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Release and Separate - Wide receiver techniques that will gain an advantage.

by: Sean Wilson
Wide Receivers Coach Marian University
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At Marian, we have the mindset that we will not let a defense dictate our offense. Critical to our success is the ability of our wide receivers to use various release and separation techniques that allow them to take advantage of defensive backs.

Philosophy

Many times, a defender will want to take away certain areas of the field by playing a type of coverage or using a certain technique. But with our philosophy, we can get that defender to relinquish his responsibility or break his comfort area simply by the way we attack his technique. The five techniques we use are:

Attack Release  vs. Soft Coverage
Stick Release  vs. Soft Coverage
Hash Release  vs. Soft Coverage
Boundary Release  vs. Cover 2 and Soft Coverage
Easy Release  vs.  Press Coverage
Attack Release

To execute this release properly, the wide receiver must accelerate off of the LOS, attacking the defenders’ technique. They should run directly at him as if they are trying to step on their toes.  This will keep the defender in his backpedal or cause him to hesitate because he is uncertain of the move the receiver wants to make.  Once the wide receiver decides which side of the defender he wants to run by or what direction he wants to break, he must chop his hands down to prevent from being slowed down. If the WR runs past the defender, he must do his best to get on top of him. This is also known as stacking the defender.

 Stick Release

This release is similar to the attack release except the WR wants to attack the outside frame of the defender.  For example, if he runs a dig and the defender is playing off and shading the inside of the wide receiver, he should attack his outside hand.  Although he is attacking his outside hand, it is important not to get outside the frame of his body.  If this is preformed correctly, it may cause the defender to overplay or flip his hips, in turn allowing the WR to slip inside of him and run his route.  This can also be used in the reverse manner by attacking the defenders inside hand to gain an advantage for the WR’s outside route.

Hash Release

This release gets its name because the wide receiver is taking an inside stem toward the hash.

The outside WR takes 4-5 steps while a slot receiver takes only two steps. When performing this release, it is very important that the WR accelerates out of his stem.  This release will move a DB off of his mark and cause him to flip his hip, allowing the WR to slip inside or outside of him and run his route (See different routes in diagram 1).

Diagram 1.


Boundary Release

This release gets its name because the receiver is taking an outside stem toward the sideline.

The outside receiver takes 4 – 5 steps and the slot receiver’s route is also 4 – 5 steps. When performing this release it is very important that the WR accelerates out of his stem.  This release will move a DB off of his mark and cause him to flip his hip, allowing the WR to slip inside or outside of him and run his route.

Note:  The Boundary Release is a great technique for the outside wide receiver to use vs. cover 2.  In cover 2, the defender does not want to allow the WR to release outside of him because his job is to funnel the WR to the safety. By using the Boundary Release vs. cover 2, the defender will be either very disciplined and give the WR what I call a hard shoulder to maintain his leverage or he will be lazy and give the WR a soft shoulder.  If the defender gives the WR a hard shoulder and is not allowing him to beat him to the outside, the WR can still rip inside of him and try to get on top of the defender. By doing this, the WR has gained at least 3 -5 yards of separation from the safety whose job is to cover him in the deep half.  If the defender gives the WR a soft shoulder, this gives him the ability to beat the defender to the outside, allowing him to run down the sideline with optimal separation from the safety (See additional routes in diagram 2).

Diagram 2.


Easy Release

The Easy Release works well against press coverage.  The idea of this technique is to take what the DB gives the WR. This technique also gets the WR off the LOS with little or no delay.  The WR performs this release by executing a low drive off the LOS. This prevents the defender from jamming the WR at the LOS. Once the WR reaches his proper route depth or he is ready to make the proper break of his route, he can use a separation technique that will put him back in control of the route.

Separation Techniques

Throw By and Slap Through – This technique is performed by first taking an easy release.  The WR wants to maintain contact with the defender and not fade to the sideline or away from contact.  Once the WR gets to the depth he wants to make his break at, the WR’s hand should be placed in the small of the DB’s back to propel him past the DB and then the WR should swim with his outside arm to be inside of his technique.

Lean and Snap – This technique is also performed by taking an easy release. Once again the WR wants to maintain contact with the defender and not fade to the sideline or away from contact. This gives the defender the feel he had when the WR used the Throw by and Slap Through. But instead, this time the WR is going to use his body leverage to snap away from the defender using his inside elbow or chicken wing to be propelled away from him.

Lean and Fade – This will help with fade routes because it will help prevent receivers from fading to the sideline, often leaving the quarterback less space to drop the ball in over the outside shoulder.  Perform this technique by taking an easy release and maintaining contact with the defender.  Fight the pressure of the defender and prevent him from forcing the WR to the sideline.  Once the ball is in the air and the WR is ready to make a play for the ball, he should accelerate and fade away from the defender, catching the ball over the outside shoulder.  Keep in mind if a receiver is fast enough to beat the defender and stack him, he should always use this technique because the defender has very little chance of making the play on a properly thrown ball.

About the Author: Sean Wilson recently completed his fifth season on the staff at Marian University. He previously coached on the high school level, serving as Co-DC at Arsenal Tech High School (IN). While attending Ball State University, Wilson also worked as a field manager and student coach for the football team.






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