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Receivers Duffey, Burch Help Each Other

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By EDDIE DANIELS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 3, 2008

WESLEY CHAPEL - When Travis Duffey steps toward the line of scrimmage this season, there will be a series of thoughts that stream through his consciousness.

The Wiregrass Ranch receiver will review the route in his head, scan the defense and prepare to get off the ball quickly.

Maybe it won't be in the forefront, but you have to believe he is hoping the receiver on the opposite end of the formation gets open.

Likewise, that other receiver, Blake Burch, is hoping Duffey can shed defenders for positive yards.

That's the way it works for a receiver. A not-so-subtle game of cat and mouse.

If your teammate can get open and hurt the defense, that'll free you up. If you do the same, someone's in trouble.

"If he's doing his job, it should pull some of the pressure off of me," said Duffey, a senior, of his good friend Burch. "If they're putting double coverage on me, it's going to be a lot tougher on me. If he is doing his job, it's going to pull the pressure off me and help me makes plays as well as him making plays.

"If I can pull double coverage, then it can help get him out in the open and give him better passes to catch or get us more yards or touchdowns we'll need."

If the duo can do it on a regular basis and post decent numbers, saying it will help would be an understatement.

The Bulls were outscored 364-116 last year, held to 12 or less points seven times, including two shutouts.

If either one of those receivers touches the ball, you can believe Wiregrass coach Ricky Thomas will be satisfied.

"He's tuning into, in my opinion, the total package," Thomas said of Duffey. "He's very aggressive, he doesn't say much, but he's the kind of guy who shows up on Friday night and lays it all on the line.

"Burch is probably in the same mold as Travis, but they're a year apart. He's a tremendous blocker down field. Both of them are. Both are very unselfish guys. Most receivers, all they want to do is catch the football, but these guys, they get down field and they'll de-cleat ya. Both of them are pretty good at that. ... Blake can catch the ball in traffic. He's pretty fearless as far as catching the ball in traffic."

Making the job of the receivers easier should be the team's play at running back. The team is bursting with talent in the backfield and as they eat up yards, that opens the way for the passing game.

That off-the-field friendship has helped Duffey and Burch in the way of communication - be it verbal or nonverbal. The two have worked out signals, which they will go to when they see a defensive formation that can be exploited.

"Me and Travis are real good friends," said Burch. "We communicate with each other really well and we help each other out a lot. We have audibles that we call and check into.

"Say he and I are lined up in the slot. We have two routes we have to run and say he's running an out. I'll try to get off the ball fast, so he can hurry up and do his thing."

When that thing gets going, the Bulls are hoping to blow by a one-win season.

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