Receivers learn there’s more to position
‘Run fast and score touchdowns’ is fine, but blocking now emphasized
Tyron Carrier has plenty of game film from his AllAmerica career to choose from when instructing the University of Houston’s receiving corps.
Maybe some of his 320 career receptions? Perhaps a few of his 22 touchdowns?
Don’t forget about his NCAArecord seven touchdowns on kickoff returns.
No. Instead, Carrier, back at his alma mater as assistant head coach/receivers coach, shows clips that emphasize the little things.
If you really want to impress Carrier, you must block.
“To me, that’s what separates receivers from being average,” Carrier said Wednesday. “Everybody can run routes and catch balls out there. What separates you from every other receiver in the nation is blocking.”
The selfless commitment to blocking has been
a work in progress. Carrier said the Cougars’ talented receiver corps spent the spring and preseason camp “breaking bad habits.”
“Trying to get them to do it your way on a consistent basis has been the hardest thing,” Carrier said. “The talent is there. The right way of doing things is still in the process — adopting that mindset and learning what is demanded.”
From the moment he arrived on campus, head coach Dana Holgorsen delivered the message that things would be different. Roles would change. Assignments that had previously been an afterthought would now be front and center.
“They didn’t have to block in the past and didn’t have to play hard and do a whole lot of things other than run fast and score touchdowns,” Holgorsen said during the spring.
Those things remain important, and the Cougars should again feature one of the most explosive offenses in college football with quarterback D’Eriq King and a receiving unit that features Marquez Stevenson, Keith Corbin, Courtney Lark and Bryson Smith. The group combined for 180 catches for 2,534 yards and 28 touchdowns last season.
“We feel like we are one of the top units,” said Stevenson, who after two injury-filled seasons had a breakout campaign with 1,019 yards and nine touchdowns to earn first team All-American Athletic Conference honors. “Our stats last year really speak
for themselves. Every day we are coming in trying to make each other better. If one person makes a play, the other person is looking to make the next big play.”
That does not necessarily mean a highlight-reel catch or touchdown. Just as important have been blocking assignments that, when executed properly, can lead to big gains elsewhere.
The emphasis for UH receivers in camp has been on being physical on the perimeter and the ability to block inside and out. Doing so — often against bigger and stronger defenders — offers the opportunity to free running backs on the perimeter.
What the UH coaching staff wants is for players to be engaged in every play, regardless if the ball is coming in their direction. If a receiver is not involved in a pass play, it is not uncommon to see him run a route without selling it or run downfield and pretend to block a defensive back.
“As a group, they made leaps,” Carrier said. “They were just
taught a different way. And making them buy into what I am saying and making them believe it and showing them how it works, now they are at the point where they know they messed up. Now we have to get them to the point where it’s on a consistent basis you do it this way every time.”
Stevenson said he has learned plenty in just a short time with Carrier.
“Being a receiver and seeing tape of him actually running the type of plays we are running … to see his technique and what he is teaching us goes a long way.”
Carrier said he has noticed a sign on the field that the message is being received.
“As soon as (a receiver) makes a mistake, you can see him clap his hand or give some type of gesture,” he said. “Then you know he knows better, and you can start holding him accountable for things.”