1. STEVEN CIOCCI
TIGHTENDS
WAGNER COLLEGE

2. TABLE OF CONTENTS
• Philosophy
• Player/Coach Expectations
• Stance and Splits
• Start
• Ball Security
• Situational Running
• Blocking
– Run Blocking
– Pass Blocking
• Types of Blocks
• Route Running
• Route Tree
• Coverages
• Catching the Football
• Communication
• Tight End/Offensive Line Calls
• Tight End Drills

3. “ Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it.”
-- George Halas
IF ITS EASY ITS WRONG!

4. PHILOSOPHY
• We will be the hardest working position group
on the field. We will be physical, disciplined and
play with great pad level and technique
• Need to have nasty players all across the board.
• Score with your man!
• One unit that plays together, bleeds together
and works 24/7 together
• We will block until the whistle blows
• Know your assignment 100% of the time
• Trust your steps and technique
• Need to be violent and aggressive
• We will dominate the line of scrimmage in the
run game
• Violent with your hands
• Take the fight to them! We will be the
aggressors!
•WE WILL BE A COMPLETE TIGHT END
1. RUN BLOCKING / PASS BLOCKING
2. PASS THREAT
3. RUN THREAT (H BACK OPTIONS)

5. PLAYER/COACH EXPECTATIONS
• YOUR PLAYERS ARE YOUR PRIORITY
• FOOTBALL IS A PRIORITY IN YOUR LIFE
• BE FULLY COMMITTED TO YOURSELF AND
YOUR PLAYERS BY PERFECTING YOUR
CRAFT
• 100% ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRUST
• ALWAYS HAVE OPEN DOOR POLICY
• FILM STUDY AND PREPARATION IS
CRITICAL. GIVE YOUR PLAYERS
KNOWLEDGE OF THE GAME
• WE ARE ONE UNIT, ONE FAMILY FROM
COACH TO PLAYER
• CREATE AN ENERGETIC ENVIRONMENT
• BE YOUR PLAYERS ROLE MODEL…ALWAYS!
• YOUR PLAYERS ARE YOUR PRIORITY
• FOOTBALL IS A PRIORITY IN YOUR LIFE
• BE FULLY COMMITTED TO YOURSELF AND
YOUR PLAYERS BY PERFECTING YOUR
CRAFT
• 100% TRUST AND ACCOUNTABILITY
TOWARDS FOOTBALL AND ACADEMIC
RESPONSIBILITY
• TEAM FIRST
• BE COACHABLE
• EVERY DAY 100% EFFORT, GIVE US YOUR
BEST NO MATTER WHAT
• DO THE LITTLE THINGS RIGHT
• BE A ROLE MODEL…ALWAYS!
COACH PLAYER

6. POSITIONAL GOALSAcademic
• 3.0 GPA OR HIGHER
• SUCCESS IN SCHOOL TRANSLATES TO SUCCESS IN FOOTBALL AND LIFE
• GRADUATE ON TIME, TAKE YOUR EDUCATION SERIOUSLY AND REALIZE IT IS
MORE IMPORTANT THAN FOOTBALL
Practice
• WIN THE DAY EVERY DAY!
• 100% EXECUTION
• 100% HUSTLE AND EFFORT-NEVER WALK ON THE FIELD
• PLAY WITH FEET FIRE AND HAND VIOLENCE
• IMPROVE EACH DAY ON ONE FACET OF YOUR GAME IN EACH DIFFERENT PHASE
OF RUNNING BACK PLAY
1. BLOCKING
2. CATCHING
3. ROUTE RUNNING
Game
• WIN
• 100% ASSIGNMENT EXECUTION
• NO PENALTIES
• NO TACKLES FOR LOSS EVER! WIN WITH YOUR MAN
• OWN 4TH QUARTER!
• 100 YARDS RECEIVING PER GAME
• 30 YARDS AFTER CARRY
• 8 EXPLOSIVE BLOCKS (CRITICAL TO TEAM SUCCESS)

7. STANCE
SPLIT OUT
• INSIDE FOOT UP WHEN SPLIT
OUT
• BACK FOOT STAGGERED
BACK
• SLIGHT SHOULDER LEAN
FORWARD
• DO NOT BEND AT THE WAIST
• KNEES SLIGHTLY BENT
• HANDS IN ATTACK POSITION
READY TO SPRINT OFF BALL
OR FIGHT THROUGH
DEFENDER IF NECESSARY
• EYES INSIDE TO SEE SNAP OF
THE BALL
• EYES UP TO SURVEY DEFENSE
AND TAKE MENTAL PICTURE

8. STANCE
LINED UP AS FB
• FEET SHOULDER WIDTH APART
• FEET PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER
• HANDS ON THIGH BOARDS
• KNEES SLIGHTLY BENT
• FLAT BACK
• EYES UP SURVEYING DEFENSE
• HEAD UP
• PARALLEL TO LOS

9. STANCE
THREE POINT STANCE
• BALANCED STANCE
• FEET SLIGHTLY STAGGERED-
FOOT STAGGERED BACK IS THE
SIDE YOU LINE UP ON
• HAND DOWN TO THE SIDE
YOU LINE UP ON
• BASE WILL BE SHOULDER
WIDTH
• FULL FOOT IN THE GROUND-BE
ON YOUR INSTEPS READY TO
EXPLODE OFF BALL
• NO HEELS OFF THE GROUND
• OPPOSITE ARM IN AN ATTACK
POSITION AGAINST YOUR
THIGH BOARD
• FLAT BACK, SHOULDERS
SQUARE TO THE LINE OF
SCRIMMAGE
• TIGHT CORE, EYES AND HEAD
UP SURVEYING THE DEFENSE

10. STANCE
GOOD STANCE BAD STANCE
• FULL FOOT IN GROUND EYES UP, ARM
READY TO STRIKE, 50/50 BALANCE
• HEELS OFF THE GROUND, ARM IN
NEUTRAL POSITION, HIPS SUNK TOO LOW

11. • SPLITS
• Wider for inside plays
• Tighter for outside plays
• RUN STANCE
• 50/50 Stance
• Comfortable – not interested in robots that look good
• Be able to run block and get out into routes out of the same
stance
• Everything is tight and compact
• 3 point vs. 2 point
STANCE AND SPLITS

12. TIGHT SPLIT VS. WIDE SPLIT

13. STARTPASS GAME
• GREAT BURST OFF THE BALL
• HANDFIGHTING VS. MAN DEFENDER
• KNOW YOUR LANDMARKS ON YOUR
ROUTES
• YOUR SECOND STEP IS YOUR DRIVE LEG,
THIS IS WHERE YOUR ACCELERATION
WILL COME FROM
• CANNOT FALSE STEP ON FIRST STEP
• STAY LOW WHEN BURSTING INTO ROUTE
RUN GAME
• GOOD BASE IS KEY TO START
• GET YOUR FIRST TWO STEPS AND PUNCH INTO
DEFENDER BEFORE HE CAN GET INTO YOU
• POSITION STEP, THEN VERTICAL STEP WITH PUNCH
• KNOW YOUR AIMING POINT CHANGES DEPENDING
ON WHAT TYPE OF BLOCK IT IS
• CRITICAL TO ALWAYS USE PROPER FOOTWORK AND
TECHNIQUE

14. BALL SECURITY
• AS WAGNER TIGHT ENDS, NOTHING IS MORE
IMPORTANT THAN THE FOOTBALL. YOU CAN’T
PLAY IF YOU CAN’T HOLD ONTO FOOTBALL
• 4 POINTS OF SECURITY
• HOLD BALL USING “CLAW” TECHNIQUE
• POINT OF FOOTBALL WILL BE IN BETWEEN
POINTER AND MIDDLE FINGER
• MEAT OF THE FOOTBALL ON YOUR FOREARM
• OPPOSITE POINT OF THE FOOTBALL IN YOUR
BICEP
• OPPOSITE MEAT OF FOOTBALL PRESSED INTO
YOUR CHEST PLATE
• HIGH AND TIGHT!!!
• 5 POINTS OF SECURITY PLACE THE OFF HAND
OVER FOOTBALL IN TRAFFIC

15. 4 POINT
5 POINT

16. SITUATIONAL RUNNING• MAKE ALL CUTS TIGHT TO COLOR!
• ONE ONE ONE: BEST POSITION-PUT THE DEFENDER AND
YOURSELF IN A PHONE BOOTH. SQUARE UP TO HIM, THEN
USE YOUR BEST MOVE. COVER GROUND TO DEFENDER
BEFORE EXECUTING MOVE
• TACKLER WITH ANGLE: CUT BACK, OUT RUN HIM TO OUTSIDE
• HASH, NUMBERS, SIDELINE: USE IN ALL PERIMETER RUNNING
SITUATIONS. RB WILL ATTACK HASH FIRST, THEN BREAK
TOWARDS NUMBER, THEN UP FIELD BEFORE RUNNING UP
THE SIDELINE. THIS WILL HELP YOU SET UP BLOCKS AND
MAXIMIZE YOUR YARDS GAINED
• SIDELINE:DIP INSIDE SHOULDER, BALLIN OUTSIDE ARM, RIP
THROUGH DEFENDER. DRIVE HEAD UP THROUGH CONTACT
• SHORT YARDAGE: RUN NORTH WITH LOW PADS, LEG DRIVE
AND GREAT BALL SECURITY. DON’T BE DENIED EVER!
• BLAST: WHEN BEING TACKLED BY TWO DEFENDERS, SPLIT
THROUGH THE MIDDLE, HITTING ON THE RISE AND SHOOT
UP, 5 POINT BALL SECURITY

17. BLAST
DIP AND RIP

18. Zone = GAP – COMBO – MAN
• Work back only when the numbers allow
it
• Drive Block – Landmark - Execution
• Tight Reach Block – Landmark –
Execution
• Reach Block - Landmark – Execution
(POSITION STEP / POWER STEP )
RUN BLOCKING
A / B / M / JET / SWEEP

19. BASE BLOCK:INSIDE ZONE
• TARGET: MIDLINE:EYES TO THE APPLE
• POSITION STEP: EYES TO TARGET, SQUARE
• POWER STEP: GET IT IN THE GROUND
• PUNCH: THUMBS UP, HEELS
• WIDE BASE: PUSH OFF INSTEPS
• FEET: TOES POINT OUT, STRAIN
• DRIVE: 7 CLEATS, FIRE THE FEET
• FINISH: EXTEND, EXPLODE THROUGH FINISH
1) POSITION STEP
2) POWER STEP
(VERTICAL)

20. REACH BLOCK:OUTSIDE ZONE
• TARGET: OUTSIDE ARM PIT WITH EYES
• POSITION STEP: OPEN, EYES TO TARGET
• POWER STEP: HAS TO GET TO THE CROTCH
• PUNCH: SHOULDER AND STERNUM
• WIDE BASE: RUN THROUGH THE TARGET
• FEET: RUN
• DRIVE: ON TRACK THROUGH TARGET
• FINISH: CREATE AN EDGE
1) POSITION STEP
(MORE LATERAL)
2) POWER STEP
(VERTICAL)
(IF WIDE DEFENDER YOU CAN LOSE SOME
GROUND TO GET TO AIMING POINT)

21. DOWN/BACK BLOCK
• TARGET: MIDLINE
• POSITION STEP: 45 DEGREES
• POWER STEP: HAS TO GET DOWN FAST
• PUNCH: STERNUM AND ARMPIT
• WIDE BASE: RUN THROUGH THE TARGET
• FEET: RUN
• DRIVE: ON TRACK THROUGH TARGET
• FINISH:
ANGLE STEP

22. HANDS AND HEAD PLACEMENT
• WHEN RUN BLOCKING YOUR
HEAD SHOULD ALWAYS BE LOWER
THAN THE DEFENDERS
• PROUD CHEST, BULLED NECK
AND HEAD / EYES UP
•HANDS ALWAYS INSIDE
DEFENDER
• SHOULDERS AND ELBOWS TIGHT
TO THE BODY (SQUEEZE THE
ELBOWS IN
• IF YOU OWN THEIR CHEST YOU
WILL OWN THEM THE ENTIRE
GAME

23. PASS PROTECTION
OUT OF FULLBACK SET
• PRE SNAP PICTURE-RECOGNIZE WHAT
DEFENSE IS GIVING YOU
• CHECK STEP WITH INSIDE FOOT
• WHEN DEALING WITH AN INSIDE
RUSH, AIM MIDLINE
• OUTSIDE RUSH AIM FOR INSIDE
NUMBER TARGET MAKE HIM RUN THE
HUMP
• ATTACK THE LOS-YOU WANT TO
DELIVER THE HIT AS CLOSE TO THE LINE
AS POSSIBLE TO GIVE THE
QUARTERBACK MORE ROOM TO WORK
IN THE POCKET
• HEAD AND EYES UP
• PROUD CHEST, DON’T LUNGE FOR
DEFENDER EXPLODE THROUGH WITH
YOUR HIPS
• RELENTLESS, DO NOT STOP BLOCKING
UNTIL THE WHISTLE IS BLOWN!
• CUT WHEN POSSIBLE (AS A
CHANGEUP)
• NEVER ALLOW COLOR TO RUN BY
UNBLOCKED, EVEN IF NOT YOUR READ
ADJUST ON THE FLY AND MAKE THE
POCKET RIGHT
• ONE ON ONE WHO IS THE TOUGHER
MAN!
ATTACHED TO LOS
• Own your man!
• Mentality of back to a wall, only you stand
between defender and quarterback
• Balance and control of body
• Patience vs. Aggressiveness
• Developing a good punch
• Weight loaded on foot opposite of direction
you are kicking/posting
• Shoulders back/proud chest
• Ramrod your Back!
• Work with the Offensive Line to sort out
twists/blitz pickup

24. ROUTE RUNNING
• WE WILL BE A DIFFERENCE IN
THE PASSING GAME
• ALWAYS RUN CLEAN AND
DISCIPLINED ROUTES
• ATTAIN YOUR DESIRED
LANDMARK FOR EVERY ROUTE
• RUN EVERY ROUTE ON TE TREE
WITH UTMOST CONFIDENCE
• GIVE THE QUARTERBACK A
VIABLE PASS OPTION
• DO NOT GET JAMMED ON LOS
• MOR VS INSIDE RELEASE
• ALWAYS COME BACK TO THE
BALL
• 100% ROUTE RECOGNITION-NO
MENTAL ERRORS!
• RUN LOW DO NOT STAND
STRAIGHT UP
• PRESNAP FIND YOUR
LANDMARKS

25. ROUTE RUNNINGGETTING RELEASED-THIS IS THE MOST IMPORT ASPECT OF ROUTE RUNNING. A GOOD RELEASE OCCURS
WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO AVOID THE DEFENDER WITHOUT LOSING ANY SPEED OR DISTORTING THE ROUTE.
1. STEM-DISTANCE BETWEEN THE RELEASE AND CUT. RUN FULL SPEED WITH FORWARD BODY LEAN AND
EYES READING COVERAGE. HAVE A BEND IN THE KNEE AND REACH OUT WITH THE LEAD FOOT TO
INCREASE SPEED. ARMS SHOULD MOVE IN TANDEM WITH OPPOSITE FOOT. WHEN RUNNING
VERTICAL STEM LOOK TO QB WITH EYES AND SLIGHT HEAD TILT. NEVER TURN SHOULDERS BACK TO
LOS.
2. CUT-USED TO CHANGE THE DIRECTION OF ROUTE QUICKLY. TWO TYPES OF CUT:PLANT AND
ROLLOVER. WHEN YOU PLANT YOU ARE MAKING A “SHARP” CUT. PLANT OFF OF OPPOSITE FOOT
FROM DIRECTION YOU ARE GOING. LOWER CENTER OF GRAVITY BY DROPPING HIPS. STEP BEFORE
PLANT STEP YOU NEED TO DECELERATE. SECOND CUT IS THE ROLLOVER. THIS IS MORE GRADUAL
THAN THE PLANT BUT MUCH FASTER. NO NEED TO DECELERATE. CUT IS MADE BY THE OPPOSITE
FOOT FROM DIRECTION WE ARE CUTTING. IF YOU ARE GOING RIGHT YOU ARE ROLLING OFF LEFT
FOOT (SAME AS PLANT).
3. ROUTE FINISH-TIME RIGHT BEFORE THE CATCH. YOU SHOULD BE AT YOUR EXACT LANDMARK OF
DESIGNATED ROUTE. THE FINISH WILL BE DETERMINED BY WHETHER YOU ARE IN A STATIONARY ON
THE MOVE POSITION. WHEN ROUTE IS STATIONARY COME BACK TO THE FOOTBALL ON THE FLIGHT OF
BALL AND CATCH AWAY FROM BODY. SHOULDERS SHOULD BE PARALLEL TO LOS. WHEN STAYING ON
THE MOVE RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN AND REACH WITH HANDS AS LATE AS POSSIBLE TO GRAB
FOOTBALL.

26. RELEASE
GOOD RELEASE BAD RELEASE
• REPLACE DEFENDERS ASS, RELEASE INTO
ROUTE
• LOW OFF THE BALL
• GETS JAMMED BY DEFENDER, TOO HIGH
DELAYS ROUTE RELEASE

27. TERMINOLOGY
• ZONE TURN-OPEN HIPS INSIDE TO THE QUARTERBACK
• MAN TURN-OPEN HIPS OUTSIDE TO THE RECEIVER
• SHELL/UMBRELLA-ALIGNMENT OF DB’S AS A WHOLE
• BUZZ-DEFENDER RUNNING TO COVER FLAT FROM INSIDE OUT
• BAIL-ZONE TURN AND GAIN DEPTH (BY DEFENDER)
• OVERLAP-OUTSIDE DEFENDER PLAYING OVER THE TOP OF INSIDE ROUTE (CORNER ON A SEAM)
• REROUTE-IMPED VERTICAL RELEASE OF RECEIVER
• SEAM-INSIDE VERTICAL
•GO-OUTSIDE VERTICAL
• HOLD THE LINE-FIGHT TO MAINTAIN VERTICAL STEM
• LIFT-FORCE DEFENDER UP THE FIELD
• STACK-GET DIRECTLY BEHIND DEFENDER
• FRIENDLY-FLAT TO SLIGHTLY NEGATIVE
• WEAVE-HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT ON VERTICAL SEAM
• SEAM IN-INSIDE VERTICAL RELEASE
• SIT-PLANT FEET AND DON’T MOVE
• SETTLE/THROTTLE-SLOWDOWN IN OPEN ZONE
• HOT-ADJUSTMENT TO BLITZ
• LANDMARK-IDEAL SPOT ON THE FIELD
• FINISH WITH HANDS ON-AT THE WHISTLE, HANDS ARE ON THE BALL OR A DEFENDER
• STATIC ROUTE-ROUTE THAT HAS THE ABILITY TO STOP
• D.A. RULE-ON STATIC ROUTE, STOP WHEN YOU ARE OPEN
• OPEN SIDE-NO TIGHT END SIDE
• CLOSED SIDE-TIGHT END SIDE

28. TIGHT END ROUTE TREE

29. COVERAGESCOVER 0
• SAFETIES-ALIGNED LOWER AND STACKED OVER #2 WR/TE WITH EYES ON WR/TE
• CORNERS-ALIGNED HEAD UP TO INSIDE #1 WR WITH EYES ON WR
• LINEBACKERS-ALIGNED IN BOX OR TIGHT TO, EYES IN BACKFIELD (KEYING RB)
COVER 1
• SAFETIES-ALIGNED LOWER AND STACKED OVER #2 WR/TE WITH EYES ON WR/TE OR ALIGNED DEEP EYS ON QB
• CORNERS-ALIGNED HEAD UP TO INSIDE #1 WR WITH EYES ON WR
• LINEBACKERS-ALIGNED IN BOX OR TIGHT TO, EYES IN BACKFIELD (KEYING RB) OR STACKED OVER #2 WR/TE WITH EYES
ON TE/WR
COVER2
• SAFETIES-ALIGNED DEEP OUTSIDE HASHES EYES ON QB
• CORNERS-ALIGNED LOW (COULD BE PRESSED) SLIGHTLY OUTSIDE #1 WR WITH EYES INSIDE, FORCING INSIDE
RELEASE
• LINEBACKERS-ALIGNED TIGHTER TO BOX WITH EYES INSIDE
COVER 3
• SAFETIES-ALIGNED DEEP MIDDLE THIRD WITH EYES ON QB OR IN ALLEY WITH EYES INSIDE “BASED ON
ROTATION”
• CORNERS-ALIGNED OFF AND INSIDE WITH EYES INSIDE
• LINEBACKERS-ALIGNED WIDER WITH EYES INSIDE OR ALIGNED IN THE BOX “BASED ON ROTATION”
COVER 4
• SAFETIES-ALIGNED LOWER INSIDE HASHES WITH EYES IN BACKFIELD
• CORNERS-ALIGNED OFF AND HEAD UP WITH EYES INSIDE
• LINEBACKERS-ALIGNED WIDER WITH EYES INSIDE
COVER 6
• SAFETIES-COVER 2 RULES TO BOUNDARY / COVER 4 RULES TO FIELD
• CORNERS-COVER 2 RULES TO BOUNDARY / COVER 4 RULES TO FIELD
• LINEBACKERS-COVER 2 RULES TO BOUNDARY / COVER 4 RULES TO FIELD

30. COVERAGE INTRODUCTION
COVER 0
• FREE SAFETY (F)-MAN TO MAN COVERAGE ON #2 WR (SLOT) TO THE BOUNDARY
• STRONG SAFETY ($)-MAN TO MAN COVERAGE ON #2 WR (SLOT) TO THE FIELD
• FIELD CORNER (FC)- MAN TO MAN COVERAGE ON #1 WR TO THE FIELD
• BOUNDARY CORNER (BC)- MAN TO MAN COVERAGE ON #1 WR TO THE BOUNDARY
• SAM LINEBACKERS (S)- MAN TO MAN ON RB OFFSET TO FIELD (COULD BE A BLITZER)
• MIKE LINEBACKER (M)- MAN TO MAN ON RB (COULD BE A BLITZER)
• WILL LINEBACKER (W)- MAN TO MAN ON RB OFFSET TO BOUNDARY (COULD BE A BLITZER)
COVER 1
• FREE SAFETY (F)- MAN TO MAN COVERAGE ON #2 WR (SLOT) TO THE BOUNDARY OR DEEP SAFETY
• STRONG SAFETY ($)- MAN TO MAN COVERAGE ON #2 WR (SLOT) TO THE FIELD OR DEEP SAFETY
• FIELD CORNER (FC)- MAN TO MAN COVERAGE ON #1 WR TO THE FIELD
• BOUNDARY CORNER (BC)- MAN TO MAN COVERAGE ON #1 WR TO THE BOUNDARY
• SAM LINEBACKER (S)- MAN TO MAN #2 WR (SLOT) TO THE FIELD OR RB OFFSET TO FIELD (COULD BE A BLITZER)
• MIKE LINEBACKER (M)- MAN TO MAN #2WR (SLOT) TO THE BOUNDARY OR RB OFFSET TO BOUNDARY (COULD BE A
BLITZER)
• WILL LINEBACKER (W)- MAN TO MAN ON RB OFFSET TO BOUNDARY (COULD BE A BLITZER)
COVER 2
• FREE SAFETY (F)- DEEP BOUNDARY HALF OF THE FIELD
• STRONG SAFETY ($)- DEEP FIELD HALF OF THE FIELD
• FIELD CORNER (FC)- FLATS TO THE FIELD
• BOUNDARY CORNER (BC)- FLATS TO THE BOUNDARY
• SAM LINEBACKERS (S)- SEAM/CURL TO THE FIELD
• MIKE LINEBACKER (M)- MIDDLE HOOK
• WILL LINEBACKER (W)- SEAM/ CURL TO THE BOUNDARY

31. COVERAGESCOVER 0
COVER 1
COVER 2

32. COVERAGE INTRODUCTION
COVER 3
• FREE SAFETY (F)- DEEP MIDDLE THIRD (1/3) OR SEAM/CURL/FLAT TO THE BOUNDARY “BASED ON ROTATION”
• STRONG SAFETY ($)- DEEP MIDDLE THIRD (1/3) OR SEAM/CURL/FLAT TO THE FIELD “BASED ON ROTATION”
• FIELD CORNER (FC)- DEEP THIRD (1/3) TO THE FIELD
• BOUNDARY CORNER (BC)- DEEP THIRD (1/3) TO THE BOUNDARY
• SAM LINEBACKERS (S)- HOOK/CURL OR SEAM/CURL/FLAT “BASED ON ROTATION”
• MIKE LINEBACKER (M)- MIDDLE HOOK
• WILL LINEBACKER (W)- HOOK/CURL OR SEAM/CURL/FLAT “BASED ON ROTATION”
COVER 4
• FREE SAFETY (F)- DEEP INSIDE QUARTER (1/4) TO THE BOUNDARY
• STRONG SAFETY ($)- DEEP INSIDE QUARTER (1/4) TO THE FIELD
• FIELD CORNER (FC)- DEEP OUTSIDE QUARTER (1/4) TO THE FIELD
• BOUNDARY CORNER (BC)- DEEP OUTSIDE QUARTER (1/4) TO THE BOUNDARY
• SAM LINEBACKER (S)-CURL/FLAT TO THE FIELD
• MIKE LINEBACKER (M)- MIDDLE HOOK
• WILL LINEBACKER (W)- CURL/FLAT TO THE BOUNDARY
COVER 6
• FREE SAFETY (F)- DEEP BOUNDARY HALF OF THE FIELD
• STRONG SAFETY ($)- DEEP INSIDE QUARTER (1/4) TO THE FIELD
• FIELD CORNER (FC)- DEEP OUTSIDE QUARTER (1/4) TO THE FIELD
• BOUNDARY CORNER (BC)- FLATS TO THE BOUNDARY
• SAM LINEBACKER (S)- CURL/FLAT TO THE FIELD
• MIKE LINEBACKER (M)- MIDDLE HOOK
• WILL LINEBACKER (W)- SEAM/CURL TO THE BOUNDARY

33. COVERAGESCOVER 3
COVER 4
COVER 6

34. CATCHING THE FOOTBALL
• KEEP YOUR EYES ON FOOTBALL THE
ENTIRE TIME FOCUS!
• SEE THE SKINNY, CATCH THE FAT!
• EXTEND YOUR ARMS-DON’T CATCH
WITH YOUR BODY-CREATE A BIGGER
WINDOW OF VISION
• THUMBS TOGETHER WHEN BALL IS
ABOVE YOUR NUMBERS
• PINKIES TOGETHER FOR BELOW THE
NUMBERS
• TUCK BALL AS SOON AS IT IS CAUGHT
• HIGH AND TIGHT
• NO EXCUSE TO EVER NOT CATCH BALL

35. SEE IT ALL THE WAY IN

36. COMMUNICATION!• WHETHER YOU ARE COMMUNICATING WITH THE OFFENSIVE LINE OR THE WIDE
RECEIVERS, THERE IS NEVER AN EXCUSE TO MISS A CALL
• COMMUNICATE PRE SNAP EVERY PLAY!
• NO MENTAL MISTAKES

37. TIGHT END CALLS
• TED-TIGHT END DOWN WITH THE TACKLE
PULLING AROUND FOR OUTSIDE LINEBACKER
• TANGO/TANK-TRUE DOUBLE TEAM BLOCK WITH
THE TACKLE. WORK VERTICAL THROUGH THE
DEFENDER UP TO THE SECOND LEVEL DEFENDER.
DO NOT LEAVE BLOCK UNTIL LEVERAGE IS
SECURED. COMMUNICATE WITH TACKLE.
• TUS-DOUBLE TEAM CALL BETWEEN GUARD AND
TACKLE IMPORTANT BECAUSE THIS CAN ALERT
THE TIGHT END TO A POSSIBLE SOLID CALL
MEANING YOU ARE ALONE AGAINST YOUR
DEFENDER
• BOX-OFFENSIVE LINE AND TIGHT ENDS BLOCKING
DEFENDERS IN THE BOX. TURNS A ZONE SCHEME
INTO A MAN SCHEME
• PUSH-OFFENSIVE LINE AND TIGHT END ZONING TO
AN EXTRA DEFENDER IN THE BOX EVERYONE
WORKS ONE MAN OVER THAN THEIR ORIGINAL
ASSIGNMENT
TANGO TANK
TUS
TED
BOX
PUSH

38. OFFENSIVE LINE / TIGHT END CALLS

39. TIGHT END DRILLS
RUN DRILLS
1. Boards Tight Reach (no bags)
2. Boards Wide Reach- run off end of board
3. Boards with Bag (PREFIT), Drive on command
4. Boards with Bag Feet Fire 2 Step Progression
5. Boards with Bag-fire off board weave drill
progression
6. Boards with Bag-LB depth
7. Chutes Zone Blocking (WITH OL)
8. Power Double Team Progression/Bag Between
Hips
9. Power Double Team Defender to LB (WITH
TACKLES)
PASS DRILLS
1. Ball Security-Circuit of Drills to Ensure Ball is kept
high and tight
2. Stiff Arm-Ball In Inside Arm Around Cone, use
hand/flipper to ward off defender
3. Catch/Secure-Catch ball (thumbs and forefingers,
pinkies together) and Tuck
4. Moving Catch/Secure-Ball In Front, Ball on Body,
Catch and Tuck
5. Focus-Back to Ball, Then Snap Around to catch
ball on coach’s call
6. Ball Behind-On the move, twist torso and spin
7. Distraction-Stationary catcher with other TE’s
distracting
8. Release Tech-Inside, Outside, Head up Defender
9. Top of Stem-Cutting drill on Cones-Rollover and
sharp cuts

40. 1. SELFLESSNESS-BECOMING A MAN MEANS SERVING SOMEONE OR SOMETHING
GREATER THAN YOURSELF. CHANGE THE THOUGHT PROCESS FROM SELF TO “US”.
“No man has ever risen to the real stature of spiritual manhood until he has found that
it is finer to serve somebody else than it is to serve himself.” ~ Woodrow T. Wilson
1. CONSISTENCY-REAL MEN ARE PEOPLE THAT OTHERS CAN COUNT ON. ANYONE CAN DO
THINGS RIGHT ONCE IN A WHILE, A REAL MAN DOES ALL THE TIME. SHOWING UP TO
CLASS, DOING HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS, MAKING WORKOUTS EARLY NOT ON TIME!
ETC CONSISTENCY IS THE GAME FOR PROS, WHO ACTUALLY HAVE PEOPLE COUNTING
ON THEM, MEN WITH REAL RESPONSIBILITY, REAL MEN.
1. HUMILITY-REAL MEN ARE SECURE IN THEIR ABILITIES AND DO NOT FIND IT NECESSARY
TO PLACE THEMSELVES IN HIGHER ESTEEM THAN THOSE AROUND THEM. REAL MEN
CHOOSE RESTRAINT AND HUMILITY. TAKE CARE OF YOUR TEAMMATES AROUND YOU,
TEACH THEM HOW TO DO THINGS THE RIGHT WAY.
My power will be in humility ~ Walter Russell