Wide Receiver Drills and Techniques

Introduction

• Rob Likens - Louisiana Tech University
• Gave credit to Justin Watts (Middle Tennessee State) and Shane Wasden (Troy) for inspiration.
• Emphasis on building upon the foundation laid by these coaches.

Ball Security

• Importance of constant feedback from coaches during all drills and practice.
• Players should always run the ball back to the quarterback to reinforce ball security.
• Three (or four) points of pressure on the football:
  • Fingertips split the nose of the football
  • Pressure against the forearm
  • Top of the number against the ribcage
  • Back nose of the football against the inside of the bicep (optional)
• Warm-up drill: Teaching players to carry the football with the points of pressure while trying to strip it.

Stance and Start

• Powerful Position: Players should be in the most powerful position possible when the ball is snapped.
• Low Stance: Helmet lower than the defender's helmet.
• Flat Back: Back parallel to the ground.
• Width & Weight Distribution: Proper stance width (shoulder-width apart); most weight on the front foot.
• Hands Position: Hands at the same level as the defensive back's hands, ready for combat.

Developing Hands

• Tennis Ball Machine: Helps keep fingertips together, develop soft hands, and keep hands in a tight noose.
• Clock and Freeze Drill: Catching balls at different positions around the body and freezing for two seconds to observe hand placement.

Cone Drill

• Toe Sticks: Low pad level and even strides, not bringing feet together.
• 45-Degree & 90-Degree Angles: Properly opening hips by thrusting elbows back.
• Combining Drills: Incorporating fast feet, 45-degree, and 90-degree drills together.

Stride and Stick Drill

• Running Drill: For maintaining head and toe stick while running.
• Eye Contact: Encouraging receivers to maintain eye contact instead of looking at the ground.

Top of the Route

• Maintaining Low Profile: Staying low at the top of the route, with nose over toes.
• Cone Drill Variation: Picking up and placing a ball on a cone to keep weight forward.

Over the Shoulder Drill

• Catching Technique: Hands extended up to catch the ball over the outside shoulder.
• Practice Mechanism: Proper catching technique for deep balls and competitive situations.

Releases

Types

• Punch & Rip: Hand techniques to clear defensive back's hands.
• Just Go: Quick release by sprinting to a spot.
• Foot Fire Single Move: Quick feet with a single stick move.
• Foot Fire Double Move: Quick feet with a double stick move.
• Diamond Release: Selling a route one way before cutting back.
• Change-up Release: Changing pace to trick the defender.
• Physical Release: Using force to disrupt the defender.

Group Release Work

• Efficient method to evaluate multiple players at once, working on various releases and getting back over the top.

Low Pad Level Drill

• Pad Level: Maintaining low pad level to avoid giving the defender an easy target.
• Illustration: Example of low pad level during a route.

Stem Drill

• Square Up: Squaring up the defender to keep them guessing.
• Group Work: Doing stem drills in groups for efficiency.

Corner and Post Drill

• Aiming Points: Aiming for the pylon on a corner route and taking three steps to the target before looking for the ball.

Partner Drills

Types

• Lean Fade: Learning separation techniques using a forearm shove.
• Collision Fade: Combining separation and collision techniques.
• Lean Out: Using partner positions for out-route practice.
• Shove by Curl: Technique for creating space on a curl route.
• Shove by Dig: Similar to curl but crossing the field.
• Shove by Corner: Corner route technique involving shoving the defender upfield.

Catch with Contact

• Simulating Hits: Preparing receivers for hits while catching the ball.
• Examples: Game situations where receivers maintain possession during a hit.

Finish and Score Drill

• Tight Turns: Practicing tight turns up the sideline after catching the ball.
• Game Examples: Turning potential out-of-bounds catches into extra yard plays.

Noose Drill

• Importance: Treating the drill seriously as it sets the tone for practice.

Outro

• Emphasis on continuous improvement in fundamental drills.