FADE OUT - The fade route is a potent offensive weapon that can be incorporated into any offense.

There is not a bad time to throw the fade route. It’s a relatively high-completion (55-60%), low-risk, and big-reward play.

The fade does a number of positive things for an offense. The vertical stretch of the fade usually forces safeties and corners to play deeper. This can give the run game and the quick passing game more room to operate. The run game is also enhanced by the fade since defensive linemen are constantly trying to get pressure on the quarterback, usually without success, since the ball is out in less than two seconds. The defensive linemen tend to relax their pass rush and get-offs when they consistently fail to reach their target. This increases your ability to get under their pads in the run game.

Cornerbacks are directly affected and, even if they are great turn and run defenders, the route and throw can still beat them. A lesser talented team can create a one-on-one match up on a corner with their best player. In a close game, this advantage can make up for an overall lack of talent.

Starting with the quarterback position, this is how we run the fade. The throw must be quick, with an ideal release time just over one second (about 1.3 seconds). If going from under center, the quarterback will utilize one step and release the ball. When going from the gun or the pistol, which is our main attack, the quarterback will apply a catch-and-release technique that is similar to an infielder in baseball turning a double play. Laces are not important. We don’t want the quarterback fiddling with or moving the ball. The transition from catch to release is one smooth motion. There should be no drop in the ball with the exception of a bad snap. The ball should be caught and immediately taken into the throwing motion. The quarterback’s back foot should be set prior to the snap and only used to pivot. Use the foot on the same side as his throwing arm. For example, if he is a lefty, it will be his left foot. The opposite throwing foot will be set slightly closer to the center and will rotate with the hips and chest towards the target as the QB is in the throwing motion.  We want to put just enough air on the ball to drop it in over a defender or we will be throwing a back shoulder ball vs. an off-cover corner. The throw will travel 18-22 yards down the field and land between the sideline and five yards inbounds. This, however, changes if the defense is in cover two.

Receiver play is the most critical part of the fade. The receiver will need to position himself to make a play on any throw, good or bad. By doing this, he ensures that only he gets to the football and every ball has a chance to be a reception. The receiver must put the defender between himself and the quarterback without being pushed to the sideline. The quarterback’s yard is from the bottom of the numbers to the sideline. The receiver must get a release that keeps him out of this zone until the ball is in the air. Outside receivers will start with their inside foot up for release purposes and also to marry some other route steps with the correct foot.

Obviously, a corner playing off a receiver will allow him a free release and a back shoulder ball is very likely. However, we are looking for that press-man look for our receivers. I allow my receivers to utilize one of three techniques prior to the fade route in the press-man look. Dip-and-rip outside is the first option. The receiver will make sure the defender does not get to his chest by staying low in his first step, punching with his outside arm and dropping his inside shoulder. He will then use his inside arm to rip up and begin to run and get even with the corner. As the rip is coming down, we want to pull the corner to put him in a trailing position.

The next option is for the receiver to use a quick, low swim move. The receiver again must keep the corner from punching in the framework of the chest, this time by knocking the corner’s hands away. The first step will be to square up the receiver’s feet and use a punch/grab technique. The receiver will target the forearm or wrist of the corner. When the corner extends his arms to create the bump, the receiver will punch/grab the corner’s wrist with his outside hand, taking the move across his body. Next, the receiver will swim with his inside arm, no higher than eye level, to keep his pads down. As the receiver releases the punch/grab and begins to run, the swim forearm will come down on the arm of the corner. This should force the corner to be overextended and allow the receiver at least an equal alignment with the corner down the field.

The third option receivers have is a foot fire release. This can be combined with the swim move. At the snap of the ball, the receiver will square his feet while pumping his hands. He will rapidly take three steps that keep him in the same place. During this time he may also throw in a head fake on the last step. The quick swim move will be used in conjunction with the final step in the foot fire. After the steps, the receivers will release outside and become even with the corner.

While we still want to use an “even/leaving” concept on the defender, we are going to stress that the receiver must separate late. The majority of receivers are not going to be able to blow past the corner lined up against them. Our receiver speed typically is equal to or less than the corner we are facing. To make up for the lack of speed, we will use great body technique and fight to keep the corner running on the hip and on the numbers until the ball is in the air. The corner wants to be on the hip anyway. Therefore, this level of comfort puts the corner in a bad position. As long as the receiver does not get funneled into the quarterback’s yard, he will be in great shape.            

Once the ball is in the air, the receiver should be at least 10 yards down the field before an adjustment needs to be made. This is where good receivers make plays, no matter their size. If the receiver can play the ball in the air and has left plenty of room to the sideline, then he will turn the play in his favor even if it is not the best throw. In a perfect world, the throw will come on the outside shoulder of the receiver and the defender will have to go through the body of the receiver to make a play. The receiver controls the placement of the throw much more than the quarterback does. The receiver has the ability to read the ball in the air and put his body in position to make the over the shoulder catch. In the case of an underthrown ball, the receiver must be ready to go up for the football and fight. If the receiver has not left plenty of room, the completion will become much tougher.

Whenever we rep this route on air, the receivers must go up for the football.  They must understand that a completion on air that is caught on the inside hip or shoulder, is no completion at all.

Cover 2

Cover two changes the route and the aiming point of the throw. The receiver must get the quickest release possible. Releasing outside is a major plus but not necessary.  Once the receiver clears the corner he must widen to the sideline. This is a situation where the QB’s yard no longer exists. The throw must be past the corner, but away from the near safety. We have found that a 16 to 18-yard, high velocity throw is best in this situation. The throw needs to be caught two to four yards from the sideline. We will rep this situation constantly in routes on air or with a one-on-one look to a cover two corner.

The fade can be incorporated into any offense that uses one or more receivers. Running four verticals utilizing backs, slots, or tight ends will help hold the safeties to ensure the one-on-one outside matchup. The receiver running the route ideally is above six feet tall. However, a shorter receiver can be just as effective. The shorter receivers must possess the ability to use body leverage very well or have great speed. Similarly, taller receivers do not need to be fast, they just need to use what they have. The ball will be placed where they can use their height and size as an advantage. Therefore, separation is not necessary at all. The WR must possess one of these characteristics to be successful. For most teams, it is not hard to find at least one player that can be successful running the fade.

Included are two diagrams showing the fade route against cover 2-man and cover 2 (See Diagram 1).

Diagram 1

Diagram 2

This is four verticals out of a 2 X 2 set with 10 personnel, including the varying options for the fade based on the quarterback’s throw. We are looking for the inside leverage and press of the corners. This defense, barring stem movement, will most likely be cover 2-man. The inside verticals will hold the safeties. The outside WR must leave room and be ready to adjust to an over-the-shoulder-throw on the sideline or a jump ball that stays on the numbers. The throw will be between 18-22 yards. The red boxes on the outside indicate the quarterback’s yard.

The corners’ outside leverage indicates a strong chance for cover 2. In this case, our receivers fight for the outside, but will probably go in front of the corner and immediately away from the safety to the sideline. The quarterback in this case would make sure the receiver had a route to hold the cornerback and throw in the hole behind the corner and in front of the safety on the sideline. Our QB would check the routes of the slot receivers to bubbles or quick outs, in order to attack the flat defender. His read is the cornerback.

About the Author: Jay Osborne was a four-year starter for the University of St. Mary as a wide receiver and return specialist (2003-2006). He began his coaching career at McMurry University and later coached in Italy with the Bergamo Lions. After returning to the US, Osborne became an assistant high school coach in Bryan, TX before returning to his alma mater as offensive coordinator.