Strategy and structure are key parts of any offensive plan in football, and the ability to separate via route running for receivers is an essential part of that game plan.
9 Routes Essential for Route Running
The Football Route Tree has nine possible routes a receiver can run, allowing quarterbacks and receivers to work together to determine which routes to run.
Football Route Tree Diagram
Post this every year at the Senior Bowl…The “Route Tree” for WR vs. DB 1-on-1s. From a defensive perspective, you have to know where routes break to make a play. pic.twitter.com/2jriq7Ib1Z
— Matt Bowen (@MattBowen41) January 23, 2018
The nine routes are here courtesy of GoRout with some of the routes listed below.
Flat Route
The Flat Route is the first route on the list and, according to GoRout, “involves the receiver running a short, quick route toward the sideline. This route is typically used to exploit the defense’s underneath coverage, providing a safe and easy target for the quarterback.”
Slant Route
Route two, as it is also known, has the “receiver take a few steps forward before cutting sharply across the middle of the field.” It capitalizes on defenses unprepared for inside coverage and will be used on short-yardage plays.
Comeback Route
The third route in the tree sees the receiver spring hard downfield and then turn back toward the sidelines. Offenses want defenders to overcommit so they can expose them and create separation.
What the Route Tree can do for offenses.
The simplicity of the route tree allows for the receiver and quarterback to get on the same page and collaborate with coaches and players on the offense. The quarterbacks and receivers consistently practice these to get their timing down for when the game comes, and they know what routes they are running.
Option routes are added and can key on what the defense on the other side of the ball is doing to defend the pass. Different options are built in if it is against a zone defense or a man’s defense. In an offense, receivers run multiple routes, with different receivers on a set play running routes that complement each other.
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Strong defenses will dictate what happens and react accordingly. It doesn’t matter what the offense runs if the defense is good at what it does. Film helps solidify the team’s favorite plays in crunch time, down and distance, or at the goal line.
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