These routes and names taught are in accordance with the West Coast offensive scheme (Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Bucanneers, Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers, and San Francisco 49ers). This information is not intended to replace terminology or execution that may be taught by a high school, high school, or Pop Warner coach. However, every pass receiving route taught today at the amateur and professional level is derived from the same basic concepts. Therefore, I encourage you to implement these techniques because they will greatly improve your route running ability.
Passing the paths of the trees
middle point – Designed to be generally a third read for the quarterback. The most important training tip for this route is to make sure you stop directly over the ball, 5-6 yards down. Don’t slide or slide until you make contact with the QB.
Drag – This is West Coast Offense terminology for a route that hits the ground. A big mistake young players and even coaches make when using this route is that they bow or go around the route. This just makes the Tight End easier to defend against. The key coaching tip on this route is to pick a point on the near sideline about 3-5 yards beyond the line of scrimmage, and then run as straight as you can to that point.
Stick – A single exit of 5 yards. This route can be executed in a number of ways depending on coverage, but in this case you will practice this route if you are in man cover.
Training Tips:
– Get a good shot of the ball
– 4-6 yards from the line of the scrimmage stick, plant and break the route with your inside foot and then run away from the defender slightly downhill. He should expect to catch the ball 3-4 yards deep.
Middle Cross/Flanker Drive – Another name for a 10- to 12-yard “drive” path.
Training tip:
– Make the first 10 yards look like you’re on a Go or Seam route. At 10-12 yards fake an outside cut, then plant, break and cut with the outside foot. Once you reach your break, jog slightly downhill. You should expect to catch the ball at a depth of 8 to 10 yards.
Option/Hook – This route is designed to take advantage of the influence that a defender will give you. If he is playing outside, you will break inside. If the defender is playing you with inside leverage, you will break the route on the outside.
Training tip:
– Be sure to spread the defender at least 2-4 yards during the initial 4-5 yards of your route. This will create separation and give the defender the opportunity to exert internal or external influence.
Deep Dig – The West Coast offense uses this route in long and third situations. The route is executed similarly to the Option/Hook but 13-15 yards beyond the line of scrimmage. Just like the Option/Hook route, you need to get wide in your initial 5 yards to spread out the defender.
shallow cross– A down route designed to take advantage of Linebackers and 1 on 1 coverage. Make sure you get a good shot from scrimmage. Initially, slope your route until you get 4 yards down, at which point do a little head fake as if you were going up the field, then split your route across the field. You are most likely hoping to catch the ball where the opposite tackle will be.
seam/go – The base of all the routes of passage. The key is to beat the man in front of you. Get a good throw off the line of scrimmage and the first person to the 15-yard line wins!
Training tip:
– Be sure to spread the defender at least 2-4 yards during the initial 4-5 yards of your route. This will create a gap between you and the middle linebacker and give you a chance to catch the ball between your man and the Free Safety. Typically, you’ll catch the ball 10 to 17 yards downfield.
Middle Snap/Flank Drive (Close Center): In some cases, when a Tight runs a middle snap, the middle linebacker will pick it up in coverage. Instead of trying to beat him across the field after your break, run towards him a good 2-3 steps and head back in the direction you came from and run down the exit route. An unstoppable play if read correctly by the receiver and QB.
skinny pole – This play works magic against a deck 2. This play is executed when the Safeties are jumping the Flag route.
Training tip:
– Be sure to spread the defender at least 2-4 yards during the initial 4-5 yards of your route. This will create some separation between you and the strong wing linebacker, leaving room to execute the Post.
– At 10 or 12 yards, pass the line of scrimmage, take 1 or 2 steps as if you were running a flag, then cut, plant, break with your outside foot and run a post. DON’T RUN TO SAFETY, he’ll light you up if you catch the ball. After your cut, stay on the inside shoulder of the defender.
In some cases, you may feel like you’re running a Vein if the dongles are too close together.
China – This route is designed to take advantage of linebackers who skip the Drag route. The mechanics of this route are the same as the Drag, but after 3-4 steps into the Drag, stop and go back to the QB. Do not back up or run off the road. You just have to step on, plant and cut.
deep-medium – This route is designed to take advantage of the Middle Linebacker in Tampa Cover 2.
Training tip:
– For the first 5-6 steps, make this path look like a shallow Cross.
– Once you get to where the playside offensive guard would be, split your route upfield, and then sit back and split your route 10-12 yards directly over the ball.
Seattle – This is the West Coast version of the Flag Trail. The only difference is the angle after the break. On a flag, the Tight End will try to keep the route high to the back corner pylon in the end zone. However, Seattle’s route flatters after the break to try to get under Safety. In some cases, the route can almost seem like a 10-yard route.
Flag – Designed to expose the Man or Cover 2 cover.
Training tip:
– Make your break at 10-12 yards. Don’t break your route too soon. Make the defender think you’re on a “Go” route for a touchdown, then break into a flag…
– On your break, cut with your outside foot, take two steps as if you were running a Pole, then break it again into a flag with your inside foot. After the break, he runs to the back corner pylon. Stay “skinny” and on the field.