What is a football route? A football route is the specific path a receiver runs on a passing play to get open for a catch. Can a receiver run a route without the quarterback throwing the ball? Yes, a receiver can still run a route even if the ball isn’t thrown, but it’s usually part of a planned play where the pass is intended. Who is responsible for running a route in football? The receiver, and sometimes other eligible pass-catching players like tight ends and running backs, are responsible for running routes.
Running a precise route is a cornerstone of successful football play execution. It’s not just about sprinting; it’s a blend of technique, intelligence, and communication. Mastering this skill is crucial for any receiver aiming to be a reliable target for their quarterback and a significant threat to the opposing defense. This guide will delve deep into the art of route running, from the basic principles to advanced strategies that can elevate your game. We’ll explore the mechanics, the mental game, and how to integrate your route running into the broader offensive scheme design.
The Fundamentals of Route Running Technique
At its core, effective route running is about creating separation from a defender and presenting a catchable target for the quarterback. This requires a deep dive into several key areas of route running technique.
Stance and Get-Off
Your stance is your launchpad. A good stance provides balance and allows for explosive acceleration.
- Three-Point Stance: Common for many receivers. Weight is balanced, with hands on the ground and feet staggered. The lead foot is typically slightly forward, with the back foot a comfortable distance behind.
- Key elements: Low center of gravity, ready to explode forward. Eyes up, focused on the ball and the defender.
- Two-Point Stance: More upright, often used by slot receivers or when a more fluid movement is desired.
- Key elements: Balanced on the balls of the feet. Hips are slightly bent, ready to drive.
The “get-off” is your initial burst out of the stance. This is where you can gain crucial inches.
- Explosive First Step: It’s not about how far you step, but how powerfully. Drive off the back foot.
- Pad Level: Maintain a low pad level during the initial explosion to maximize power.
- Head and Eyes: Keep your head up and eyes forward to read the defense and anticipate the snap.
Footwork and Transitions
The ability to change direction quickly and efficiently is paramount. This is where your footwork truly shines.
- Explosive Cuts: When making a cut, drop your hips and drive your outside foot into the ground. This allows you to change direction explosively without losing speed.
- Example: A “juke” move involves planting your inside foot and cutting sharply in the opposite direction.
- Stick Drags: A specific technique where the receiver plants their outside foot firmly and drags their inside foot behind them, creating a quick, sharp change of direction.
- Diamond Steps: Used to create a brief pause or hesitation in the defender’s movement. It involves a series of quick, choppy steps.
- Bell Drags: A variation of the stick drag, often used to sell an outside release before cutting back inside. The footwork emphasizes a slight hip turn and plant to create the illusion of an outside release.
Handwork and Fighting Through Contact
Defenders will try to disrupt your route by grabbing, holding, or jamming you at the line of scrimmage. Effective handwork is essential to combat this.
- Punch Technique: When you feel a defender’s hand, use a strong, quick punch with your forearms or hands to break their grip. Aim to get your hands inside their arms.
- Hand Placement: Keep your hands slightly extended and ready to fend off defenders. Don’t let them get too close to your body.
- Arm Extension: Use your arms to create space and prevent the defender from latching onto you.
Body Control and Ball Skills
Once you’ve executed your route, you need to be in a position to catch the ball.
- Catch Radius: Extend your arms and hands to create the largest possible target for the quarterback.
- Body Adjustment: Be prepared to adjust your body to the throw. This might involve reaching, diving, or contorting to make a difficult catch.
- Hands vs. Body: Always try to catch the ball with your hands. Using your body can lead to fumbles.
- “See the Ball”: This is the golden rule. Keep your eyes on the ball from the moment it leaves the quarterback’s hand until it’s in your grasp.
Executing Different Types of Routes
Understanding the nuances of various passing route concepts is vital for a versatile receiver. Each route has a specific purpose and requires precise execution.
Basic Routes
These are the building blocks of most passing offenses.
- Slant: A short, sharp inward break. The receiver runs 3-5 steps straight, then breaks diagonally towards the middle of the field.
- Purpose: Exploits inside leverage or man coverage. Quick, high-percentage throw.
- Technique: Make a hard, chopping cut. Keep your head and eyes up to find the quarterback.
- Out: A short, sharp outward break. The receiver runs 5-7 steps straight, then breaks sharply towards the sideline.
- Purpose: Creates separation against outside leverage.
- Technique: Plant your outside foot firmly and drive. Keep your head up to see the ball.
- Comeback: The receiver runs 10-12 steps deep and then breaks back towards the quarterback.
- Purpose: Creates separation deep against man coverage or exploits zone coverage.
- Technique: Run through your break point. Plant your outside foot and pivot back towards the quarterback, keeping your arms extended.
- Curl: Similar to a comeback, but typically shorter. The receiver runs 7-10 steps and then turns back towards the quarterback.
- Purpose: Creates a short-to-intermediate target.
- Technique: Run through the break point, then plant and turn. Be ready to adjust to the throw.
- Go/Fly: A straight sprint downfield.
- Purpose: Stretches the defense vertically.
- Technique: Run with speed and stride. Maintain proper pad level. Be aware of the defender’s position to adjust your path slightly.
Advanced Routes
These routes often involve more complex footwork and timing.
- Post: The receiver runs 10-12 steps deep, then breaks sharply towards the middle of the field, aiming for the goalposts.
- Purpose: Attacks the deep middle of the field.
- Technique: Sell the outside release, then break hard inside. Keep your head up to locate the quarterback.
- Corner: The receiver runs 10-12 steps deep, then breaks sharply towards the sideline.
- Purpose: Attacks the deep sideline.
- Technique: Sell the inside release, then break hard outside. Keep your head up to locate the quarterback.
- Out and Up: The receiver runs to the sideline as if going for an “out” route, then accelerates vertically to get behind the defender.
- Purpose: Deceives the defender into biting on the short out.
- Technique: Make a clear out-breaking head and shoulder fake, then plant and explode vertically.
- Drag: The receiver runs horizontally across the field, typically behind the linebackers.
- Purpose: Finds open space in zones or attacks man coverage from behind.
- Technique: Run with good acceleration and pace. Keep your head up to find the quarterback.
- Crosser: Similar to a drag but often deeper and with a more defined path across the field.
- Purpose: Stretches the field horizontally and vertically.
- Technique: Maintain speed and stride. Look to create separation at the apex of the break.
The Mental Aspect of Route Running
Route running is as much a mental game as it is physical.
Defensive Coverage Recognition
Fathoming defensive coverage is critical for adjusting your route and creating an advantage.
- Man Coverage: When you recognize man coverage, your goal is to beat your defender through technique and quickness.
- Press Coverage: If the defender is jamming you at the line, use your punch technique and quick footwork to get off them.
- Off Coverage: If the defender is giving you space, use speed and sharp breaks to create separation.
- Zone Coverage: In zone coverage, your goal is to find openings within the defender’s zone or work to the void areas.
- Understanding Zone Principles: Learn where defenders are supposed to be and how they react to routes. Your route might be designed to clear out a zone or to sit in a soft spot.
- Reading the Defender: Observe the defender’s eyes and body language. Are they looking at you, the quarterback, or another receiver?
Reading the Quarterback and Play Progression
Effective route running requires understanding what the quarterback is seeing and how the play is developing.
- Quarterback-Receiver Timing: This is a partnership. You need to anticipate the quarterback’s throw and be in the right place at the right time.
- Trust the Throw: Once you make your break, trust that the ball is coming.
- Adjust to the Throw: If the throw is slightly off, be prepared to adjust your body and hands.
- Situational Awareness: Know the down and distance, the score, and the time remaining. This can influence your route and how you fight for the ball.
Route Adjustments
Sometimes, the initial route you planned needs to be altered based on how the defense is playing.
- “Come to the Ball”: If the throw is behind you, adjust your path to meet the ball.
- “Run Away From the Defender”: If a defender is closing quickly, adjust your route to create more separation.
- “Sit Down” in Zone: If you’re in a zone and the defender is playing too deep, you might sit down at a shorter depth to become a viable target.
Integrating Routes into the Offensive Scheme Design
Your individual route running skills don’t exist in a vacuum. They are part of a larger offensive playbook development.
Passing Route Concepts
Coaches design passing route concepts that combine multiple receiver routes to create favorable matchups or exploit defensive weaknesses.
- Levels Concepts: Multiple routes targeting different depths (e.g., a flat route, a comeback route, and a deep post). This forces defenders to make decisions based on the quarterback’s read.
- Clear-Out Routes: A deep route (like a post or corner) designed to draw a safety or cornerback deep, opening up shorter routes underneath.
- Rub/Pick Routes: Routes designed to intentionally have one receiver “rub” or pick off a defender who is covering another receiver, creating separation for the targeted player. This requires precise timing and execution from both receivers.
- Option Routes: Routes where the receiver has the option to break in a certain direction based on the defender’s leverage or a signal from the quarterback.
Football Strategy Breakdown
Every play is a strategic battle. Your route running contributes to the overall game plan.
- Exploiting Matchups: Identify which defenders you can beat and design routes that leverage your strengths against their weaknesses.
- Creating Mismatches: Through intelligent route running, you can force smaller, slower defenders to cover you deep or larger, slower defenders to cover you in space.
- Wearing Down the Defense: Consistent, sharp route running can fatigue defenders, leading to mistakes later in the game.
The Role of Blocking Schemes
While receivers are primarily known for catching passes, their role in blocking schemes, especially on screen passes or longer developing plays, cannot be overlooked.
- Screen Passes: Receivers often become blockers on screen passes, leading the way for the ball carrier. This requires awareness of your assignment and the ability to block effectively.
- Blocking Assignments: On certain plays, you might be tasked with blocking a defensive back to give your running back or another receiver more time or space.
Practice Drills for Routes
Consistent practice is key to mastering route running. Here are some drills to hone your skills.
Solo Drills
These can be done with or without a quarterback.
- Cone Drills: Set up cones to mark route breaks. Focus on sharp cuts and acceleration out of each break.
- Drill Example: Slant Drill: Run a straight line, plant hard at a cone, and break diagonally inwards.
- Ball Security Drills: Practice catching the ball with your hands while running your routes. Tuck the ball away immediately after the catch.
- Timing Drills: Run routes with a quarterback (even if it’s just a coach or teammate throwing) and focus on meeting the ball at the right point.
Drills with a Quarterback
These simulate game conditions and build crucial quarterback-receiver timing.
- Route Tree Work: Run through every route on the route tree, focusing on precise execution and timing with the quarterback.
- One-on-One Drills: Receiver vs. Defender. This is the best way to practice creating separation and beating coverage.
- Seven-on-Seven Drills: Incorporates the entire passing game in a controlled environment, allowing for practice against different coverages and building chemistry.
Team Drills
These integrate route running into the broader offensive scheme.
- Full Team Drills: Running plays at full speed against the defense. This is where you apply everything you’ve learned.
- Situational Drills: Practicing specific game scenarios, such as two-minute drills or red-zone offense, which often involve specific route combinations.
Mastering the Fine Details
Beyond the core techniques, several subtle aspects can elevate your route running.
Maintaining Speed Through Breaks
A common mistake is slowing down too much on a break. The goal is to decelerate efficiently and accelerate immediately out of the cut.
- “Decel-Accel”: Think of it as a controlled deceleration into the break, followed by an explosive acceleration out of it.
- Pad Level in the Break: Dropping your hips and lowering your pad level allows you to change direction powerfully.
Selling Your Routes
Deception is a key component of route running.
- Head and Shoulder Fakes: Use your head and shoulders to make defenders believe you’re going one way before breaking another.
- Sticking Your Foot: A hard plant with your foot can sell a cut, forcing the defender to react.
- Body Language: Project confidence and decisiveness in your movements.
Communication
Clear communication with your quarterback and other receivers is essential.
- Eye Contact: Establish eye contact with the quarterback before the snap to confirm the play.
- Verbal Cues: On option routes or if there’s a pre-snap adjustment, clear verbal communication is vital.
- Post-Play Feedback: Discuss with your quarterback what worked and what didn’t after a series of reps.
Common Route Running Mistakes and How to Fix Them
Even experienced players can fall into bad habits. Identifying and correcting these is crucial.
Mistake: Slow Breaks
- Cause: Not committing to the break, or improper footwork.
- Fix: Focus on dropping your hips and planting your foot aggressively. Practice drills that emphasize explosive changes of direction.
Mistake: Telegraphing Your Routes
- Cause: Obvious head or shoulder fakes, or tipping your intentions with your body language.
- Fix: Practice selling the initial move. Make your breaks look the same whether you’re going inside or outside. Use subtle adjustments rather than overly dramatic fakes.
Mistake: Not Catching the Ball with Your Hands
- Cause: Relying on the body to make catches, poor focus on the ball.
- Fix: Emphasize catching with your hands in every drill. Keep your eyes locked on the ball throughout the catch process.
Mistake: Running the Same Speed on All Routes
- Cause: Lack of variation in pace and tempo.
- Fix: Practice varying your speed. Use changes of pace to keep defenders off balance. Understand when to explode and when to throttle down slightly.
Mistake: Not Adjusting to the Ball
- Cause: Assuming the throw will be perfect, or losing sight of the ball.
- Fix: Make seeing the ball your top priority. Practice adjusting your body and hands to catch throws that are slightly off-target.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: How many different types of routes are there in football?
A: While there’s a core set of fundamental routes, the variations and combinations are nearly limitless. Most offenses use a route tree that includes about 10-15 primary routes, but coaches and players constantly innovate.
Q: What is the most important skill for a receiver running a route?
A: While athleticism is important, the most critical skill is precise footwork and the ability to make sharp, explosive cuts while maintaining speed. This allows receivers to create separation.
Q: How do receivers learn to time their routes with the quarterback?
A: This develops through consistent practice and repetition. Quarterbacks and receivers must build chemistry by working together frequently, understanding each other’s tendencies, and communicating effectively.
Q: What’s the difference between a comeback and a curl route?
A: Both involve breaking back towards the quarterback. A comeback route typically goes deeper (10-12 yards) and is designed to create separation further downfield. A curl is shorter (7-10 yards) and is often used as a quick, high-percentage option.
Q: How important is it for receivers to know the offensive playbook?
A: Extremely important. Knowing the entire offensive playbook, including the purpose behind each route concept and how it fits into the overall offensive scheme design, allows receivers to make the right adjustments on the fly and anticipate defensive coverages.
By dedicating yourself to these principles and putting in the work, you can elevate your route running from a basic necessity to a powerful weapon, significantly impacting your team’s success. Mastering your route running is a journey, not a destination, so keep practicing, keep learning, and keep striving to be the best receiver you can be.