Tight Ends

Question
Hey Coach,
  I'm a freshman at a high school in northeastern PA with a good football reputation and I am trying to improve as much as I can for next year's season. I am about 5'8" and a little less than 180 pounds, but honestly you wouldn't think I weigh more than 160. I play tight end and defensive end, and my main focus right now is at tight end. Last season, I started on our freshman team and had a great season including 3 receiving touchdowns. I feel that I am a very effective receiving tight end, but I'm not sure if my blocking is good enough to play for our varsity team. Another factor is my speed. I'm not slow but I would certainly like to get in better shape by next season. Right now I can run the 40 in a little over 5 seconds, but I would like to be under 5 but next season's start. At this point I feel that my skills as a receiver are great and worthy of a good amount of playing time next year, but I know that I can only see my desired time on the field if I improve my blocking and become more athletic. So any tips you have would be great.

Thanks a lot, Coach
 Eric Faust

Answer
Eric -

Thanks for writing.  Well, you have 2 basic things here so I will handle them one at a time.

For blocking, the only thing you can do is get bigger and stronger, and learn the proper blocking techniques.  Once you do that, remember that blocking is mostly desire, and nothing more.  Anyone can be a good blocker if they want to be.  So get strong in the weight room, then get with your coaches and have them show you the basic blocking techniques.  Once you have those, it is nothing more than WANTING to block.

Speed wise, again, leg training is important.  Do power lifts that your team has set up.  Also, running technique is important.  Get with a track coach at your school and have him show you the proper running form.  And lastly, get on the internet and look up PLYOMETRICS.  These are simple, effective exercises that will increase your speed quickly.  They incluse box jumps, box leg raises, power skips, power hops, etc.  Print those out and get started on them ASAP.

Basically, the key to improving on your areas is just desire.  Get with your coaches and have them start you off.  They will be more interested than you think in helping you.  Let me know if I can do anything else for you.

Best wishes

Coach Perl