Passing routes are an essential aspect of football strategy, allowing quarterbacks and receivers to effectively communicate and execute plays.
Understanding the different types of passing routes is crucial for both players and fans alike.
Here we look at the various football passing routes, their purposes, and how they contribute to the overall success of a team’s offense.
The Importance of Passing Routes
Passing routes serve as a blueprint for receivers to follow during a play.
They dictate the path a receiver takes on the field, helping them create separation from defenders and giving the quarterback clear targets to throw to.
Proper execution of passing routes can lead to big gains, touchdowns, and ultimately, victories.
Common Types of Passing Routes
There are numerous passing routes used in football, each designed to exploit different areas of the field and confuse the defense.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the most common passing routes:
a) Go Route
The go route, also known as the fly route or streak route, is a straight sprint down the field.
The receiver aims to outrun the defender and catch a long pass from the quarterback.
This route is often used when the offense wants to take advantage of a speedy receiver or when they need to gain significant yardage quickly.
b) Slant Route
The slant route involves the receiver running diagonally across the field, typically at a 45-degree angle.
This route is effective for gaining yards after the catch, as it allows the receiver to quickly cut inside and exploit any gaps in the defense.
Slant routes are commonly used in short-to-intermediate passing situations.
c) Out Route
The out route, also known as the comeback route, requires the receiver to run toward the sideline and then make a sharp turn back toward the quarterback.
This route is effective for gaining separation from defenders and creating a clear throwing window for the quarterback.
Out routes are commonly used in situations where the offense needs to move the chains and convert on third down.
d) Curl Route
The curl route, also known as the hitch route, involves the receiver running a few yards downfield before quickly turning back toward the quarterback.
This route is effective for creating a short, quick passing option for the quarterback, especially against zone defenses.
Curl routes are commonly used in situations where the offense needs to gain a few yards and maintain possession of the ball.
e) Post Route
The post route requires the receiver to run straight downfield before making a sharp cut toward the middle of the field.
This route is designed to attack the deep middle of the defense and is often used to target a receiver with good speed and agility.
Post routes are commonly used in long-yardage situations or when the offense wants to take advantage of a mismatch against a slower defender.
f) Wheel Route
The wheel route is a combination of a go route and an out route.
The receiver initially runs straight downfield before making a sharp turn toward the sideline.
This route is effective for catching the defense off guard and creating separation from defenders.
Wheel routes are commonly used in situations where the offense wants to target a running back or tight end in the passing game.
Intro To Wide Receiver Routes In American Football
Factors Influencing Route Selection
When deciding which passing route to use, several factors come into play.
These factors include:
- Defensive coverage: The type of coverage the defense is playing can dictate which routes are more effective. For example, a slant route may be ideal against man-to-man coverage, while a curl route may be better against zone coverage.
- Quarterback’s strengths: The quarterback’s arm strength, accuracy, and ability to read defenses can influence the types of routes that are called. Some quarterbacks excel at throwing deep balls, while others may be more accurate on short, quick passes.
- Receiver’s skills: The receiver’s speed, agility, and route-running ability can also impact the selection of passing routes. Coaches often tailor their play-calling to maximize the strengths of their receivers.
- Game situation: The score, time remaining, and field position can all influence the choice of passing routes. For example, if a team is trailing late in the game, they may opt for more aggressive routes to quickly move down the field.
Case Study: The West Coast Offense
The West Coast Offense, popularized by legendary coach Bill Walsh, heavily relies on precise passing routes to move the ball down the field.
This offensive system emphasizes short, quick passes that allow receivers to gain yards after the catch.
Let’s examine a few passing routes commonly used in the West Coast Offense:
a) Slant-Flat Concept
The slant-flat concept involves one receiver running a slant route while another receiver runs a flat route toward the sideline.
This combination creates a high-low read for the quarterback, forcing the defense to make a difficult decision.
If the defense covers the slant route, the quarterback can quickly dump the ball off to the receiver running the flat route.
b) Smash Concept
The smash concept combines a corner route with a hitch route.
The outside receiver runs a corner route towards the back corner of the end zone, while the inside receiver runs a hitch route at around 10 yards.
This concept puts stress on the cornerback, who must decide whether to cover the deep corner route or the shorter hitch route.
c) Stick Concept
The stick concept is a quick-hitting passing play that involves a combination of short routes.
The outside receiver runs a quick out route, while the inside receiver runs a stick route, which is essentially a quick stop route.
This concept provides the quarterback with two short, reliable options to quickly move the chains.
Route Tree
A route tree is a system or diagram that represents the different pass routes a receiver can run during a play.
It provides a standardized set of route options that can be communicated between quarterbacks, coaches, and receivers.
The route tree is typically represented as a graphical chart with various routes branching out like branches of a tree.
The route tree categorizes different routes based on numbers or designations assigned to each route.
Common route designations in a route tree include:
- Go or Fly: A straight vertical route where the receiver runs straight downfield.
- Out or Comeback: The receiver runs a route towards the sideline at a 45-degree angle and then cuts back towards the quarterback.
- In or Dig: The receiver runs a route at a 45-degree angle towards the middle of the field.
- Curl or Hook: The receiver runs a route straight ahead for a certain distance and then quickly turns back towards the quarterback.
- Slant: The receiver takes a diagonal step towards the inside of the field and then cuts sharply across the middle at a 45-degree angle.
- Post: The receiver runs straight downfield for a certain distance and then makes a sharp angle towards the middle of the field.
- Corner: The receiver runs a route towards the corner of the end zone or the sideline.
These are just a few examples, and different teams and systems may have variations or additional routes in their route trees.
The route tree serves as a common language for coordinating passing plays and allows players to communicate effectively on the field.
The Route Tree Explained | How Football Actually Works
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What is the purpose of passing routes in football?
Passing routes serve as a blueprint for receivers to follow during a play, helping them create separation from defenders and giving the quarterback clear targets to throw to.
2. How many passing routes are there in football?
There are numerous passing routes used in football, each designed to exploit different areas of the field and confuse the defense.
Some common routes include go routes, slant routes, out routes, curl routes, post routes, and wheel routes.
3. How do passing routes vary based on defensive coverage?
The type of coverage the defense is playing can dictate which routes are more effective.
For example, a slant route may be ideal against man-to-man coverage, while a curl route may be better against zone coverage.
4. How do quarterbacks and receivers communicate during passing plays?
Quarterbacks and receivers communicate through a combination of hand signals, pre-snap adjustments, and verbal cues.
They work together to ensure that both parties are on the same page regarding the specific passing route to be executed.
5. Can passing routes be adjusted during a play?
Yes, passing routes can be adjusted during a play based on the quarterback’s read of the defense.
Receivers may need to alter their routes or make improvisational adjustments to create separation and provide a viable target for the quarterback.
6. How do passing routes contribute to a team’s offensive strategy?
Passing routes are an integral part of a team’s offensive strategy.
They help create mismatches against the defense, exploit weaknesses in coverage, and provide the quarterback with clear options to move the ball down the field.
7. Are passing routes only used in the passing game?
While passing routes are primarily used in the passing game, they can also be incorporated into certain running plays, such as screen passes or option plays.
In these instances, the receiver’s route serves as a key component of the play design.
8. How do passing routes impact fantasy football?
In fantasy football, understanding passing routes can help identify receivers who are likely to receive a high volume of targets.
Receivers running routes that are frequently targeted by their quarterbacks have a higher chance of accumulating receptions, yards, and touchdowns.
9. Can passing routes be used in youth football?
Yes, passing routes can be used in youth football.
While the complexity of the routes may vary depending on the age and skill level of the players, teaching basic passing routes can help young players develop their understanding of the game and improve their skills.
10. How can I improve my route-running as a receiver?
To improve route-running as a receiver, focus on developing quickness, agility, and the ability to change direction explosively.
Practice running routes at game speed, work on creating separation from defenders, and study film to understand how to exploit different coverages.
Summary
Passing routes are a fundamental aspect of football strategy, allowing quarterbacks and receivers to effectively communicate and execute plays.
Understanding the different types of passing routes and their purposes is crucial for both players and fans.
By incorporating various passing routes into their offensive game plans, teams can create mismatches, exploit weaknesses in coverage, and ultimately find success on the field.
