Typically, there are two parts to every play call, particularly for passes – there’s the protection, that mainly goes to the offensive line, and there’s the passing routes that go to the tight ends, running backs and wide receivers. Tight ends, have to know both part of the call and that’s why the team’s tight ends will help new quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo Sunday in Chicago.
“We bridge that gap between the offensive line and the receivers,” starting tight end Garrett Celek said. “And we know when things are not called (correctly).”
Being a veteran, Celek is likely to get plenty of playing time Sunday because of his knowledge of the offense and ability to help Garoppolo. Already this week in practice, Celek has corrected calls for Garoppolo so everyone’s on the same page.
“We have that ability, we know enough of the playbook to be able to do that, where he’s still learning that,” Celek said, “and we might catch something small.”
Celek said he corrected rookie C.J. Beathard about three times in games this year, and with Garoppolo it might be more. For example, which direction a play may be headed can be a typical mistake.
“You get used to hearing plays over and over and over,” Celek said. “I hear something that doesn’t make sense, you can say, ‘It’s not supposed to do this, it’s supposed to do that’ and get it corrected.”
Celek said mistakes occur when a play isn’t called into the headset correctly, or when it’s misheard by the quarterback.
“Hopefully, it won’t happen too much,” Celek said.