Diverse Blocking Assignments for Tight Ends in the Spread Offense

with Vince Okruch,
Rutgers University Special Teams Coordinator/Outside Linebackers Coach; formerTight Ends Coach;
with 35+ years of coaching experience, Okruch has worked with some of the legendary names in college football, including Lou Holtz, Bill McCartney, Gary Barnett and Urban Meyer.

The spread offense has evolved over the past decade, and one of the most important developments is the use of the tight end position. The tight end must possess a unique skill set, and more importantly, must be well coached in order to help the offense succeed.

In this video, Vince Okruch solves the problem of what a modern era tight end needs to know in the spread offense run scheme. Using diagrams, game film and practice film, Coach Okruch defines the "Eight Musts" of a tight end:

• Alignment
• Assignment
• Get off
• Hand Placement
• Face Placement
• On the Run Adjustments
• Sustain
• Finish

He then breaks down each `Must' to give you the tools to fully execute the technique according to different situations.

Laws of Combat

Coach Vince Okruch begins the video by explaining the "Laws of Combat" that are taught to each player at Rutgers. These "Laws" are points of emphasis that the coaching staff at Rutgers believe are important to winning football, and include key elements of posture, stance, movement, toughness, ball security, and what is called "The Difference" at Rutgers. Coach Okruch explains how "The Difference" forms the framework for coaching, making contact for all positions, and shows practice drill footage of the techniques that make up "The Difference."

Alignment and Assignments

Coach Okruch explains the different alignments and motions that tight ends use in the Rutgers spread offense. These alignments include being split out wide, being in a slot or "Y off" position, and also in a traditional tight end alignment. There are several variations of each alignment that are used and explained by Coach Okruch. Next, he gives a detailed explanation of each individual block that the tight ends are asked to execute at Rutgers.

Blocking Technique

Coach Okruch guides you through more than 10 styles of blocks necessary for tight ends. These blocks include: base, cut off, reach, mini arc, sift, slice, slip, insert, and the sting and dog combination blocks. Coach Okruch explains the technique of each block and uses practice footage to illustrate key points of emphasis that will help you use your tight ends more effectively in the spread run game. He also explains the technique and key coaching points of the perimeter blocks tight ends will use when they are split out wide. These blocks are the stalk block and the crack block.

The tight end position has changed the spread offense dramatically, and this excellent video will help you take advantage of these advancements in the spread run game. If you have a superior athlete who is football smart, incorporating Coach Okruch's tight end techniques will give opposing defensive coordinators nightmares!

70 minutes. 2017.