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Releasing is the KeyTrinity College receivers learn clean releases and vertical speed can coexistOffensive Coordinator, Trinity College © More from this issue Through the course of coaching receivers at four different colleges, one thing has stood by itself as being the task that has frustrated both players at that position and some coaches on those staffs. Invariably, the release (a clean release without sacrificing vertical speed) is what we are all striving for on pass plays. But that has become a bigger issue to deal with as offenses have attempted to go less with substituting players in questionable run/pass situations. In other words, on 2-and-6 with 22 personnel on the field (two backs-one tight end), a defense will generally be more prepared to attack with a “base” personnel of their own, as well as a “base” front. Coming to the line of scrimmage (LOS). and flexing the tight end into a slot or even wide receiver position causes the defense problems they may not have expected. In addition to, or separately, moving one of the backs into a wide alignment could now force the defense to defend 10 personnel (one back-no tight ends), four wides. The “problem” usually begins during the evaluation of potential receivers. Watching them catch the ball in drills and seeing that they have soft hands, seldom dropping the ball will be a good start. Then, seeing them accelerate during a drill or a play will clearly be another way they become recognized. But until they are clearly tested with working in limited space, and have displayed the talent to move around defenders without using up precious time, it is difficult to determine whether you have the best fit as a receiver candidate. On the outside, it becomes mostly press-man, bump-and-run, and a hard level-2 cornerback that impedes the receivers’ path. Those routes on the
With a Cover 2 cornerback, we just need to work through the shoulder of the defender – after stemming middle to outside shoulder if a soft 4-5 yard cushion – then releasing vertically with a post move late in the stem (8-9 yards) to work the safety before planting and coming back down the stem at 12-13 yards. (See Diagram 3.)
The inside receiver in a twins formation to the wide field will usually have 4-5 yards cushion (off LOS) and be up to 4 yards loose (inside position of his own alignment) of the nearest defender when it is a linebacker responsible to give help in run support. A strong safety will play tighter, as will the defender in a 4-4 (eight-man front) alignment. As the ball moves more to the middle of the field, obviously the receiver loses some of that space. We would like to get a quick reaction from that defender post-snap, and we realize that with some space one of our best receivers can benefit more by releasing and “attacking” directly at the defender. The ability to use his feet and the quickness in those movements when put in the position of tight space should be one of the main reasons you’ve selected that receiver to line up at an inside position. He will make some mistakes and “guess wrong” from time to time. But, he should be coached to come open quickly without wasted movement, and, above all-learn to trust his feet.
When that defender lines up tighter or reacts quickly to take away the up-field route over the top, the receiver can react on his second and third steps to redirect back underneath that defender. (See Diagram 5.) The receiver can continue on the move after pushing vertical and working the crosser, or since he already has leverage, he can choke the speed of the cut and just sit down at the break point. (See Diagram 6.) When the strong safety is over his head as in Cover 3 or with man free and in zone blitz where a third-level defender is in coverage from depth, the receiver should square up the nearest defender, work the route as deep as possible into the prescribed stem and use a jab step or head and shoulder lean to the outside before coming back inside. When in man-to-man, if shortening the route depth isn’t called for, a vertical push after gaining the proper leverage will help get the defender into a trail position and force him to redirect a second time. (See Diagram 7.)
Assisting the others that just need that one tip to avoid contact by a defender could be the key to finding your receivers open.
Rich Ulrich |
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