance, Urban is playing essentially the same position as Tavon Austin, even though Urban is eight inches taller and 75 pounds heavier. Ditto Wake Forest transfer Devon Brown, who is only slightly bigger than Austin but is playing behind Urban.

"You don't want to be handcuffed at one slot having all big guys because there are times in every game where that guy has got to get down the field,'' Dawson said. "That's why we have a bigger guy and a smaller guy, to adjust to whatever defenses are doing.''

Sometimes those vastly different body types run the same routes, sometimes not.

"The routes we run are different,'' Urban said. "I tend to do a lot of almost post-ups - 5-yard routes while maybe he'll beat [the defense] over the top. But we can switch, too. It's two different styles, two different bodies and together I guess we work well.''

Of course, from that blocking perspective there's quite the difference to a defender in having the 176-pound Austin or the 251-pound Urban out in the open field. Has Urban ever just flat-out whiffed on a smaller defender out there?

"Oh, I'm sure I have,'' Urban said. "But once you get on one of them it's a lot easier than moving a 300-pound defensive end. Then again, you're out there in the wide-open spaces, so it's harder to get away with some things - a little jab or a little hold or something.''

Reach Dave Hickman at 304-348-1734 or dphickm...@aol.com.