Later this week, the Indianapolis Colts will host the Pittsburgh Steelers. Their unconventional matchup is emblematic of a larger trend happening within tight ends’ role in the NFL. Related Colts head coach Shane Steichen is at the forefront of this trend. His formative career experiences have led to a strong preference for using tight ends in his offensive schemes. The Steelers have one of the highest target shares to tight ends in the NFL. They’ll need to use all-around players, such as Tyler Warren, who operates effectively in the trenches and in the open field.
Both teams are looking forward to this important match-up. Dig deeper into their tactics, though, and you will see an incredible game of chess unfolding between the offensive ingenuity and defensive personnel changes. As we mentioned, the Colts need to maximize what makes Warren special — his useful skills. At the same time, the Steelers’ tight ends – including Hunter Henry and Pat Freiermuth – pose nightmares to enemy defensive coordinators. This will serve as a great tutorial on how today’s game is seeing offenses use tight ends more than ever to create mismatches.
Shane Steichen’s Affinity for Tight Ends
Shane Steichen’s affinity for tight ends began during his tenure with the Los Angeles Chargers, where he worked closely with star tight end Antonio Gates. That experience definitely helped set the stage for his offensive philosophy today, incorporating tight ends heavily.
“It started when I was with the Chargers and Antonio Gates.” – Shane Steichen
During Steichen’s time in Indianapolis, the Colts have had a more diverse approach to using tight ends. The team has certainly built a reputation for rolling out weird lineups, frequently using players in positions that aren’t always traditional. Tyler Warren is one of the most unique weapons in the country for this reason, as he’s able to truly play at six different positions.
The Colts certainly aren’t the first team to see the broad strategic value of tight ends. The Baltimore Ravens are keeping an eye on their tight ends. An incredible 12% of their targets go to this position, by far the highest percentage in the league. Beyond stopping the pass, this trend illustrates a profound transformation in offensive approaches across the NFL. Offenses are doing everything they can to find mismatches to attack defenses.
Tyler Warren and His Versatility
Tyler Warren is developing into the most important player for the Colts. He displays his diversity by being disruptive not only as an inline blocker but as a pass catcher. It’s his ability to expand beyond any one particular role that makes him an invaluable asset.
As a result, Warren currently sits tied for fourth among tight ends with a 20.3% target share. This speaks to his vital importance to the Colts’ passing game. His ability to open up the field and gain a step is game-changing and shakes defenses to their core.
The Steelers’ defense will need to account for Warren’s unique skill set as they devise their game plan. On top of that, each team has multiple talented tight ends on their rosters. This diversity poses numerous challenges that will exploit any deficiencies in the defensive coverage.
Defensive Challenges and Adjustments
The rise of tight ends as top receiving threats has changed the way defenses plan for them. Lou Anarumo, a notable figure in defensive play-calling, recalls a time when linebackers could effectively match up against average tight ends.
“Those guys are such big, skilled athletes these days and they just seem to be more and more and more.” – Lou Anarumo
As tight ends have more and more evolved into receiving roles, Anarumo stressed the importance of needing creative defensive matchups. Teams are coming to a point more each year where they need to use defensive backs to match up on these growing freaks.
Steelers’ defensive coordinator Teryl Austin getting ready for this week. He admits that there’s been some miscommunication that has resulted in opposing tight ends finding plenty of open ground. Reflecting on past games, he noted:
“That’s some calculated risk that sometimes we’ll take. There were some times that he was open, and a couple things where the two touchdowns he had were both, we had some coverage issues.” – Teryl Austin
Austin acknowledged that while injuries can complicate defensive schemes, they cannot serve as excuses for poor performances.
“We have to be able to, whoever’s in the game, be available and be ready to give our best effort to stop this guy.” – Teryl Austin
The Impact of Recent Performances
Recent matchups for each squad have showcased the importance of tight ends to their overall offensive schemes. In Week 3, Hunter Henry led the Steelers with eight receptions on eleven targets for 90 yards and two touchdowns. His ability to create separation and capitalize on defensive lapses demonstrates the effectiveness of tight ends in modern passing games.
In Week 7, Fant displayed beyond-the-numbers talent with beautiful ball skills. He was a perfect 4 for 4 on targets, accumulating 44 yards and a touchdown. These performances are just further testament to the evergreen role of a tight end in making those critical converting plays and helping lead your team to glory.
With these additions, Pat Freiermuth provides the Steelers with a dynamic strong receiving core. He’s scored nine touchdowns and averages a nifty 10.5 yards per reception. His contributions exemplify the ways that tight ends can be primary scoring threats in an offense’s passing attack.
The Broader Trend in the NFL
The focus on attacking tight ends is a part of an overall trend around the NFL. And teams are finally catching on to the value of these players. That said, they can definitely function as big playmaking wide receivers, creating serious mismatches with defenders who simply can’t hang with their size and athleticism.
This transformation has sparked discussions among coaches and analysts about how teams can best utilize their personnel to maximize offensive potential while challenging traditional defensive paradigms.
“Tight ends in this league, they’ve become wide receivers.” – Kenny Moore II
This transformation has sparked discussions among coaches and analysts about how teams can best utilize their personnel to maximize offensive potential while challenging traditional defensive paradigms.
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