The University of North Texas Wide Receiver Manual
“FOR THE ART OF IT”
Wide Receiver Daily Checklist
I. Position Meeting A. Academic Discussion B. Practice Tape C. Opponents Tape D. Installation 1. Formation 2. Adjustments 3. Shifts 4. Blitz Preparation 5. Route Walk Thru (on field) Chalk talks, walk thru's, expect players' best. Keep meeting positive and lively. Get them involved in the meeting. II. Pre-practice A. Stretching, Jogging, Ball Machine, Specialist B. Pat & Go 1. Short & Sharp (ball on the #) 2. Ball behind (ball thrown at back shoulder) 3. Over the Shoulder (ball out in front) 4. Wrong Shoulder (ball thrown over wrong shoulder adjust to ball) * Catch everything in your hands. III. Individual Time 1. Stance and Start 2. Blocking Drill 3. Releases 3a. Releases vs. DB's C-2, Bump & Run, Versus Cushion Man 4. Ball Drills 5. Cone Drills 6. Routes Technique 7. Routes vs. Air w/QB's IV. Team Drills 1. One on one (you have to win) Up field, Pre Red Zone, Red Zone, Goaline 2. Skele 3. Blocking Drill vs. DB's 4. Team Pass 5. Team Run
V. Post Practice A. Spend Time with 1 player per practice. 1. Talk Academic 2. Talk Life Skills 3. Get to know as much about what's going on in a player's life. 4. Get extra individual work with the player.
THOUGHTS FOR THE WIDE RECEIVER CONCENTRATION: Concentration on Fundamentals every play; keep your eyes on the ball. Your first responsibility is to catch the football. Always expect to get hit; concentrate on the catch. BE AN OPPORTUNIST, Concentrate, Execute, and MAKE PLAYS! TO WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS! HAVE INTENSITY: Carry out your assignment at full speed every play. This distinguishes “THE GREAT ONES” FROM THE “Average Ones”. Always run your route at full controlled speed. Always be alert for the ball and although you may not be the primary receiver, anticipate the QB throwing you the ball. BE INTENSE! AGGRESSIVENESS AND THE ABILITY TO CATCH THE FOOTBALL: Get to the point of attack; get off LOS without being held up; front up the man you are assigned to block; when assigned to an area get there! When the ball is thrown, it is ours. BE CONFIDENT! GO MAKE THE CATCH TO WIN THE GAME! MAKE THE BIG PLAY: The block that springs the back for the TD is as important as the run itself. When you catch a pass, tuck it away; get up field, fake, spin, and Score. PHYSICAL TRAITS: Hands, quickness, agility, coordination, speed, flexibility, and endurance. GREATNESS WILL COME TO THOSE WHO: work daily on the development of these traits, preparing for every game. STUDENT OF THE GAME: Developing good work habits; Pass receivers are made by practice, day after day until skills and assignments become second nature. Carry on constant communication with Quarterbacks, coaches, and receiver corps. Know your opponent; have a book on them. When are they in two-deep? Do they gamble? What is their speed? What cut will beat them? Always know field position, time remaining, down and distance, sun position, wind direction, and the overall field conditions. FROM THE HUDDLE TO THE WHISTLE: a. Know your assignment b. Recognize the defense c. Attack the defense through proper execution of assignment d. Make the block; catch the ball e. Score RECEIVER SPLITS: a. WR must use splits to his advantage. b. An adjustment in split can put in an advantageous position to complete the assignments.
ALIGNMENT VERSUS INSIDE RUN GAME: a. Receivers should vary splits to allow for better Disguise. CATCHING THE FOOTBALL AT ALL COSTS! a. We strive for consistency. Catch all the balls you are supposed to catch. And the great catches will come.
Receiver Alerts Each receiver must know the following for each play run or pass. I.
II.
SITUATION A. DOWN AND DISTANCE B. FIELD POSITION C. PASS- SIGHT ADJUSTMENT FORMATION A. RIGHT/LEFT B. RUNNING/PASSING STRENGTH C.
III.
VARIATION/MOTION
IV.
PLAY A. BASIC B. VARIATION SPLIT RULE
V. VI. VII. VIII. IX. X. XI. XII. XIII.
P.S.L. (PRE-SNAP LOOK) STANCE RELEASE (ANGLE OF DEPARTURE-CLEAN/HELD UP) R.O.M (READ ON MOVE) ADJUSTMENTS TO THE SECONDARY PATTERN- BREAKING POINT KNOW THE ELEMENTS OF ZONE COVERAGE KNOW THE ELEMENTS OF MAN COVERAGE KNOW THE ELEMENTS OF COMBINATION COVERAGE
BASIC PRINCIPLES OF PASS RECEIVERS 1. Always assume man coverage. 2. Our #1 priority as a receiver is to CATCH THE BALL! 3. We must continually attack the defender: the defender must always see you as an up field threat. 4. Our stance must maintain itself, especially when we are tired. No excuses for a sloppy stance. 5. After the catch - split the defenders, get up field: Run N-S, not E-W. 6. The run after the catch will amount to 50% of our total passing yardage at the end of the season. 7. If another receiver catches a pass: turn and block the man that is covering you. Do not block behind you. NO CLIPS. 8. Always assume that you are the primary receiver. Do not tip a defender by only running full speed when you are the primary receiver. Every receiver is primary. 9. To be a great receiver is an ART. It takes time and effort. 10. *Always look the defenders in the eyes. 11. Strive to be graceful and fluid receiver. Every time you go up field you should look the same: smooth and graceful. 12. As you move up field we must avoid the following tip-offs to defenders: a. Running with your head down, and then looking up as you prepare to cut. b. Running looking at the defender in the eyes then dropping the head eyes as you prepare to cut. c.
Arms fly out as you cut.
d. Raising the head and shoulders as you prepare to cut. 13. Concentrate on the specifics of what you do (on film) as well as the results of the catch. 14. A move is a definite change of direction: like a post- corner. a. Our head and shoulder are always on a swivel, welded together. By this we mean that our attempt to make a defense back take the bait, our head and shoulders must come around: like the: Post Corner 15. A nod or weave is a very slight change of direction: we never lose speed on a nod or weave.
16. The most important part of the play call is the (prior to the snap of the ball) 6 seconds from the time we leave the huddle to snap of the ball. After we leave the huddle to snap here is what we must know: a. Assignment b. Formation/Alignment/ (motion if called) c.
Split
d. Recognition of Zone or Man if pass is called e.
Blocking Assignment if run is called.
f.
Route conversion on pass call (if needed).
17. Part of running good routes is being able to recognize alignments with coverage. 18. Keys on reading coverage: a. Corner lines up slightly inside and faces you up: Man b. Corner is looking at the QB and standing tall: Zone c.
Safeties are deeper than normal: Zone
19. Clear Out Patterns are 40-yard sprints without looking back. 20. Awareness: of Down and Distance/Field Position. Sideline-Field Conditions. 21. We will come off the ball smoothly and gracefully on every play, run or pass. 22. We will not do the following: a. Do not come off the ball full speed when you think you’re getting the ball and then half speed when you are the secondary receiver. b. Defensive players recognize different speeds. 23. On the 5’s and 6’s, be decisive do not be hesitant. 24. On 5’s and 6’s never let a LB or Safety stand between you and the QB. Must keep equal distance between LB’s and Safeties. 25. When you catch a pass and your back is to the defender, anticipate the hit as you begin to get your head and eyes up field. Do not get surprised and fumble. 26. When in doubt, always pass up a “clip”. 27. If the 1st team is running a play in practice, the rest of the receivers must know what is going on.
28. Catch the ball before you run with it. *Against Press learn to use directional steps to get up field. Do not chop feet. 29. All receivers are primary receivers on every pass play, and primary blockers on all run plays.
30. Run up field 5 yards after every catch. 31. Run as fast as you can but under control, Pivots: Short 5’s and 6’s .
“For The Art Of It” Ball Drills
Blocking Drills
1. Pretty catch - Run in place catch and tuck. 1. Stalk Block - w/bags 2. Low Ball - At ankles 2. Mirror Drill - Hands behind/nose front 3. High Ball - Jump for 3. Stalk & Cut Stalk/Explode Knee 4. Side Run - Both Ways 4. Cut Front - Explode knee/-hit bag 5. Sideline Toe Tap/Drag 5. Cut Side - Run and get head in front 6. Over the Shoulder - Track to Opposite 6. Crack Block - Angle & Deliver 7. Over the Head - Locate & React 7. Sled - Hit & Drive 8. Distraction - Crossing Behind Interference 9. Harassment - Being Slapped At 10. Reaction - Pivot & Find Quick 11. Bad Ball - Running Low/High 12. Bad Ball behind Running Low/High 13. Under thrown - Go Over DB to get Ball 14. Adjustment - Stop & Let DB go by 15. YAC (Yards after Catch) - Catch Ball get North & South Route Skills
General
Stance - No straight knees 1. Strip Drill Start - No false steps 2. Fumble Recovery Four Corner Stick Drill - Speed Cut Run throughout break Out of Box Drill – Get North & South Diagonal Cone Drill - Touch cone on break- Knee Bender Press Release - Hands/Feet/ Physical Take directional steps do not chop feet/1/2/3 steps move Swim/Rip
Cover 2 Release - Get wide and stretch Route Stems - Threaten Shoulder, Stick, Separate
Wide Receivers Off- Season Workout
Phase I - Eight Weeks Distance Running Mon. - Wed. - Fri. 7:30 am 15 minute Stretch • Two and a Half miles (timed) • Start at about 20 minutes and focus on improving time each day. • If running hills where there is a path to run. Run just two miles. • Tues. - Thurs. 7:30 am 20 to 30 short sprints (50 yards); rest for 25 second between each. • • •
Run Pass Routes Catch 200 balls
Phase II - Eight Weeks Middle Distance Running Mon thru Fri 15 minute stretch • Rotating programs of: •
(3 – 800, 1 – 400, 1 – 200)(3 – 800, 1 – 400, 1 – 300, 1 – 200)(2 – 800, 1 – 400, 1 – 300, 1 – 200)(1 – 800, 1 – 400, 1 – 300, 1 – 200) •
Hold back the times during these runs, these are not for speed. They are for strength and endurance.
• •
Run Pass Routes Catch 200 balls
•
Weights, 2 hours daily.
Phase III - Eight Weeks Quick-Twitch Drills Mon thru Fri 15 minute stretch • A 5-hour daily program of that includes: Stop-and-go’s • Cone drills • Run and touch the ground drills • Bump-and-runs • Short and medium sprints (20 to 70 yards) •
•
Run Pass Routes 1 miles run (un-timed) Catch 200 balls
•
Weights, 2 hours daily
• •
Extras Harness Pulls (Helps with running form.) • Tubing (helps reduce hamstring problems) • These can be substituted for sprints. (Tues. - Thurs) workout only 10 x 40 yards • 75 pounds •
Cone Drills
- All cone drills should be done with 10 cones lined up in a straight line approximately 2ft apart from each other. These drills are to develop quick feet so your footwork should be quick, short steps with little time on the ground, as opposed to long, exaggerated steps. As you finish
through the last cone you should make a sharp change of direction and sprint 5yds. Start drill facing the direction of the arrow. Straight Run Facing the cones, Sprint over them with only 1 foot hitting in between each
cone Straight Run Double Chop Facing the cones, Sprint over them with 2 feet hitting in between
each cone Lateral Step Facing laterally to the cones, Cross-over them with only 1 foot hitting in between
each cone Lateral Step Double Chop Facing laterally to the cones, Shuffle over them with 2 feet hitting in between each cone
Zig-Zag Facing the cones, Move forward and side to side going in between each cone with
short, choppy steps Backwards Zig-Zag Facing away from the cones, Backpedal from side to side going in between each cone with short, choppy steps
Forward-Backward Facing laterally to the cones, Move forwards and backwards in between each cone with short, choppy steps
Wave Laterally go over cones (see Lateral Step above) as you react to someone’s direction changes. Make sure you react, place your foot down, and change direction as quickly as possible.
