Stretching the Field with Tight Ends

We've talked a lot recently about the seeming abundance of tight end talent on campus right now. I wrote was about how Loeffler could employ multiple tight ends to create "heavy" formations. The deployment of tight ends and H-Backs near the line of scrimmage could be helpful in establishing the recently elusive power running game, as well as giving Loeffler plenty of flexibility in his play-action game. When you have a bunch of tight ends who demand playing time, stacking the line of scrimmage with big bodies isn't the only way to attack the defense. Loeffler could (and almost certainly will) do just the opposite at times.

Attacking Alignment

Ever since Loeffler was hired I've discussed how he creates mismatches (or attempts to) through the use of formations. One of his strengths is finding out a defenses alignment and player responsibilities, allowing him to personalize his game plan to exploit those rules. One of his favorite ways to do this is to line up in a "five wide" formation and pick on linebackers that are trying to cover wide receivers in the slot.

Here we see Willie Byrn come across the middle of the field for an easy underneath route. He easily leaves the first linebacker behind and after a nice block by Knowles, is able to pick up the first. This doesn't really classify as an "explosive" play, but its an easy chunk of yardage that should be available as long as the QB makes an accurate throw, the WR catches it, and he gets some blocking help down the field. Why doesn't the defense have more defensive backs on the field though? If the Hokies are lined up with five receivers out wide, why do they allow themselves to get caught in this mismatch? The key is understanding how defenses create their game plans.

When the offense takes the field, the defense can actually see who is in the huddle and can substitute accordingly. If the defensive coordinator sees five wide receivers jog out, he'll bring on his best pass rushers and extra cornerbacks. On the flip side, if he sees a running back, fullback, and three tight ends he'd probably take some corners off and put in some linebackers.

Keeping this in mind, its easier to see how Loeffler created that WR on LB mismatch. The Hokies had 1x1 (one back, one tight end) personnel on the field. Cline is lined up on the LOS to the left of the LT. Chris Mangus starts the play off the screen on the bottom of the field, but at the end of the clip you can see him blocking along the sideline for Byrn. When the GT defensive coordinator saw that grouping while Tech was in the huddle, he had to keep his linebackers in the game in case the offense lined up under center and handed the ball off to Mangus.

Loeffler knew that GT would keep their linebackers in to protect against the run. He countered this by sending his running back as far wide as possible and putting Byrn in the slot. Based on GT's alignment rules, a cornerback lined up over Mangus and a linebacker lined up over Byrn... Viola. Mismatch out of thin air.

Tight Ends Split Wide

So how can Malleck/Cline/Hodges benefit? Obviously, getting the most out of these tight ends requires establishing a running game while they are on the field. If Loeffler can get a strong ground game going by utilizing the tactics outlined in my last article, defensive coordinators are going to have a tough time figuring out how to handle these tight ends.

Let's say Loeffler has Edmunds, Malleck, Cline, Hodges, and Stanford in the huddle. That's a conservative 1x3 grouping. Defensive coordinators are now in a pickle... What do they do with their secondary? Does he leave both corners and both safeties in the game? If so, those three tight ends are going to have the advantage in the blocking game. If Edmunds has been having success moving the chains, the DC might be tempted to sub in a linebacker and take out a safety or corner. Once that happens, Loeffler is in position to use his athletic tight ends in space to create mismatches.

Having three tight ends who are more than capable of winning battles in space, Loeffler can choose to go five wide again. With a secondary weakened by substitutions in order to account for the run threat, Loeffler can match Cline, Malleck, and Hodges all up against linebackers. We already know what Cline is capable of in those situations.

Cline is a mismatch against linebackers for sure, but Hodges is going to be a nightmare. Here he is, working against a linebacker out of a five wide formation in the spring game.

Hodges has the size to bully and box out linebackers on those short routes underneath, as well as attack a defense vertically. In the spring game we saw him break open wide open deep from another five wide formation.

We don't have a lot of film on Malleck, but we do know that the coaches think very highly of him (especially Loeffler). I'm not sure what type of vertical threat he'll be, but I feel confident that Malleck will be too much to handle for most linebackers on stick and hitch routes. At his size and with his hands, he'll be a nice target underneath for whoever wins the quarterback battle.

The Hokies can manufacture a lot of mismatches out of their tight end position if, and only if, they are able to have some type of threat running the ball. If defenses don't feel the need to sub in run defenders when they see a surplus of tight ends come into the game, it will be a whole lot harder to get the trio open. Football is the ultimate team sport and Malleck/Cline/Hodges will have to rely on the offensive line to win their battles up front and their young running back teammates to make the right reads and make some guys miss. Otherwise, the space that Loeffler hopes to create for them will evaporate.