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Drills Report: Tight End Run Blocking – The Reach-Scoop Drillby: Mike BarelaTight Ends Coach Texas State University © More from this issue At Texas State, we utilize the tight end position in a pro style offense featuring multiple formations and personnel groups. We are committed to establishing our run game to open up our passing game. I believe that an effective offense must establish the run and that the tight end can be a key component in this. Due to our commitment to the run game, I am going to focus on one run blocking drill: the Reach-Scoop Drill. Our offense features three types of run blocking schemes – zone, man, and gap. In order to execute these schemes, we work religiously on our footwork (which can be used with any of the schemes), head placement, and hand placement every day at practice. Our footwork is broken down into three types of first steps followed by driving on the feet - lead step (6-inch forward step), slide step (6-inch lateral step), and zone step (bucket step gaining width and depth to open up the hips to a 45-degree angle to the LOS). The scheme of the play and the defender’s alignment will determine what first step will be used. Head placement is the point on the defender where we want the TE’s facemask. This also varies from play-to-play and I refer to it as the ‘aiming point’. This allows for optimal body placement by the blocker. Hand placement is the area inside the defenders frame that the TE’s hands will be to maintain the block by pushing or pulling the defender. Understand that regardless of the drill used to help the TE, I ask the TE for two things on every play – run or pass – (1) give effort and (2) be physical. On every play, they need to compete and strive to win the one-on-one. We compete every day in practice with this goal in mind. The TE doesn’t have to pancake the defender on every play but he does need to effectively maintain and sustain the block. As long as the TE gives effort, plays with a physical presence, and his block doesn’t happen on the offensive side of the LOS, he will have success. Next coaching point is the hand placement and grabbing of the jersey inside the opponents frame – defined as the opponent’s chest plate. This hand placement will allow the blocker to either push or pull the defender. If head placement is obtained, we want the blocker to pull the defender into him so the block stays engaged. If head placement is obtained but not on the aiming point – or if it is lost after contact – then we want the blocker to now push the defender past the hole and use the defender’s momentum against himself. Blockers feet need to keep driving the entire drill. |
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