Tight end

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Chiefs superstar TE Travis Kelce
Travis Kelce, a tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, in the open field
Example of tight end positioning in an offensive formation.

The tight end (TE) is an

split end who plays outside the flanks (wide). Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be effective blockers. On the other hand, unlike offensive linemen, they are eligible receivers
and potent weapons in a team's offensive schemes.

The tight end's role in any given offense depends on the preferences and philosophy of the

defensive secondary
. Many coaches will often have one tight end who specializes in blocking on running plays while using a tight end with better pass-catching skills in passing situations.

Offensive formations may have as few as zero or as many as three tight ends at one time.

NFL tight ends in 2024 make an average of $8 million per year; some of the top tight ends make around $17 million per year. This position is amongst the lowest paid in the NFL.[1]

History

Origins

offensive line
before a snap during a game in 2018

The advent of the tight end position is closely tied to the decline of the one-platoon system during the 1940s and '50s. Originally, substitutions were limited by rule, forcing players to be adept on both sides of the ball, with most offensive linemen doubling as defensive linemen or linebackers, and running backs and receivers doubling as defensive backs.

With the relaxation of substitution rules in professional football from the 1940s and after 1964 in the college game, a

"ends"
.

At 6'6" and 265 lbs., New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, a four-time first-team All-Pro, was large even by contemporary standards.

By the start of the 1960s many pro clubs had begun to position the flanker back far to the outside, just behind the line of scrimmage, part of what

Washington Redskins coach Bill McPeak characterized as a "three ends" system.[2] The receiver spread out on numerically inferior "weak" side of the formation was commonly known as the "split end"; the end lining up to the same side as the flanker, positioned close to the blocking linemen, became known as the "tight end".[2]
This tight end position, developed in the 1950s, embraced both blocking and receiving functions and flourished as part of the specialization of the two-platoon era.

Greater use of the tight end as a receiver in the cutting edge offenses of the 1960s led to the emergence of the first stars at the position, including Mike Ditka of the Chicago Bears, Jackie Smith of the St. Louis Cardinals, and John Mackey of the Baltimore Colts.

The modern position

Even with the emergence of star tight ends as receivers, the rush-heavy offenses of the 1960s through the early 1980s NFL saw tight ends continue to remain primarily blockers lined up next to an offensive tackle and given short to medium

two point receiver's stance, or put in motion like a flanker or offensive back.[7] 2000s Head coach Jon Gruden referred to such multi-dimensional tight ends as "jokers", calling Winslow the first ever in the NFL.[7][8] Patriots head coach Bill Belichick notes that the pass-catching tight ends that get paid the most are "all direct descendants of Kellen Winslow", and there are fewer tight ends now that can block on the line.[7]

In the 1990s,

power forward strength and wingspan.[9] At 6'6" Rob Gronkowski brought height, setting single-season tight end records in 2011 with 17 touchdowns—breaking Gates's and Vernon Davis's record of 13—and 1,327 receiving yards, surpassing Winslow's record of 1,290.[10] Jimmy Graham that season also passed Winslow with 1,310 yards.[11] Six of the NFL's 15 players with the most receptions that year were tight ends, the most in NFL history. Previous seasons usually had at most one or two ranked in the top.[12]

Tight ends generally hit their peak between the ages of 25 and 30.[13]

Tight ends in other leagues

In the Arena Football League the tight end serves as the 3rd offensive lineman (along with the center and guard). Although they are eligible receivers they rarely go out for passes and are usually only used for screen passes when they do.[citation needed]

However, in Canadian football, tight ends are, in general, no longer used professionally in the

2017 CFL Draft or possibly receive a tryout in the NFL.[14] He was drafted by the CFL's Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2017, but instead signed with the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers
as an undrafted free agent that same year.

National Tight Ends Day

Since 2019, the NFL celebrates National Tight Ends Day on the fourth weekend of October to highlight tight ends in the league.[15][16]

Roles

At 6'7", 265 lbs., Jimmy Graham, shown here playing in the Pro Bowl during his time with the New Orleans Saints, demonstrates the athleticism of a tight end in its role as a receiver.

Tight ends have two primary roles: (1) act as a blocker and (2) act as a receiver. Very occasionally, a tight end is also given the opportunity to rush with the ball. This typically happens when they are put in motion before the ball is snapped.

Blocking

In the National Football League (

fullback
, to block for both running backs and receivers. Tight ends are used as blockers to protect the quarterback during passing plays, to open holes in the line, and downfield to tie up linebackers and defensive backs.

Historically, a single tight end was used, typically placed on the right side of the offensive line. In the early 2000s, two tight end formations began to be used with more frequency.[18][19] Specialty plays may deploy 3- or 4-tight-end sets in "heavy" or "jumbo" packages, usually to block in short-yardage situations or to sow confusion in the defensive backfield with such an unusual formation. When a blocker larger than a tight end is desired without sacrificing the player's ability to catch a pass the position is sometimes filled by an offensive lineman who reports to the referee that he is an eligible receiver, referred to colloquially as a "tackle eligible".

Receiving

Historically, the primary role of a tight end was blocking, with strategic use as a receiver. Over time the emphasis of offense has shifted from running to passing, and with it the role of the tight end as a receiver expanded. The tight end is usually faster than the linebackers who cover him and often stronger than the cornerbacks and safeties who try to tackle him. In general, there is an inherent trade-off between a tight end's speed and agility and their size, meaning more mobile tight ends tend not to be as effective as blockers. This results in great premiums being placed on tight ends who can fill both roles effectively. When a team cannot find both in a single player they often rotate between those who are stronger in one role better than the other depending on the type of skill required by given plays.

At the extreme end the receiving spectrum are 'hybrid' tight ends that are drafted primarily for their pass-catching abilities. Often, these players have near-wide receiver speed, coupled with greater overall size and strength. Plays utilizing their assets are designed to capitalize on their combination of size, speed, and wingspan, at times spreading them out on the line like wide-receivers, off the line in the slot, or putting them in motion in the backfield.

Rushing

The decline of the fullback as a rushing position has seen the occasional deployment of tight ends as ball carriers, either aligned in the backfield or out of the slot in a reverse or sweep.[citation needed]

Physical attributes

Most tight ends are large in size, with an average height of 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) and a weight exceeding 254 lb (115 kg).

forty yard dash
time.

Jersey numbers

Main article: Uniform number (American football)

In American football, specific skill positions typically are issued jersey numbers in a restricted range. High school rules nationally are determined by the National Federation of State High School Associations; tight ends are able to wear any number other than 50–79.[22] The NCAA "strongly recommends"[23] ends wear 80–99, but this is not required. In the NFL, numbering has changed in 2021, which allows them to wear numbers 0-49 and 80–89.[24] The 0–49 number range is a relatively recent addition to the rules; as a result, most tight ends still bear numbers in the 80–89 range.

See also

References

  1. ^ Overthecap.com. "Tight end Contracts and Salaries". Over the Cap. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Washington Redskins: All Will Be Bright and Shiny — Except After Kickoffs," Pro Football 1961. New York: Fawcett Publications, 1961; p. 35.
  3. ISBN 978-0-345-51795-1
    .
  4. ^ Jaworski 2010, p.81.
  5. ^ Jaworski 2010, p.93
  6. ^ Jaworski 2010, pp.93–94
  7. ^ a b c Jaworski 2010, p.112
  8. ^ George, Thomas (September 29, 2002). "The Indispensable Tight End Is Making His Presence Felt". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 30, 2013.
  9. ^ Battista, Judy (January 17, 2012). "New Breed of Tight End Is Unchecked So Far". The New York Times. p. B9. Archived from the original on September 11, 2012.
  10. ^ Ridenour, Marla (January 16, 2012). "Playoffs showcase Browns' lack of big-play tight end". Akron Beacon Journal. Archived from the original on January 20, 2012.
  11. ^ Flori, Mike (January 1, 2012). "Graham, Gronkowski go back and forth with tight end yardage mark". NBC Sports. Archived from the original on January 8, 2012.
  12. ^ Darlington, Jeff (February 2, 2012). "Ever-evolving tight end position truly changing the game". NFL.com. Archived from the original on February 5, 2012.
  13. ^ "The Peak Age For an NFL Tight End". Apex Fantasy Leagues. April 10, 2023. A study conducted by Apex Fantasy Leagues indicated 69.1 percent of peak seasons fall within that range.
  14. ^ "Mock 2.0: Ankou, Senior jump up the charts - CFL.ca". cfl.ca. April 3, 2017.
  15. ^ Molski, Max (October 23, 2022). "What is National Tight Ends Day? History of NFL holiday". NBC Sports Bay Area. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  16. ^ McCarriston, Shanna (October 22, 2023). "NFL celebrates National Tight Ends Day with rap song, custom shirts, celebrity shoutouts". CBS Sports. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  17. ^ Football 101: Tight Ends and Quarterbacks by Mark Lawrence. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  18. ^ Double trouble: Cowboys' Parcells jumping on two-tight-end trend, September 20, 2006. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  19. ^ Too Deep Zone: Running with Multiple Tight Ends by Mike Tanier, October 20, 2006. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  20. ^ Blender, Cole. "Average NFL Height and Weight by Position" (PDF). Webpages. Idaho University. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 26, 2021. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  21. ^
    S2CID 24997384. Archived from the original
    (PDF) on March 16, 2013.
  22. ^ "2017 NHFS Football Rules" (PDF). NFHS. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  23. ^ "Football: 2016 and 2017 Rules and Interpretations" (PDF). NCAA. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 27, 2016. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  24. ^ "NFL Jersey Numbers | NFL Football Operations". operations.nfl.com. Retrieved April 18, 2024.

Further reading

Wikimedia Commons has media related to American football tight ends.
Look up tight end in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
  • Aaseng, Nathan (1981). Football's Toughest Tight Ends. Lerner Publications Company.
    ISBN 9780822510703
    .
Backer
Special teams
Returning
  • Punt returner
    (PR)
  • Kick returner
    (KR)
  • Jammer
  • Upman
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