Releasing is the Key

Through the course of coaching receivers at four different colleges, one thing has stood by itself as being the task that has frustrated both players at that position and some coaches on those staffs. Invariably, the release (a clean release without sacrificing vertical speed) is what we are all striving for on pass plays. But that has become a bigger issue to deal with as offenses have attempted to go less with substituting players in questionable run/pass situations. In other words, on 2-and-6 with 22 personnel on the field (two backs-one tight end), a defense will generally be more prepared to attack with a “base” personnel of their own, as well as a “base” front. Coming to the line of scrimmage (LOS). and flexing the tight end into a slot or even wide receiver position causes the defense problems they may not have expected. In addition to, or separately, moving one of the backs into a wide alignment could now force the defense to defend 10 personnel (one back-no tight ends), four wides.

The “problem” usually begins during the evaluation of potential receivers. Watching them catch the ball in drills and seeing that they have soft hands, seldom dropping the ball will be a good start. Then, seeing them accelerate during a drill or a play will clearly be another way they become recognized. But until they are clearly tested with working in limited space, and have displayed the talent to move around defenders without using up precious time, it is difficult to determine whether you have the best fit as a receiver candidate.

On the outside, it becomes mostly press-man, bump-and-run, and a hard level-2 cornerback that impedes the receivers’ path. Those routes on the

Diagram 1. Curl

outside by any No. 1 receiver are generally more up the field and cause less problem overall. However, 3-step routes, timing and spatial routes where twins and trips are involved, and certain routes where leverage on the defender is vital become somewhat problematic with certain receivers. Our feeling with man coverage on longer stem routes (12 yards or more) is that it may be simplest to just get off the LOS with the “best” release and get the defender into a threatening position as far up the field as possible before working back across his body at the last possible instant, gaining the leverage desired. (See Diagram 1.)

Diagram 2. Curl

The same route versus a tight press-man (goal line) may call for a stutter, to force the defender’s hand or simply widening the split slightly in order to work a slant release. (See Diagram 2.)

With a Cover 2 cornerback, we just need to work through the shoulder of the defender – after stemming middle to outside shoulder if a soft 4-5 yard cushion – then releasing vertically with a post move late in the stem (8-9 yards) to work the safety before planting and coming back down the stem at 12-13 yards. (See Diagram 3.)

Diagram 3. Curl

Finding the best matches to the inside receivers positions are the both most difficult and the most rewarding. Everyone on the offensive side of the football salivates over the potential mismatches of possibly their best receiver in open space with a much larger (at times) outside linebacker or strong safety/nickel defender. Again, moving a tight end or running back into that alignment may give you the same type of advantage athletically or could help with perimeter blocking. At the very least, it challenges the defense to be aware of some situations that they would probably rather not deal with.

The inside receiver in a twins formation to the wide field will usually have 4-5 yards cushion (off LOS) and be up to 4 yards loose (inside position of his own alignment) of the nearest defender when it is a linebacker responsible to give help in run support. A strong safety will play tighter, as will the defender in a 4-4 (eight-man front) alignment. As the ball moves more to the middle of the field, obviously the receiver loses some of that space. We would like to get a quick reaction from that defender post-snap, and we realize that with some space one of our best receivers can benefit more by releasing and “attacking” directly at the defender. The ability to use his feet and the quickness in those movements when put in the position of tight space should be one of the main reasons you’ve selected that receiver to line up at an inside position. He will make some mistakes and “guess wrong” from time to time. But, he should be coached to come open quickly without wasted movement, and, above all-learn to trust his feet.

Diagram 4. Crossover Diagram 5. Crossover Diagram 6. Crossover/Sit

On a deep crossing route when there is loose technique, the receiver will stem the defender and favor the shoulder he thinks he will be releasing on. In this example, as he releases at the defender’s outside shoulder, he believes that he will beat him with speed by just squaring up and running vertical past the 5-8 yard area the defender will drop to if the were to turn and open. (See Diagram 4.)

When that defender lines up tighter or reacts quickly to take away the up-field route over the top, the receiver can react on his second and third steps to redirect back underneath that defender. (See Diagram 5.)

The receiver can continue on the move after pushing vertical and working the crosser, or since he already has leverage, he can choke the speed of the cut and just sit down at the break point. (See Diagram 6.)

When the strong safety is over his head as in Cover 3 or with man free and in zone blitz where a third-level defender is in coverage from depth, the receiver should square up the nearest defender, work the route as deep as possible into the prescribed stem and use a jab step or head and shoulder lean to the outside before coming back inside. When in man-to-man, if shortening the route depth isn’t called for, a vertical push after gaining the proper leverage will help get the defender into a trail position and force him to redirect a second time. (See Diagram 7.)

Diagram 7. Crossover

Not having to coach a player how to get off the LOS is most often what leads to having the most success. The players that just have that natural instinct and can see things happen as the play develops seem to produce the best results. They clearly know what they need to do in order to correct any problems from watching tape; they understand the importance of leverage and the advantages that angles create; and, for some, they even have a good understanding of what the defense is attempting to do in their scheme.

Assisting the others that just need that one tip to avoid contact by a defender could be the key to finding your receivers open.

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Rich Ulrich
Before beginning his career at Trinity, Rich Ulrich served as the offensive coordinator at Georgetown University in 2000-2001 and wide receivers and special teams at the University of Pennsylvania (1995-99).

Ulrich has held assistant coaching positions at Albany, Army, Fordham and Princeton. He also served as the head football coach and offensive coordinator at Rocky Mountain College.