
.@tkelce thinks about route running like being a ball handler on a basketball court.
Learning from the best at @te_university. đŁ pic.twitter.com/i8XRIRz5OG
â NFL (@NFL) June 21, 2023
Kansas City Chiefs TE Travis Kelce has his teacher hat on at the third annual Tight End University (TEU), which is underway at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennesse.
His on-field instruction during the course of the three-day summit was centered around leverage, releases and running routes against defenders in man coverage. He hones in on explaining the blend of putting your own spin on things to get open, but also the element of timing things up with your quarterback.
âIn terms of gaining leverage in man coverage route running, Iâm thinking a lot about being a ball carrier on a basketball court,â Kelce said. âLike, in between the legs, going here, going here. Iâm trying to break hips and open up, break his hip and get past his level. Things like that.â
Kelce provided some unique comparisons in his instruction to relate to the crowd of NFL athletes. That includes a little tidbit from a current Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach.
âThere was an NBA coach, Phil Handy, that was talking about, âYou can downshift and you can look quicker than you actually are,'â Kelce continued. âA lot of guys, when theyâre dribbling the basketball, itâs all just 100 miles per hour. Itâs not real purposeful â it looks sweet â but itâs not real purposeful. If you can somehow find a way to (appear) quicker, itâs more threatening to that defender. . . When you play with the actual tempo of your routes, thatâs what I was talking about with the pianist. Making sure that youâre playing your own melody, but youâre on that QBs time.â
The multitalented NFL star certainly has a career in show business after he decides to hang up his cleats. However, these clips from TEU are a reminder that he probably could pick up a career in coaching as well.