Route (gridiron football)

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A route tree for a receiver on the left side of the offense

A route is a pattern or path that a receiver in gridiron football runs to get open for a forward pass.[1] Routes are usually run by wide receivers, running backs and tight ends, but other positions can act as a receiver given the play.

One popular way to organize routes is with a "route tree". A route tree is a way to show all the various routes with one diagram.[2]

Routes

A curl (hook) route

Curl

A curl route, also called a hitch or hook (sometimes a button hook), is a route where the receiver appears to be running a

safety commits himself to guarding the fly and is unable to stop quickly enough to defend the pass. A "curl out" on the sideline is often referred to as a comeback route.[4]

The curl is a pattern used frequently by the West Coast offensive scheme, where quick and accurate passes are favored.

This route can also be used in what is called a

linemen, tight ends, or running backs
will run in the direction of the receiver in order to block the initial pursuing defenders so that the receiver has time and space to be able to run after the catch.

Drag

A drag (In) route

A drag route (also known as an in route or a dig route) is a

route run by a receiver, where the receiver runs a few yards downfield, then turns 90° towards the center of the field and runs parallel to the line of scrimmage.[5][6]
This type of route is relatively safe and is thrown to an agile receiver who can make a play after the catch. Alternatively, a drag route may be used as a second option if the principal receiver on a play is covered.

The use of two crossing drag routes can also be used to try to create an open receiver by using the other receiver to block the path of a defensive back in a man coverage scheme. Out and in routes are the most difficult routes to cover in man-to-man coverage, but can be dangerous plays to run because, if the defender intercepts the pass, he will often have a clear path to the end zone.

Corner

A corner (flag) route

A corner route is a

slant route, because it is thrown away from the middle of the field. The pass is used frequently in the West Coast offensive scheme, where quick, accurate throwing is key.[8]
The pass may also be used closer to the goal line in what is called a "fade". The quarterback will lob the ball over a beaten defender to a wide receiver at the back corner of the end zone.

Fly

A fly (streak) route

A fly route, also called a streak route or go route, is a

pattern run where the receiver runs straight upfield towards the endzone.[9] The goal of the pattern is to outrun any defensive backs and get behind them, catching an undefended pass while running untouched for a touchdown.[10] Generally, the fastest receiver on the team or any receiver faster than the man covering him would be the one to run these routes. When run down the sidelines, a fly can be called a fade route.[11]

Fly patterns can also be used to clear out space for other receivers. Generally, a fly pattern will draw the attention of both the cornerback assigned to the receiver as well as "over the top" help from a safety. This can create a large gap in coverage, allowing another receiver to run a shorter route, but then gain many yards after the catch because the safety committed to the deep receiver.

The famed "Hail Mary" play generally involves between three and five receivers all running fly routes in order to have the most chance of one of them catching the ball and scoring or at least gaining significant yardage.

Out

An out route

An out route (or down and out or jet route) is a

safeties
generally are concerned with helping out on long routes downfield or the center of the field.

This route is used much more frequently near the end of each half, or when a team is running their

in routes are the most difficult routes to cover in man-to-man coverage, but can be dangerous plays to run because, if the defender intercepts the pass, he will often have a clear path to the end zone
.

Post

A post route

A post route is a moderate to deep

goalposts, hence the name) at a 45-degree angle.[13]

It is designed to stretch the opposing secondary deep down the field, opening holes in the coverage over the middle. It works particularly well against secondaries that don't have more than one

Cover 3
packages can be effective against it, if the defender in middle deep coverage is perceptive enough.

To run the route effectively, a wide receiver must be adept at catching the ball in traffic, and have the vertical ability and strength to rise above the top of a safety to catch the ball.

A variant of the post pattern, in which the receiver cuts infield at a shallower angle, is called a skinny post.[14] It is designed to find a hole in deep coverage, cutting shallow inside the deep sideline defender, but not far enough to draw the middle defender.

Slant

A slant route

A slant route is a

safety
and the cornerback is the key to getting a completion using this route.

Flat

A flat route

A flat route is usually run by a

sidelines (in the flat) and turns toward the quarterback to wait for the pass.[16]
The QB's pass should arrive when he has not yet passed the line of scrimmage. The receiver will then turn upfield at the sideline and run straight down the field.

The route is used with

cornerbacks should be upfield when the pass is caught by the RB or FB. There should be a linebacker covering the RB/FB on these kinds of plays, which is likely to be an easy match for an elusive runner like the running back
.

Wheel

A diagram of wheel routes run from a number of different positions.

A wheel route can be run by a

flare route
. The running back will then turn upfield at the sideline and run straight down the field.

This route is useful when run from the wide receiver position because the

Chair route
, but without the vertical release that the Out-and-Up utilizes. The route is useful when run from the running back position because the defender will assume the ball is going to be thrown to the running back behind the line of scrimmage (the quarterback can use a pump fake to further "sell" this), and will bite underneath the running back only to have the running back turn upfield.

Swing

A swing route or a flare route is run by the

flat route by approaching the line of scrimmage more gradually, on a curved path.[21]

Seam

The seam route

post route). The Seam[25]
is the area where two defenders' areas of responsibility meet. The concept behind this is that the ability to complete a pass is increased because the defenders may be confused about which one of them is responsible for defending the player on the Seam or; the defenders are trying to cover their area of responsibility which creates an open space equidistant between the defenders.

Stop-and-go

A stop-and-go, pump-and-go or a hitch-and-go is a route run by a

fly route).[citation needed
]

Jerk

A jerk route is run by a receiver. In essence, it is a shallow

crossing route with a stutter step.[26]
The idea is to isolate the receiver on a linebacker. One stops as if he is receiving a pass on a
curl or going to retrace his steps, then he has the option to continue across the field, or change direction at an angle.[27]

Double Out

A double out is when a receiver runs 5-8 yards down field cuts outside, then cuts vertically upfield once more then cuts outside again. This route is very difficult to run and to defend due to all of the drastic changes in momentum, this route is also rarely used due to the time taken to correctly complete.

Angle route

Typically run by a running back, fullback, or tight end, the player will run out at a 45 degree angle for a few steps, then cut 90 degrees back inside.

Sail route

A "sail" route scheme designed to overload the defense on the right side of the field.

The sail route is not a route, but a combinations of routes. The sail concept is a three-level passing scheme that overloads one side of the defense while stretching the coverage vertically. Typically, the sail concept is a combination of a deep vertical route from the outside receiver, an intermediate out or christopher crossing route from the inside receiver, and a short flat route ‒ often a quick out or a swing route ‒ by the running back. This sets up a three-level read for the quarterback, with a receiver at 25-, 15- and 5- yard depths vertically.[28]

Pivot

A pivot route, also known as a shark route or a zig route, is similar to an out route, except the receiver will cut one direction, then spin 180 degrees towards the line of scrimmage then continue in the opposite direction.

Sluggo

A sluggo is run by a

go".[30]

Hot route

A hot route is used to escape a potential sack from a

bubble screen, and catch the ball which the quarterback dumps off quickly.[31]

Crossing

A crossing route or crossing pattern refers to either a

route where a receiver
crosses across the field.

Chair

The chair route or out-and-up was pioneered by

stop-and-go with an out rather than a curl.[35]

References

  1. ^ "Glossary". NFL-360. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  2. ^ Nogle, Kevin (June 20, 2016). "Football 101: The route tree". The Phinsider.
  3. ^ "10 Football Passing Routes Explained". 9 November 2015.
  4. ^ "American Football Passing Patterns".
  5. ^ "500(FUMBLE!) - Sporting Charts". www.sportingcharts.com.
  6. ^ Staff, Xs Os. "Pass Routes 101 | Football".
  7. ^
    ISBN 978-0-7360-5456-0
    .
  8. ISBN 978-0-88011-662-6
    .
  9. ^ "500(FUMBLE!) - Sporting Charts". www.sportingcharts.com.
  10. ^ Williams, Travis (May 12, 2014). "Understanding the Route Tree, Part II". Field Gulls.
  11. ^ Bowen, Matt. "NFL 101: Breaking Down the Basics of the Route Tree". Bleacher Report.
  12. ^ "How to Run an Out Route - top wide receiver training". www.topwrtraining.com. Archived from the original on 2015-09-20.
  13. ^ "WR Basics: Routes and the Passing Tree". Shakin The Southland. March 22, 2010.
  14. ^ "Chalk Talk: Skinny-Post versus Traditional-Post Route | MidValleySports.Com".
  15. ^ "Slant Route - top wide receiver training". www.topwrtraining.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-13.
  16. ^ "500(FUMBLE!) - Sporting Charts". www.sportingcharts.com.
  17. ^ "500(FUMBLE!) - Sporting Charts". www.sportingcharts.com.
  18. ISBN 9780736062619
    – via Google Books.
  19. ISBN 9781516846740
    – via Google Books.
  20. ^ Staff, Xs Os. "Pass Routes 101 - Football".
  21. ^ "ITP Glossary: Swing Route - Inside The Pylon". 19 February 2016.
  22. NFL.com
    .
  23. ^ "Seam Route Definition - Sporting Charts".
  24. ^ "Learning Seams And Soft Spots Against Zone Coverage - Football Tutorials". Football Tutorials. 10 October 2011.
  25. ^ "Prepqb.com". www.prepqb.com.
  26. ^ Neumann, David (September 24, 2014). "All-22 of the 49ers new 5-WR sets". Niners Nation.
  27. ^ "Anatomy of a Play: Royal times two". NFL.com.
  28. ^ "ITP Glossary: Sail Concept". 24 November 2015.
  29. ^ "Pass Routes 101 - Football". www.xsosfootball.com.
  30. ^ Brown, Chris B. (17 August 2012). "Matt Barkley and USC's "Sluggo Seam" Play".
  31. ISBN 9780880116626
    .
  32. ^ George, Thomas (25 January 1997). "The Passing Matchup: Quick Slant vs. Cross". The New York Times.
  33. ^ "Route Breakdown: Crossing Routes | PFF News & Analysis | PFF".
  34. USAtoday
    .
  35. ^ "Wide receiver patterns". The Football Times. 9 November 2005. Archived from the original on 5 April 2016.
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