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Notre Dame Football

In the Film Room: Brock Wright SR Year

December 2, 2016
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Football has changed a lot over the last decade and one spot where it has changed the most is tight end. It used to be that tight ends were complete football players. A hybrid of an offensive lineman combined with a receiver. There wasn't another position on the field that was as versatile.

It has moved in another direction in recent years. When they say hybrid when referring to tight ends, they are implying that a tight end is part tight end and part wide receiver. What it actually means is that tight ends have transformed into big wide receivers. The blocking they do is more on the perimeter and where they line up is frequently not next to an offensive tackle.

What makes Brock Wright an exceptional prospect is that he is the old version of the hybrid. He is a throwback football player. An extension of the big boys up front and a capable receiver as well. His skills as run blocker make him a unique prospect and also make him the prospect that Notre Dame needs the most in this current recruiting class.

Finishes blocks

I don't know how many times I watched Notre Dame's tight ends fit a block the last two seasons and fail to finish it, but the number is high. It's rare to see someone that can play as a legitimate in-line tight end these days. It's even more rare for a tight end to play as mean as Wright does. This is a great example of that.

Wright is lined up in-line to the left side of the line. It's a toss play and the goal of linebacker is to set the edge. Wright doesn't allow that to happen. As soon as the linebacker jumps outside, Wright kicks him way out of the play leaving a huge hole for the runner to follow his fullback. The best part is that the play is already gone. Wright's work is technically done. But Wright still finishes the block by putting the linebacker on his butt.

Far too many times we see a block being made and the blocker stops when he thinks the job is done. Wright brings the opposite of that mentality to his blocking assignments.

via GIPHY

Tough

I didn't feel any other description was necessary for this. What Wright does after the catch on this play epitomizes the type of player he is. He is just plain tough.

When is the last time we've seen a Notre Dame tight end break multiple tackles after the catch? It's been awhile. This kind of thing is reminiscent of Mark Bavaro and what he could do. I think many would love to see plays from the tight end like that Irv Smith touchdown versus Indiana. That was an exceptional play from Smith, but from what I have seen from Wright, he is an exceptionally tough football player. He will not go down easy in the open field.

via GIPHY

Impressive at the point of attack

It's all good to see a tight end to get to the second level and block a linebacker, but a tight end that can drive someone off the ball at the point of attack can change the way an offense calls play. There are a ton of plays from Wright's senior season where he is working a double team on the 7 technique with an offensive tackle and they are crushing that defensive end. This play is him working solo.

What I love about this is that Wright sticks with it and isn't affected by the defender trying to spin out of it. Wright does what he should do when that happens. The defender gives up his back and Wright takes full advantage of it by driving him down the field.

via GIPHY

Hit. Fit. Finish

From the H-back spot, Wright makes contact and never stops his feet. He fits up his block and the defensive end is on the ground by the end of it.

The best offensive line coach I've ever been around had a mantra: Hit. Fit. Finish. He'd say it over and over again until every lineman who played for him was sick of hearing it. They never forgot it, though. I don't know if someone ever said that to Wright, but I see it from him all the time. He is a technically sound blocker that finishes through the defender.

via GIPHY

Controlled aggression at the second level

The linebacker didn't really see this coming. Wright went to block him and there are some players who would have tried for a big pop rather than doing what Wright did.

He broke down, got his fit, and then got aggressive when putting that inside linebacker on the turf. That's clinic worthy stuff right there.

via GIPHY

I have Wright as the highest ranked recruit in Notre Dame's class for a reason. Most tight ends that are highly rated have great ball skills and have the potential to be a mismatch at receiver. Wright is an old school in-line tight end that is exceptional as a run blocker and all day tough after the catch as a receiver. Alize Jones, he is not. But Jones is not Wright when it comes to blocking.

It's no coincidence that when Notre Dame runs the football well, they win a lot of football games. Wright is going to help them in a big way when running the football. He's going to be on campus in January as an early enrollee, and with how physically mature he already is (in the 250 pound range with a chance to be 260 plus), he may help the running game as a blocker as early as next season.

 
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