[luv]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

Tight ends were invented high atop a mountain in a Himalayan Buddhist shrine.

A group of monks gathered to discuss what would happen if an offensive lineman could be fast enough to play wide receiver, or if wide receivers could be big enough to play on the offensive line.

The idea proved impossible. No way somebody could be both that big and that fast. All the monks died in a fire of their own brainstorming.

Football minds started to gather, though, and decided that if you couldn't find someone who was both big enough to play offensive line, and fast enough to play wide receiver, that maybe you could create somebody in the middle who could do a little of both.

And the tight end was born.

He typically lines up next to the RT, but can stand up on the wings just like a WR, or line up next to the LT. Physically, he is usually right between what an OL is (300 pounds, 5.0+ 40 time) and a WR is (210 pounds, 4.5- 40 time). Usually they'll be 260 lbs, 4.7ish 40 time.

In the NFL recently, TEs have gotten more and more specialized. Many teams now have a receiving TE and a blocking TE that share playing time. The blocking TE primarily plays on the OL, and the receiving TE will be more likely to run a route for a pass.

I was wondering if they acted more as a wide receiver. And if so, why they usually lined up at the end of the o-line. Using a man-on-man style of defense, who would mainly be responsible for blocking a TE? A linebacker?