The tight end position embodies numerous in-congruent responsibilities. A tight end may run block like a lineman on one play and release to run a route like a receiver on the next.

It is one of the rare positions in football that encompasses a hybrid of multiple other positions. Subsequently, the position can be tricky for coaches to teach and even more difficult for novice players to master.

The NFL record holder for most receptions (1,325), touchdown receptions (111) and total receiving yards (15,127) by a tight end, Tony Gonzalez, agrees.

“Tight end is one of the hardest positions to play in football,” Gonzalez has said. “It’s right up there with quarterback and cornerback. You have to have the skills of a wide receiver and the strength of an offensive lineman, and it’s not easy to balance those two.”

Gonzalez, who was elected by his peers to 14 Pro Bowls, knows what he is talking about.

Accordingly, it is important for positional coaches to break down the responsibilities of the position into bite-sized drills in order to facilitate a quick learning curve for a prospective tight end. One of the drills utilized by the Miami Dolphins is the strike from the knees drill, which is appropriate for all ages and levels within the sport.

The purpose of this drill is to teach the tight ends how to integrate a hand strike and hip explosion into a single fluid motion. Ultimately, this drill assists tight ends in learning how to properly use hand striking effectively, which can be adapted for run blocking or when releasing and shedding press coverage.  

Running the drill

Place a tight end on his knees approximately one foot away from the blocking sled. The starting position has the player place both hands on his knees – or directly on the ground in front of his knees – with his eyes and head facing forward. Make sure the player has good posture throughout his upper back to help eliminate a potential for injury.

On the coach’s whistle, the player explodes through the hips out of the starting position while thrusting his hands forward into the blocking sled. The strike should be explosive and lift the blocking sled, depending on the player’s strength. Using the palm to deliver the strike, the player concentrates on proper technique by having thumbs facing up and elbows in. The eyes and head of the tight end remain facing forward throughout the duration of the drill

Keeping the tight end on his knees forces the player to utilize only his hips and hands and prevents him from elongating to generate power from the legs. Forcing the tight end to utilize his hips and hands to produce force, rather than his legs, teaches the player how to generate a large amount of force in compact spaces.

SEE ALSO: Executing a Reach Block as a Tight End

SEE ALSO: Building an Offensive Line: Don’t Forget the Tight End