CORVALLIS - When the Oregon State football coaches drew up passing game plans in recent seasons, they mostly focused on the wide receivers.

The Beavers had standouts such as Mike Hass, Sammie Stroughter, James Rodgers and Darrell Catchings. Use of the tight end became minimal after Joe Newton left in 2006.

With Catchings out at least a month with a wrist injury, coach Mike Riley knows he must diversify the passing game. That means tight ends must be more involved.

He said that the last two years, too, but judging by the practices in training camp, there's a big push to throw to them this season.

"You are right on saying that's our missing link," Riley said. "If we can break through that way, we'd really present the defense with some problems."

There's a deep group of players rotating in at tight end and H-back with seniors Howard Croom and John Reese, junior Brady Camp and sophomore Joe Halahuni.

They are interchangeable in terms of reliability. However, they've combined for only 55 receptions, 484 yards and six touchdowns the last two years.

Much of their work has involved run blocking or protecting the quarterback on deep passes.

"I like our tight end group and what they give us week to week," Riley said. "We know who they are. They don't change. They are good, solid, hard-working guys who just haven't entered into the passing game as much."

Camp owns the best blocker tag, while Reese is the receiver. Croom has been the official starter the last two years and most versatile, but that's being challenge by Halahuni.

Croom missed more than a week of training camp with a concussion. That allowed Halahuni the extra playing time Riley wanted to see.

"I don't want to put too much on anyone's shoulders, but the guy who has interesting tools I'm going to force the issue on is Halahuni," Riley said. "He's tough and goes and gets the ball. He has a lot of upside with potential that hasn't been reached. He has come a long way and gets better everyday. He has the ability to be a big weapon in the tight end area of the passing game."

Halahuni, a third-year sophomore, tore the anterior cruciate ligament in the spring of 2006. He was running a route with no one covering him, cut and went down.

His rehab was slow. He missed all of 2007 and the first month of 2008. He worked his way onto special teams and saw limited playing time at tight end last season.

"It feels great now," Halahuni said of his injury. "It hurts every once in a while, but for the most part I have no problems at all. I didn't know how well I was going to come back from it. Overall it made me a better football player. I worked hard. I definitely feel I'm stronger and faster now. I feel better about my knee."

Both he and Reese are mostly used as H-backs. They are commonly seen in motion before the snap and go out for passes.

They've played well throughout camp, which gives Riley confidence to use them in the offense more.

The Beavers use multiple tight end sets. Most teams use that look for an extra blocker on short yardage situations, but it's also a passing opportunity for OSU.

"The two-tight end set is being used a lot," Reese said. "Me and Joe are making a lot of progress. We are getting more opportunities than we have since Joe Newton was here."

And that could be the difference in the passing game this season.