DC Wing T on a reduced field

TE is a deceptive position. The best TE routes are ones where he catches the ball on the weak (opposite) side of the field. A "throwback" or "post" represent your two top gainers, followed by "drag", followed by "down and out". The "quick slants" are not very effective.

One of the important things to remember about the TE position is that he's close to the ball. So is the defense. For his first 3-5 steps he's always in traffic and, by the 5th, everyone knows he's going out for a pass. Because of this, in college and the NFL, a TE only averages about 7 yards per catch. That's for a player standing 6'-3" and running a 10 second 100 meter. Reducing the size and speed of the player reduces the yardage gained. He doesn't get as far downfield. He doesn't fall forward quite as far when tackled. A typical youth TE will average 5 yards per catch. If you complete 50% of your passes, he'll average 2.5 yards per throw. You won't win with that. Here's the problem. If the receiver is running "down and out" that's only half the pattern. Because, if he catches ball enroute to sideline and is tackled as he catches it, the gain is 5. The other half of the pattern is "up". The TE must run "down, out, and up". Without up, the gain is 5. With "up", the gain is more than 5. This is why "drag", "throwback", and "post" create the big gains. They all include "up". "Up" is where it's at. Add to that the problem of playing on a narrow field and, on "down and out", the TE is already headed at the "12th defender" before he has even caught the ball. This is why you want to bring the TE from the side of the field he lines up on to the opposite side. Not only is he running towards "open area" but away from the "12th defender" (the sidelines).

So let's discuss how to get him open. You have five ways. One is to simply run towards open area. This occurs whenever the TE passes in front of the center (runs to the opposite side of the field). Whether he passes in front of the center 10 yards downfield, 7, or 3, doesn't matter. He's headed for "open area" and the defense is playing catch up. The second is to "turn the defender around". This occurs when you run at the inside shoulder of the defender and then execute your "out" route. This uses up less field than "down and out" and gives the TE a chance to turn "up" after catching the ball. But, more importantly, you "lose" the defender because he gets "turned around". For the TE, running at his defender's inside shoulder and then cutting outside behind the defender is a 90 degree turn. But it isn't for the defender. For the defender, it's 270 degrees to turn with the TE. The defender always loses. The third way to get the TE open is with the "delay". Here he blocks for a certain count and then releases. The QB always executes a fake handoff. The "delay" is timed to the fake. The TE blocks until the moment the ball is in the running back's stomach, and then releases. The idea is to catch the defender looking at the ball in the back's stomach. If he's looking at the ball, he's not looking at the TE. Once again, the TE uses an inside then outside release to "turn the defender around". Thus, even if the defender is only fooled for the split second of the fake, he's toast. The 270 degree turn takes him out of the play. The fourth method is the "screen". The TE changes sides of the field again but, this time, he passes behind the center instead of in front of him. The QB drops, all the other receivers are running fly patterns and the linemen are all downfield hunting LBers. You can run this "play action" but the QB must drop back after the fake. The QB must "eat clock time" before throwing which is why he's dropping. That allows everyone to get where they're supposed to be. Screens can also be thrown as delays. Here the QB turns his back to the TE and looks downfield while everyone runs "fly". The TE delay blocks the DE to the outside, and then waits at the line for the ball. The QB then turns and throws to the TE, catching the DE coming and thinking he's going to get an easy sack while allowing the OT to get downfield on the defender assigned to the TE. The fifth way is to throw a "pick" pass where the TE and the WB cross with each other and the WB blocks the TE's defender.

Notice, that in each case, both the pass, and the catch, are easy. As you noted, we have to eliminate "iron hands". We have to assume the TE is going to find a way to drop the ball, especially if he's wide open. 50% pass completions at the youth level is unacceptable (That could be 2.5 yards per catch). So we have to make it so simple that he'll catch it with his eyes closed. The number one killer of a youth passing game is the "dropped ball". Incomplete stops a drive. It's more important to complete the pass than the yards gained.

For this reason, you have to condition the TE to make catch. It's all mental. The TE drops the ball for the following reasons:

1) He hears "footsteps"
2) He starts to run before he puts the ball away

Each of the above two "drops" is based on the same principal. The receiver took his eyes off the ball. Distraction drills and reps solve both problems most of the time. However, a receiver should also be prepared mentally to drop the ball. He needs to know, before you ever call his number in the game, what his mistake will be. I tell my receivers, "The first pass I throw to you in a game, you're going to drop." And then I tell them why. And then I tell him, "But you'll learn your lesson and catch the second."

Most of them learn the lesson right then and there. They know I'm expecting them to drop the ball and they want to prove me wrong. The moment a player wants to prove you wrong and knows the mistake you expect him to make, he's not going to take his eyes off the ball. In 17 years, I've only had two kids drop their first pass ("Incomplete" does not happen for me). I remember both. The first dropped a wide open TD pass that actually bounced off his chest. The whole team wanted to kill him. Later on, we were behind, with less than a minute to go, and I called my last time out. Went out to the huddle and called the pass to him. The whole team objected. "He'll drop it!" They said. "No. He won't." I told them. Pass thrown, 6 points, game won. I knew three things. I knew he could catch. I knew he knew his mistake. I knew he wouldn't repeat it. I could have called the pass to another kid and probably still gotten my 6. But I let the boy redeem himself. That's very important. That's why I say, "You'll drop your first pass, but you'll catch your second." I want them mentally prepared for making a mistake. I want them to expect it and to know it's not the end of the world if it happens. The ball will come again, same game - same play - Second chance. Know the mistake you made and don't repeat it. Eyes on the ball.

How do you know when he'll catch it? If he's caught it 8 times in practice, he can catch it in a game. Fewer than that and it's a guess. So keep a record of passes caught in a live practice. You'll know who to throw to on gameday.