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Training Mr. EverythingThe ins and outs of the tight end positionTight Ends Coach, Cornell University © More from this issue
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
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.
Reach Drill
Box Drill
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
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
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.
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. 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. |
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