Tight end

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The tight end (TE) is a position in American football on the offensive team. The role of a tight end can change depending on the philosophy of the head coach, but their main jobs are two-fold: block for the running back or quarterback who is carrying the ball, and catch passes from the quarterback. The tight end usually lines up next to an offensive tackle, adding a man to that side of the offensive line. Therefore, whichever side the tight end is on is referred to as the "strong side", and the side without is called "weak side". Linebackers are, by extension, given "strong-side" and "weak-side" roles depending on which side of the defense they line up on; similarly, the safeties take their places in the secondary according to which side the opposing tight end is. Tight ends can also come in motion during a play.

[edit] Blocking

Tight ends are usually larger and slower than a wide receiver,usually weighing 245-265 lbs, compared to a 180 lb. wide reciever, and therefore able to block more effectively. Almost all tight ends in the National Football League play this role primarily, as there are few tight end-oriented offensive schemes in use by coaches today. It is the job of the tight end, along with the fullback, to get downfield before the tailback and open up a hole in the defense for them to run through. Tight ends are used along with the offensive linemen to protect the quarterback during passing plays. Oftentimes, tight ends are employed in a fullback position called "H-Back" in which he is still beside the tackle, however off the line of scrimmage.

Joe Gibbs is credited with creation of the two tight end offense. During the 1980's Gibbs realized he needed to utilize an additional blocker to keep New York Giants premier linebacker Lawrence Taylor from disrupting the Washington Redskins offense.

[edit] Receiving

There are plays written to take advantage of a tight end's ability to catch. Tight ends are used to exploit a defense's coverage of a wide receiver. Specifically, if a team has a star wide receiver that usually gets double-coverage from the secondary, the coach will call plays for the quarterback to throw to the tight end, as he is usually the man left uncovered in a defense. For this reason the tight end is sometimes called the quarterback's safety valve, as he is usually open for a last second throw.

On some teams, the tight end may be so highly skilled at catching passes that he actually becomes their leading receiver, catching more passes and gaining more receiving yards than anyone else. In 2004 Tony Gonzalez led his team in receptions and receiving yards with 102 receptions for 1,258 yards. His 102 catches in 2004 are the most receptions ever recorded by a tight end in an NFL season. In 2004 Eric Johnson led the 49ers in receptions with 82. Also in 2004, Antonio Gates set the record for most TD's for a tight end - 13. Gonzalez and Gates fit the mold of a new type of tight end that corresponds to a power forward in basketball (both players also have a background in basketball). Their versatility and speed help create mismatches in coverage, thereby opening up a team's passing attack. The mismatch stems from the fact that the tight end is faster than linebackers to cover him and stronger than cornerbacks and safeties to bring him down. This also often leads to confusion in coverage responsibilities and allows wide receivers to get open.