I find myself answering a question on TE passing at least once a month now. I remember being frustrated with TE passing when I first started until I broke down what the best plays to throw to the TE were. Now, I can routinely produce 1000 yard TEs.

So instead of answering this over and over, I'm putting together this very quick guide to how to throw to your TE. I'm not going to go into depth about any one of these plays.

Also, this assumes that you have read my thread on player weights since these plays depend on having a TE that have the appropriate attributes to be an elite receiver that will not get jammed at the line.

Preface

Here's a quick and dirty guide to how the QB determines the primary receiver (IN 0.4.2 THIS BECOMES OBSOLETE IN 0.4.3).

The QB randomly determines the primary receiver before the snap. Receivers running a route the same distance as the play distance (short route vs short passing play for instance) have the highest chance of being the primary receiver. As far as I know, this is partially influenced by the receiver hierarchy, so WR1 will have the highest chance most of the time.

IMPORTANT NOTE: You should never build your offense around your TE as your primary receiver. So while it's good to get your TE involved, and while it's pretty easy to get them good yards, you should concentrate on building the rest of your passing game first.

The Plays

212
Cross In
* Everyone runs short on this play, but the QB often reads the TE running the drag first. Even if the QB doesn't read the drag, the WR1 runs the best route in the game right now and the HB will pull cover to the sideline.

Short Attack
* There are three players technically running short routes, but the WR2 is going to touch the LOS and scream upfield and half the time the QB is going to ignore him. That leaves the TE or the HB as the main targets on this play. Either one will get you 5-10 yards on average per catch.

Hard Slants
* Since the play is twins, the TE gets isolated on the right side of the field. He typically takes one-to-one coverage on the outside with a safety or an LB. If the QB looks his way, he's going to win that battle most of the time.

113
TE Out
* Two players run short on this play - the TE and the WR3. The WR3 is going to hit the sideline and come back, which typically means the QB will read the TE first and often only. If the QB switches to the second read, the WR3, the WR3 is usually coming back across the field under the coverage.

TE Quick Out
* It kind of works like the TE Out, but it's not as good.

HB Flare (Medium), Short Attack, WR Post
* The TE Seam plays. The TE runs a seam on each of these plays, and usually beats his man up the field. If the QB sees him, and he often does, it's good for a 20 yard gain.

122
TE Flat Curl
* TE is the only player running short on this play.

311
PA Flats
* TE and the FB are the only players running short. If you have your second best TE or second fastest TE at FB, this play can be devestating with either player. I once built a game plan solely around this play with two 90+ overall TEs before the days of play overuse.

014
Short Posts
* There are a lot of players running short on this play, but the TE runs under the slant routes. If the QB targets him, he usually has a good lane up the sideline to get significant yardage.