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AFM Magazine


Drills Report: Multi-Purpose Wide Receiver Drill

by: Steve Mooshagian
Head Coach Feather River College
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We expect the following from our receivers:

1. Maximum effort.

2. Know your assignments.

3. You must have the desire and willingness
to block.

4. You must have the desire to catch every
ball thrown to you.

5. You must possess the willingness to improve your skill.

For route mechanics, wide receivers must follow the correct cutting techniques, body posture and route cuts or breaks. The WR must stay low in and out of his cuts. To remain low, the WR must bend his knees and sink his hips to keep a low center of gravity. This enables a WR to make cuts near his optimum speed and get out of the break without a bunch of choppy steps.
The WR must keep his shoulders over his toes and also strive to keep his hands waist high (dropping your hands and raising your shoulders up are a dead giveaway for the defender to read and jump the route). Bobbing your head forward at the defender keeps your weight forward which, in turn, keeps your shoulders down and creates the illusion that you are accelerating past the defender on a deep pattern. Your nose is your radar: drop it and the defender knows that you are about to cut or break your route.
The WR can use two different types of techniques to break out of his route, the Military Plant Cut or the Speed Cut. In the Military Plant Cut, the WR plants and puts most of his weight on the leg opposite from the direction he is cutting. In the Speed Cut, the WR plants the foot opposite of the way he is going and then places his next step in a 45 degree angle in the direction he is cutting.
Incorporate these two multi-purpose wide receiver drills on practice days when your individual periods have been shortened by time. Both drills encompass various facets needed to keep your WRs fundamentally sound.

Drill 1: Carioca, Snap Turn and Tap Drill

The WRs face away from the coach and carioca 10 yards on coaches command. The WRs snap and turn at 10 yards, run towards the sideline gearing down in anticipation of catching the ball. The WR then catches the ball keeping both feet in bounds with a toe tap technique. You can also incorporate a catch and turn option by throwing the football earlier and allowing the WR to gain his balance and turn upfield (See Diagram 1).


Drill 2: Release and M Drill
(See Diagram 2)

The WRs work an escape move on a large dummy bag with hand attachment. After release, WRs run back vertically to first cone, sink hips with good posture, then run a curl route around cone. The QB or coach will then throw the ball as the WR catches and tucks. Then, WRs jog back to QB or coach, toss him the ball, and get back into drill line. They then burst to the next cone sinking hips again with good body posture. This time the WRs run a comeback route around the cone. Again, QB or coach will throw the ball to catch, tuck, turn upfield and run. Two other WRs or managers will have two stand up dummys or shields. The WRs then lower their pad level, split the defenders and protect the ball. u
Steve Mooshagian recently completed his first year as head coach at Feather River Junior College in Quincy, CA. He was previously wide receivers coach at the University of San Diego. Mooshagian was also a head coach at both Sacramento State and Fresno City College and also coached for Nevada and Pittsburgh as well as the Cincinnati Bengals.






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