FirstDown PlayBook Receiver Route Adjustments

On a typical pass play there are going to be route adjustments. Rarely do you see a receiver with a locked route. A locked route would mean that the receiver is going to run that route regardless of what the defense plays.

Good passing teams demand that the quarterback and receivers see the same things. If the defense is playing two high safeties you had better not run those hitches into rolled up corners. That is unless you are running a corner or bench route behind them. This is where route adjustments can come into play.

There is often a route that is drawn with a solid line. This route is the primary route or the route that is run vs the coverage you are expecting. Then there may be a dotted line. This indicates the route adjustment. Why not draw the play twice? Well, you could but that is not how the QB and receiver have to think. They have to run the play and adjust to what they see.

If You Haven’t Seen FirstDown PlayBook Lately You Better Take Another Look

FirstDown PlayBook covers you on some of this with the coaching points. However, as we mentioned, a lot of routes need to be adjusted based on the defense. If the defense is playing man coverage or zone coverage it can change the route structure too. It is good to have it all on one drawing that covers all possibilities for that pass play.

The cushion and technique of the defenders can also make it necessary for the receivers to adjust their route as well. These are all very detectable things your quarterback and your receivers can adjust to before and after the ball is snapped.

So bang on the play below and give this short video a look. We explain how we draw our FirstDown PlayBook receiver route adjustments. If you understand this and more importantly if your players understand this, it will give you chance to be in a good play vs almost any coverage the defense throws up at you!