Wide Receiver Techniques

Philosophy Toward the Position
by: Scott Criner
Offensive Coordinator, Bishop Kelly High School, Boise, ID
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Our receivers are taught the techniques of receiver play by looking at the positions needs. We break the techniques required to play wide receiver into eight distinct categories.

* Pre-snap - which includes stance and pre-snap defensive, reads.
* The release - which includes the escape versus press coverage and the drive release versus hard or soft coverage.
* The stem.
* Body control - which includes the head-fake or head-bob and body mechanics at the break point.
* Separation from the defender.
* Spacing within the route structure.
* The Catch
* Blocking

Stance

1. Two point stance is standard.

2. Outside foot back (we do let the receiver's use the inside foot back in certain situations).

3. Assume the same stance on run and pass plays.

Pre-snap Look (PSL)

1. We will read our triangle - man on to safety on top to linebacker inside. Alignment of the defenders on the receiver's side of the field will tell us the coverage responsibilities.

2. Knowing before the snap what the coverage will be provides the receiver with the ability to identify the proper release, (knowing if a coverage scheme will or will not roll or soften), and stem. Further, it helps to identify the receivers blocking assignment, (corner or safety), in our most dangerous man scheme, (MDM).

Release

Basic principles of defeating a press defenders jam technique are broken into four "focus" points.

1. Attack the jam with a plan. The receiver facing a jam defender must formulate a plan in terms of footwork and specific method of release before the ball is snapped. This plan allows the receiver to play with initiative and aggression. The receiver must have a clear vision of what he must do rather than reacting to the defender. It is key to remember the defenders jam relies on being the aggressor. The receiver must neutralize the defender by working his plan, avoiding being pushed around and being able to make positive adjustments on the fly.

2. Quick feet and short steps. Until the jam is completely defeated, it is vital that all steps be extremely quick and choppy. This action gives the receiver the ability to stay compact and change direction quickly, which is key to achieving a clean release. We refer to this foot movement as "foot-fire". Longer strides make the receiver an easy target for the jam, since they provide no immediate flexibility for direction change and leave the receiver extended and off balance.

3. Get their hands before they get yours. The defenders primary tools are his hands, and his whole purpose is to use them to impede the receiver's progress and destroy the timing of the route. This becomes the focal point of the release. The receiver must win this initial battle by taking aggressive action to knock the defenders' hands away thus avoiding letting the defender to become engaged with the receiver's body.

4. Violence. Too often receivers allow the defender to take the aggressor position by being to "nice." Our approach is to be aggressive and force the action. The receiver must gain separation, which the receiver needs to escape the jam. All movements by the receiver must be decisive, forceful and most of all violent. This violence is what gets and keeps the defenders' hands off the receivers body and creates space to work his plan, which adds up to a successful release.

Specific Releases vs. Press or Hard Coverage

A) Stick vs. a press corner: Threaten an edge of the defender using a foot fire - misdirection with the shoulders and head. This often will get the aggressive defender to over commit himself - make the single stick just prior to the defenders "jam." Avoid contact if possible keeping a low center of gravity. The receiver must be physical and use hand-to-hand combat to keep the defender off of the receivers upper body. The receiver should also turn the shoulders away from the defender to eliminate as much striking surface as possible - threaten vertically, do not drift.

B) Double stick vs. a press corner: Threaten an edge of the defender using a foot fire - the misdirection with the shoulders and head. This often will get the aggressive defender to over commit himself. Make a stick in the direction of the desired release - then stick away using a head and shoulder "bob". The actual release is back to the original direction of the initial stick move. Avoid contact if possible - with a low center of gravity. The receiver must be physical and use hand to hand combat to keep the defender out of the receivers upper body. Turn the shoulders away from the defender to eliminate as much striking surface as possible and threaten vertically, do not drift.

C) Balance and pull vs. an aggressive press corner: We will foot fire to slightly challenge an edge of the defender. The receiver will come to balance prior to the defenders "jam" - eyes are critical. The receiver must be aggressive and block the "jam" with the outside arm - contact is unavoidable in this situation. See the "jam" and remove the defender hand - grab the defenders arm above or at the elbow and pull it through -then drive the inside arm under turning your shoulders to eliminate striking surface for the defender. Threaten vertical, and do not drift.

D) Burst vs. a hard corner: A burst move is a move so far inside or outside that the defender can't close fast enough to jam the receiver - take an angle that would force the defender to leave his shuffle and commit to a crossover.

E) Slip vs. a hard corner: A slip release is executed with a stem two yards to the inside or outside of the corner's alignment. The receiver will "burst" to a position that forces the defender too crossover or shuffle in an effort to jam the receiver. The receiver is efforting to "step on the defenders toes." When the receiver is close enough to step on the toes - plant the inside or outside foot and drive to the opposite edge of the defender. The receiver will punch to the defenders opposite hip and "slip" to the desired release.

Note - The common error when attempting a "slip" release occurs when the receiver plants and attempts to work back across the defenders face without stepping on his toes - be patient!

Basic Principles vs. Soft Coverage

1. Drive-release. Come off low and hard and extend fully and gain yardage on the first step. The head is down to force the low profile body release, and the eyes are up, then push the defender with the eyes. Accelerate with the arms by "blocking."

2. Move the defender with your eyes. Keep your eyes up - see where you are going.

3. Work for space - leverage an edge. Versus soft technique work the edges of the defender. Move the defender into position to defend what he is taught. Create your space.

4. Verify coverage - see any post-snap movement. The safety to your side is your post-snap indicator.

5. Push your stem - work to gain a route advantage by gaining width from the boundary on an out or corner route with a vertical release, or widening the middle of the field for an inside route like a curl, dig or post.

Separation Techniques

The receiver to create "space" from the defender uses separation techniques. A majority of the time the receiver will find that all he needs to gain separation is a well executed cut at the end of the stem. There are situations where the defender is in a position to stop the receiver's route, and the receiver is forced to maneuver his stem in order to create separation. Variations and combinations of the following separation techniques are limitless. A receiver needs only to experiment to come up with the appropriate and most effective technique to separate from the defender. The receiver will find different techniques work in various route stems. The key is for the receiver to know when and where to use the various techniques and how to incorporate them into the route.

* Weave - The weave is a snake like move where the receiver will break approximately 30 degrees every three steps. The key is to move the defender with directional movement off a vertical stem by attacking the defender's edges. The move is accomplished with a shift in body weight and a smooth, easy cut moving from one direction to another. The weave will separate to receiver laterally from the defender.

* False Acceleration - From a controlled run, the receiver can noticeably change his running action without affecting his forward speed. These changes in body lean, arm movement and leg action can be used to set up a short route cut. From the controlled run, the receiver gives the defender the illusion that he his pushing vertical by accelerating the arm action. It is key to keep the body lean forward and to hide the numbers. When the defender shifts his body weight back or pivots to fully cross over for depth, the receiver then can make his pattern cut.

* Change of Pace - The receiver will pause the running action. This invites the defender to drive the route. As the defender closes, the receiver re-accelerates into the route stem.

* Stutter - This technique is used to set up a vertical route and uses the same principle of inviting the defender to drive the false key. From a controlled run the receiver will throw his head and shoulders back, leaning back into the route break as if to initiate a pattern cut. This action is more abrupt than a change of pace. This simulation of lifting the numbers and turning the shoulders while stuttering the feet is simultaneous and lasts for an instant. It is key to show patience to allow the defender to break down and drive the false route key. The stutter works best when it is executed at a point where the receiver has made other route cuts.

* Shoulder Turn - The receiver drives off the line of scrimmage to the depth where he wants to draw the defender. He will turn his head and shoulders in, as if to run an inside breaking cut. It is important that the receiver does not turn the hips in, causing a loss of vertical speed. The receiver then re-accelerates into the vertical stem of the route.

* Angle of Release - The receiver can work for separation as he releases from the line of scrimmage by quickly gaining a yard of lateral separation from the defender prior to the cut. By leveraging the defenders initial alignment the receiver gains an advantage forcing the defender to drive the route from a higher and wider angle.

* Jab - The jab is used to force the defender to keep his cushion. It is particularly useful on a smooth, bending route. Just prior to making a cut, the receiver can jab-step up field forcing the defender to keep a soft cushion. The jab is a quick movement and should not cause a loss in speed

Catching the Football

1. If the ball is thrown in front of you at waist level or lower, use little fingers together elbows in. We will "look" the ball into the hands and into the tuck.

2. If the ball is thrown above the waist the general rule is to "square up" to the ball, get your body between the defender and the ball, to act as a shock absorber. Catch the front end of the ball in your fingers forming the "noose" whenever possible. The arms should be slightly bent to allow for adjustment. We will

3. If the ball is thrown behind you, spin your body opening the hips and put your little fingers together with the elbows in. Come back to the ball - do not be lazy. Look the ball into the hands and into the tuck.

4. If the ball is thrown directly at you above the head you should have thumbs together. Look the ball into the hands and into the tuck.

5. If the ball is thrown long, over the shoulder on a deep route - it should be caught with little fingers together and elbows in. Bring hands up as late as possible and "look" the ball into the hands and into the tuck. If the ball is under thrown or it just "hangs" in the air such as a goal line fade, be aggressive to the ball. Attack the ball, much like rebounding in basketball, at the highest point. Thumbs should be together on this type of catch. Look the ball into the hands and into the tuck.

Note: The catch is not secure until the ball is tucked away. Tuck it away firmly into a cradle formed by the forearm and elbow squeezing the ball firmly against the ribs, and the hand spread to cover the point of the football. This action creates three points of contact by which to control the ball and protect it from the defender's strip.

Ball Security

We stress the FIVE points of pressure whenever we carry the football. Our receivers must be able to step forward and give these five points at any time. We eliminate turnovers by making this a "natural occurrence" whenever the ball is in our possession.

The FIVE points of pressure are as follows:

1. Fingertips - The fingertips should form a "web" over the front end of the ball.

2. Palm - The ball should rest with the front half of the ball squeezing the butt of the palm.

3. Forearm - The forearm should press the outside of the ball into the ribcage.

4. Elbow - The elbow must stay tight to body by squeezing the back edge of the ball to the ribcage.

5. Ribcage - The ball will be the inside pressure on the ball - allow no separation.

Blocking

1. Leverage is the key - the release or stem allows the receiver to gain leverage and an advantage on the defender. We will leverage the outside edge of the defender at all times. We want to work against what the defender is taught to defend, which is to maintain an outside edge or "contain" the play. We will take the outside edge of the defender away or force the defender to work to close to the boundary. If the defender over commits to the boundary we will then turn him out, pressing him out of the runners lane. We must be aggressive on the block - finish the defender off!

2. Breaking down is key - It is extremely important to keep proper cushion while maintaining leverage on the defender. When the defender breaks down so should the receiver. If either leverage or cushion is lost the defender will be able to take the advantage on the play making the tackle or turning it in before the receiver can recover. Always break down into a good football position - ready to hit the defender. A good football position consists of bent knees, which will lower your center of gravity - do not bend at your waist! Your base should have your feet at approximately shoulder width apart. Weight should be in the balls of the feet. Eyes are up and on your target - keep the back straight and your chin up. We cannot block what we cannot see!

3. Be aggressive on the block - attack the defender once you've made contact. Get after the defender without losing leverage or the block. Hand fight - finish the play!

Scott Criner is currently the offensive coordinator at Bishop Kelly High School in Boise, ID. He previously coached at Sacramento State University as OC, Quarterbacks and Wide Receivers Coach. Criner also coached at Boise State, Cincinnati, University of the Pacific, Northern Arizona, and the Las Vegas Outlaws of the XFL. Criner is a graduate of Boise State. He can be reached at scriner@sportzstar.com.

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