University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Wide Receiver Teaching Manual
Jason McManus
Wide Receiver Fundamentals (Stance/Starts)
Stance:
A proper stance is the key to a quick start and release off the ball. An effective stance and start is the most fundamental component of being a complete wide receiver. We will work stance and starts everyday.
2 Basic Stances:
1. Base Stance: This will be our fundamental stance. We will use this stance verses open access.
2. Bunch Stance: We will use this stance verses press access or press-man coverage. You will slightly close your stance (60 front foot-40 back foot weight distribution) in order to achieve rapid foot-fire and bring the feet to a parallel position before releasing off the line of scrimmage.
Lower Body:
Feet should be slightly shoulder-width apart with either foot leading depending on the play call. Set your feet in a comfortable front and back stagger. Your feet should be wide enough to give you a strong base, but not so wide that you will false step. Our toes and shoulders should be pointed straight ahead if at all possible. Your weight should be on the balls of your feet. Approximately 90% of your weight should be on your front leg and 10% of your weight on your back leg. When you release, you should drive off your front foot without lifting it (rolling start). Lean your chin over your front knee and your front knee should be slightly bent. Sink your butt and hips to prevent high pad level. Always hide your numbers, keep your back leg flexed, and keep your shoulders down. RELAX and NO FALSE STEPS!
Upper Body:
Keep a slight bend in the waist with your chin over your front knee. Keep your head up so you can survey the defense and watch the ball. We will always go on ball movement and not on the snap count. Keep you shoulders square to the LOS. Keep your arms in an attack position. This will allow you to use your hands to combat the defensive back when you are getting press coverage.
Wide Receiver Vocabulary
1. Stack defender: Once you beat a defender, get back into his line of travel so it makes it harder for him to defend you on a ball that is thrown downfield.
2. Replace: Run to the spot that was previously occupied by a defender and stop there.
3. Push Vertical: Get down the field as fast as (get vertical first) as you can. Do not waste time.
4. Step on defenders toes: Get into the defender before you make a break. You should be able to touch him before you break.
5. Plant: The foot that you use to drive into your break or route.
6. Sell the route: Deceive the defender by making the route look like another route.
7. Set up defender: Gain the proper position on the defender before you make your break. This will allow you to get open.
8. Feel defender: Know where and what the nearest defender is doing at all times. You should be able to see him without looking directly at him.
9. Open access: When you release off the ball and nothing is obstructing your line of attack.
10. Closed access: Your line of attack is no longer open. A defender is trying to prevent you from releasing freely.
11. Press access: The defender is in a press coverage alignment. He is preventing your release off the LOS.
12. Bump and run: The defender is in your face from the time of the snap of the ball and stay with you.
13. Press bail: The defender shows press-man technique and then backs off of you.
14. Run it route: This type of route does not convert. We will run this route verses any type of coverage.
15. 1 high safety: Only one safety is deep in the middle of the field.
16. 2 high safeties: Two safeties are deep.
17. Throttle down: Slow your speed down to get open or stay open.
18. Stay friendly to the QB: Adjust your speed so you are under control and an easier target for the QB.
19. Stick: This movement is made by a hard jab and upper body movement in the opposite direction in which you want to make a break. It is used by the QB as a break indicator.
20. Sink hips: Lower your center of gravity before you make your break. Maintain your arm drive and keep your eyes downfield.
21. Be under control: Keep your arms and other body parts within the framework of the body.
22. Illusion of speed: Refers to the continuous movement of the arms during the route and during the breakpoint of a route.
23. Weave: Attack the defender by weaving to set up the route and getting in good position prior to your breaking point.
24: Shoulder to shoulder: Refers to the wide receiver gaining the proper leverage on the defensive back. The wide receiver will put his proper shoulder on the opposite shoulder of the defensive back in order to gain inside or outside leverage.
25. Look,catch,tuck, and cover: Look the ball in, catch it, tuck it away, and cover it up.
26. Secure the catch: Protect the football after you catch it. Make sure you catch the ball no matter what the situation.
27. Quick to the tuck: Refers to the wide receiver quickly tucking the ball away after he has made the catch.
28. Peeking: Looking for the ball before you reach the end of your route.
29. Stem: The main and middle part of your route.
30. Go move: Burst at the end of the route to sell a quick move.
31. MDM (most dangerous man): A term used in a blocking progression that means to block the most dangerous man or defender.
32. Head priority: Positioning your head during a block.
33. Throwing: When executing a cut block, try to throw your arm across his downfield leg and then finish by rolling through.
34. Double move: This refers to setting up a defender with two moves. Try to get him out of position before making your plant and break.
35. Cut off block (Touchdown block): A term used in a blocking progression that means you are going to work off the ball inside and try to block either the near safety of far safety.
36. Stair step: Once you feel a defender trailing you on a crossing route, give him one downfield stick to try and lose him and gain separation.
37. Force: Refers to the defender that would show first in a run play. During a MDM block, you would block whichever defender shows first because he would be able to attack first.
38. Windows (dead area): Open areas created by defenders moving and adjusting. We want to find these areas and settle.
39. Hands in an attack position: This term refers to the WR having his hands up so he can fight the press defender in man coverage.
Wide Receiver Rules and Expectations
1. We are never late (meetings/practice/weight room/training room/class). Pay attention in all meetings and always listen to the coach.
2. Do what is right all the time and always respect every coach. Yes sir and no sir to all coaches.
3. No attitude problems. We are always positive (including me).
4. Great effort.
Wide Receiver Practice Policies
1. We will always take the practice field together. We will gather at the gate of the practice field and jog to the field as a unit. No individuals!
2. Always properly dressed.
3. All business between the white lines.
4. We are always on the move from drill to drill (seniors will lead the way).
5. If you do not know, ask. The only dumb question is the question not asked.
Wide Receiver Coaching Points
1. Always tuck the ball away from the defender. Always quick to the tuck after every catch.
2. After all catches, burst up field for 5 yards and jog for 10 yards. If you fall after the catch, still get off the ground and burst for 5 yards and jog for 10 yards.
3. Run your route like you are the only wide receiver on the field.
4. Always run to the ball (just like defensive pursuit).
5. Alignments and techniques are critical. “Technique whips talent.”
6. When catching the ball, always look, catch, tuck, cover, and roll your head over the ball.
7. A complete wide receiver knows how to play with and without the ball.
8. Effort and toughness (always mentally tough).
“We will be the hardest working unit on the team.”
“We will be a group of fighting brothers.”
“We cannot all be great players, but we can all want to be great players. You have got to want it!”
Wide Receiver Fundamentals (Releases)
Releases, along with the stance, are one of the most fundamental aspects of becoming a complete wide receiver. A wide receiver must be able to control press coverage and control any collisions that occur during his route. The wide receiver must be physical and should be prepared to win with the hands and feet at all times. Releases are an attempt to gain leverage and separation on the defender.
Lower Body Footwork:
1. Single sick: Quick stick once with either foot and get up field. Make a hard head and shoulder fake opposite the direction you want to go. Get an edge on the defender.
2. Double stick: Quick stick twice with each foot (right/left/right or left/right/left) and get up field. Get an edge on the defender.
Upper Body:
1. Quick swim: Use a strong upper body stroke and punch down on the elbow of the defensive back. You want to break his elbow and make his shoulders turn. You will then get skinny and quick swim by the defensive back making sure that you do not expose your ribs.
2. Quick rip: Use a strong upper body stroke and punch down on the elbow of the defensive back. You want to break his elbow and make his shoulders turn. You will then throw an upper cut and release through the defensive back.
Release Variations:
1. Slant burst release: Your outside foot will be forward. Use a slight angle of departure inside on your immediate release and get up field. Get depth as you get inside.
2. Must outside (clear) release: You must get the defensive back to turn his back to the ball or get width with your release.
3. Take it release: Take the release that the defender is giving you. You could release inside or outside. Do not waste time.
4. Punch release: Use a strong upper body stroke and punch the defensive back in the facemask to combat aggressive press-man coverage.
5. Clean release: Get vertical fast drawing both corners and safeties attention. Do not waste time.
6. Space release: Release used downfield. The wide receiver must use his release techniques down the field in order to control collisions and reroutes by the defensive back.
7. Glide (bail release): Used when the defender is playing a soft (glide) press technique. As he bails, close his cushion and be ready to control the collision.
8. Counter release: Used when the defender is playing a heavy inside technique. Release outside 2-3 steps and make the defender turn his shoulders and run. Quick swim back inside and gain inside leverage. This release is great for running a slant route.
Wide Receiver Fundamentals (Route Discipline)
There are five imperative components to every route. To run precise and effective routes you must master the following:
1. Have a great release
2. Close the defenders cushion
3. Leverage
4. Separation
5. Route personality
Take off: A great stance and start are crucial. No false steps. Eliminate all wasted movement. You need to push vertical up field, low pad level, and hide your numbers. Sink your hips to prevent high pad level. We must be able to release with either foot forward. You need to see and recognize the coverage structure and be able to read on the run. Your hands should always be in an attack position to win the battle at the LOS verses press coverage.
Stem: You attempt to set up the defender and attack the defender vertically. Eye contact with defender must be established at all times. Attack his technique with the shoulder to shoulder rule and gain the proper leverage. You need to close the defenders cushion and make him feel threatened vertically. Force the defender to be uncomfortable in his initial technique and make him turn and run. Depending on the pattern and defenders technique, you may center him up, get his hips turned, step on his toes, and utilize a double move. Accelerate and work the defender. It now becomes one on one basketball.
Breaking point: This is the apex of your stem which is either based on specific footwork or on specific yardage landmarks. You need to establish proper body position. Separation is a must. You must run in and out of your break quickly and efficiently. Keep your arms moving to create an illusion of speed. Keep low pad level and have great forward lean. Do not rise up and do not peak early for the football. Finish the route. Keep your chin out in front of your body. Defenders read your eyes, upper body, and feet to determine your breaking point. Anticipate route adjustments for man or zone. In zone coverage, find the windows and stay QB friendly. Verses man coverage, separate from the defender and lose ground to attack the football. Make the defender go through you to get to the ball.