Training Mr. Everything

If you liked this article, here are three others just like it: 1. Play Action for the Big Play, Sept. 2001 2. Tightening the Tight End, Feb. 2001 3. Texas Tech's Double Screen, Second Quarter 1999

At Cornell University, we ask our tight ends to play many roles. When we run the ball, we expect them to be as good as our best offensive linemen. When we throw the ball, we expect them to be as good as our best wide receivers. Once they catch the ball, we expect them to do things that our best running backs do. We will line up with them attached, as slot receivers, or as outside receivers. How do you train one position group the techniques for three? By multi-tasking your drill work and by keeping your schemes simple, you can train the “Mr. Everything” that we are all looking for.

Of course, much of the drill work and techniques I will outline have been compiled over the years by talking with other coaches and sharing ideas. I’d like to thank all the coaches whom I’ve worked with and spoken with to develop these ideas.

Blocking

Dallas Roll

Diagram 1. Dallas Roll

This is a simple drill to develop hip roll. Players can begin in either a six-point (toes, knees, and hands) or three-point stance. Have another player hold a hand shield a foot in front of him. On your command, the player should roll over his hips and strike the pad with his fists together (thumbs up in the shape of a “V”), elbows at a 90-degree angle, head up and hips extended. We start with the six-point until they become good at it, then progress to the three-point. A good way to make sure that their hips are moving horizontally, not vertically, is to hold your hand a couple inches over their tailpad. If they hit your hand they are doing it wrong.

Chest Over Thigh
One of the biggest problems we have with our players is getting them to play with bent knees. We want them to deliver a blow with their “chest over thigh.” This drill can either be done in or out of the chutes. We prefer the chutes because it gives our players immediate feedback.

Diagram 2. Chest Over Thigh

The drill begins with the player in a three-point stance, and another player holding a shield an arm’s length away on his right shoulder. We use a step-by-step command so that we can see their body position. As they get more comfortable with the movements, we will use a single command. (1) A short, quick “brace” step with the right foot. Pressure should be on the instep. (2) A 6-inch step at the target with the left foot. At this point, the player should have his head up, right knee pointed at the ground, chest over left thigh and left arm cocked and ready at the left hip. (3) Roll over the hip, deliver an upward blow with the surface of the left arm and shoulder, extend the hips and drive through the shield.

Reach Drill

Diagram 3. Reach Drill

The Reach Drill is a great way to get some competitiveness amongst your players while at the same time working the reach block. Within our schemes, the tight end uses the reach technique to cut off on the backside of most of our run game. Have your players get in two lines facing each other. From a two- or three-point stance, have each player try to reach the other as if they were both on offense. We have them work on a line so that they can keep perspective of their leverage. Once everyone has gone, go in the other direction.

Box Drill

Diagram 4. Box Drill

Our tight end is an integral part of our zone scheme. We use the “box drill” to practice the different block combinations. In diagram 1, we are working a double team to the second level. The players are both taking “J” steps at the down defender and punching him with four fists. As they reach the depth of the second level defender, one will come off on the linebacker; the other will overtake the lineman. In diagram 2, the OT is overtaking the down lineman while the TE gives shoulder lift and works to the second level. Each player must brace step to their right and work through the gap to their right. This helps guard against a cross charge. In diagram 3, we are working a basic zone scheme. Once again, both players brace right and work through their right hand gap. If the OT can give inside help to the TE, on his way to the second level, he will.

Receiving

Releases
The majority of our routes call for best release. We teach a few different releases to our players and tell them to get comfortable with a couple of them. Very seldom do we have time to just drill releases. Therefore, we always have our tight ends release off another player during 7-on-7, timed pass, or anytime they’re running a route. One of the releases we are using is the “Pin and Punch.”

For example, if you were releasing to the right of a defender aligned over you, (1) step forward with your right foot and pin his elbow down with your right arm; (2) punch through at the defender’s shoulder pad level as you step through with your left foot. We teach the punch rather than the swim, because the swim technique opens up a player’s body and makes him vulnerable. A coaching point when teaching this technique is to pin at the elbow. Often we catch our players trying to pin at the shoulder. By pinning at the elbow, you create leverage for yourself. Another release we teach is a basic “Rip” technique. Once again, if you were releasing to the right of a defender, (1) take a brace step with your right foot to give separation; (2) step at the defenders near shoulder as you lower you shoulder and rip through his. We teach our players to step toward the defender with the second step so that they can fight back when the defender attacks them. If they cross over and try to avoid the defender, they have no base. On the rip, we teach them to keep their shoulder pads low and not to show the defender their numbers.

Separation Technique
Many of our tight end routes involve a 90-degree burst cut (in or out). Based on the route, we will use different techniques in order to create separation between ourselves and the defender. One of the techniques we use is a “Pressure Cut.” You should stem (aim at) the defender’s shoulder to the side of your break (for example, you’re running an Out from the right side – stem his right shoulder as you look at him). As you approach the depth of your break, begin to lean into the defender with your left shoulder and forearm. At your break, plant on your left foot and deliver an upward blow with your left forearm to the side of the defender as you make your break. Another separation technique we use is the “Club and Rip”. You should stem the defender’s shoulder opposite your break (for example, you’re running an In from the right side – stem his right shoulder as you look at him). As you reach the depth of your break, plant your right foot and swing your left arm at his left shoulder. Rip across his body with your right arm as you step into your break with your left foot. The motion of the “Club and Rip” should time up very well with your normal running motion.

Catching Drill

Diagram 5. Catching Drill

Whenever we do any receiving work with our players we use balls that have A, B, C, D and 1, 2, 3, 4 on opposite ends of the ball. When we throw the ball to them, we know what end they will catch and expect them to yell out either a number or a letter as they look the ball into their hands and tuck it away.

As we all know, a football has two white half circles on either end (left diagram). When the ball is spiraling, it looks like a bull’s eye (right diagram). We tell our players, “See the white, catch the fat.” We want them to see the white circle and catch the fat part of the ball.

Six Cone Drill

Diagram 6. Six Cone Drill

This is a great drill to work on change of direction, agility and catching. Arrange six cones as shown in the following diagrams. The distance between cones depends on the depth of your routes. For example, we run 5-yard Outs and Hitches and 10-yard Ins and Corners. We set the cones 5 yards apart so that our players get used to how many steps it takes to run 5 or 10 yards. We ask our players to emphasize staying low in their cuts and bursting out of a cut. The coaching points that we use are: (1) always cut off your outside foot; (2) reaccelerate out of a cut like you accelerate in a 40-yard dash; (3) these are burst cuts, not speed cuts – only one step to change direction; (4) continue to use your arms as you make a cut. Diagram 1 is a chance to get 3 cuts on one repetition. Diagram 2 works a post or corner cut. Diagram 3 works the hitch. Diagram 4 works the in or out. Once our players become comfortable with their body position during this drill, we will throw them the ball at the top of the drill. After the catch, they always run 5 yards up field.

Carrying the Football

Ball Security
Ball security should be coached constantly. Whenever our players have a ball in their hands (whether during a play or on the way back to the huddle) we insist that they have the ball secured.

Diagram 6. Ball Security

Although we coach ball security throughout the course of every practice, we do use a ball security circuit each week in which all of our offensive skill players participate. We run them through the Blaster and we do Monkey Rolls; but my favorite is the Two-Ball Drill. You will need groups of four. One player will hold a ball in each arm. The next player will stand behind him and hold the back of his jersey. The last two players will flank the ball carrier. On command, with the second player providing resistance, the ball carrier will run 10 yards while the two players on either side of him try to punch or rip the balls out. If a player fumbles, he has 10 fingertip pushups at the end of the drill.

Related Videos

American Football Monthly now offers a full line of coaching videos. So, if you enjoyed this clinic article, here are a few videos that you may find interesting: FV-00048D Offensive Line (Mervin Johnson) FV-01775A Utilizing Tight Ends in the Passing Game (Holliday) FV-01801 The 3-Step Passing Game (Terry) To find these videos and many others, view our online catalog at www.AFMVideos.com.

The players rotate and we go back the other way. We use the player holding the jersey so that the ball carrier can simulate body lean. We use two balls so that the ball carrier cannot favor a single ball. He is forced to carry the ball and run as he would during a game situation.

Tight ends must be the most diverse athletes on your team. You want them big, strong, fast, and agile. If you have tight ends that can catch, block, and run it gives your offense a big advantage in the area of substitutions. Being able to throw deep with one or two tight ends in the game will create a lot of conflict for your opponents’ defenses; and the name of the game is creating conflict. Used correctly, tight ends can help to transform an offensive identity.

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About the author: Adam Schwartz

Adam Schwartz joined the Big Red football staff in March 2001 as an offensive assistant, working with the tight ends.

Schwartz spent two seasons at Hamilton College, where he served as assistant coach, strength and conditioning coordinator, recruiting coordinator and audio-visual coordinator. He coached the inside linebackers in 2000 and the running backs in 1999. He also designed and implemented a 12-month strength, speed, conditioning, flexibility and nutrition program for the team.

Schwartz graduated from the University of Arizona in 1997 with a degree in biology and a minor in chemistry, math and physics. He played for the Wildcats during his three years as a running back, offensive lineman, defensive lineman and special teams member.

Before going to Arizona, Schwartz began his collegiate career at the University of Redlands, where he was a running back, an offensive lineman and a special teams member.