FridayNightPulse: Tight End Training for 7A Programs
At Mill Creek Hawks and other top 7A programs, tight ends are a crucial part of the offense. To improve their blocking and receiving skills, we recommend the 'Box Drill'. Have your tight ends line up in a 'box' formation, with two blockers on each side and a receiver in the middle. The quarterback will start in a shotgun stance and take three steps back before dropping back to pass. The blockers will start in a three-point stance and the receiver will sprint to the quarterback. The quarterback will then drop back and throw a quick pass to the receiver. The drill is set for 3 sets of 10 reps, with 30 seconds rest between sets. Coaching cues include 'box up' for the blockers to lower their heads and engage the defender, and 'get open' for the receiver to create space. This drill translates to game performance by improving the tight end's ability to seal the edge and create a seam for the quarterback to throw to.