Drills Report – Getting Open: Drills to Make Your Wide Receivers Great

The most important part of any passing game is the ability of wide receivers to get open.  Your type of passing system will determine what types of routes are run, but the ultimate success of the passing game will be based on your wide receivers abilities to get open at the right time for the quarterback. Over the years, I have coached some outstanding receivers, and all the great ones had the ability to get open. The key is practice repetition. We work on a grid square every day to help us develop the muscle memory and fundamentals to help wide receivers that can get open. To become a great wide receiver, you have to be able to stop and start before the defensive back. Knowing and understanding how to do this is a critical part of route running. Many factors contribute to being able to “stop on a dime”. Mostly, it is a matter of controlling your body by using simple