Wide Receiver Separation

On behalf of Northwestern University, Head Football Coach Pat Fitzgerald, and the entire Northwestern Football Program, I would like to thank American Football Monthly for allowing me to share some of our wide receiver drills with you. We are a part of a great profession that shares coaching points freely. I’m honored to share with you a separation drill series that has been very productive for our wide receivers.

At Northwestern, we run a spread, four-wide receiver offense that allows our skill players (WR, RB, QB) to utilize their athletic abilities and make plays in space. In order for our offense to be successful, we feel it is critical that our WRs get down the field fast and execute routes with perfect fundamental technique.

To improve our route-running skills, we have developed a series of drills that our wide receivers do every day to emphasize steps, pad level, and cutting off the correct foot. In our separation technique drill series, our wide receivers will work a Speed Cut, Square Cut, Jab Cut, and a Forty-Five Degree Cut. These drills will correlate to our quick game and to the last four or five steps of the routes for our drop-back game. These drills are beneficial to our wide receivers because they can work on proper technique without tiring themselves out for the rest of practice.

Three main coaching points apply to each cut: keeping the eyes and body straight ahead, maintaining a low pad level, and finishing the route. The first two points decrease what we at Northwestern call “indicators,” or anything that gives the defensive back a clue about what route they are defending. Keeping good body and eye position eliminates indicators by forcing a defensive back to stay in his pedal while the wide receiver closes his cushion. Maintaining a low pad level reduces the amount of time a defensive back has to react to a cut, while finishing the route maximizes separation.

Each drill starts with the wide receivers standing on a yard-line perpendicular to the field. The first cut that we work is the Speed Cut (See Diagram 1).

Our wide receivers use this cut for the quick out in our three-step game and for a speed-out in the five-step game. For this cut the wide receivers will start with their inside foot up and take four vertical steps to the first cone. They will plant their fourth step in the ground and take a rounded step in the direction they are going while continuing to run as fast as possible. I try to use a GA or student assistant to snap the ball so that I can stand directly in front of the WR at about six or seven yards. This allows me to verify that my wide receivers are running with their eyes straight ahead at the defensive back and that they step in a straight line in the direction they want to go. Standing at the top of their routes also allows me to identify and correct any WR that is raising his shoulders prior to the cut.

The most important part of all cuts is the finish. As the wide receiver plants their fourth step in the ground and begins to run out of the cut, it is imperative that they violently rip their outside elbow around to force their eyes and chin back to the quarterback. The rip also turns their shoulders back downhill, preventing the wide receiver from drifting away from the ball.
The second cut that we work is a Square Cut (See Diagram 2).

Our wide receivers will use a square cut mainly at the top of a dig in our five-step game. The WRs will start with their inside foot forward and take three vertical steps to the first cone. At that point they will come to a jump stop with both feet and step in a straight line to the direction they are going while continuing to run flat. We use a jump stop at the top of this route to allow proper spacing within the concept of the play. Very similar to the speed cut, it is imperative that the wide receivers stay flat as they run across the field. Too often WRs will drift away from the ball on square cuts, allowing the defensive back a chance to make a play on the ball.

The third cut in our separation technique series is what we call a Jab Cut (See Diagram 3).

We use this cut at the top of a slant in our three-step game and at the top of a corner or post in our five-step game. To simulate a post route, the WRs will start with their inside foot forward and take three vertical steps to the first cone. At that point, they will plant their third step in the ground and step in a straight line at a forty-five degree angle to the middle of the field. Again, it is critical that the WRs accelerate through the finish cone to emphasize running full speed out of their breaks. This acceleration out of the break is by far the most important aspect of separation technique. I emphasize the same elbow pull and chin turn on the Jab Cut as I do on the Speed Cut.

The final cut in this drill series is what we call a Forty-Five Degree Cut (See Diagram 4).

A Forty-Five Degree Cut is used at the top of a hitch in our three-step game and at the top of a curl or comeback in our five-step game. To simulate a curl, the wide receivers will start with their inside foot forward and take three vertical steps and two gather steps to run past the first cone. At that point they will plant off their outside foot and step in a straight line towards the finish cone. The Forty-Five Degree Cut is usually very helpful in teaching and revealing the basic coaching points discussed earlier: low pad level and cutting off the correct foot. It is very common for wide receivers to want to raise their shoulders at the top of the cut just before they run through the finish cone. It is just as common for wide receivers to rush their feet at the top of the cut forcing them to plant off of their inside foot. This forces them to take an extra “cross-over” step to get their shoulders and body running at the desired forty-five degrees. The end result is a slower route with minimal separation from the defensive back.

Kevin Johns is in his sixth season as a full-time Northwestern assistant, and his fourth as the Wildcats’ WRs coach. He coached Northwestern’s RBs in 2004 and 2005. Johns also was appointed the program’s recruiting coordinator in July of 2006, a position he held until January of 2008 when he assumed the role of passing game coordinator.