1. Wide Receivers
Play makers, prima donnas, highlight reels

2. Goals
• The goals of this lesson will be:
• Gain an understanding of the physical traits that NFL scouts are looking for when
evaluating wide receivers
• Learn what scouts look for on the field when evaluating wide receivers
• You will complete an assessment at the end of this lesson

3. Wide Receiver Roles
• The wide receiver is expected to two three things
• Catch the ball
• Block for other wide receivers
• Block for running plays

4. Wide Receiver PhysicalTraits
• Today’s pass friendly NFL has driven the market for big, strong receivers;
however as long as the guy can play size doesn’t seem to matter for
receivers.
• 2013 First round pick for the St. Louis Rams,TavonAustin, is only 5’9”
• If the receiver can play bigger than his body with a good vertical jump and
great hands, it doesn’t matter his size.

5. Wide Receiver PhysicalTraits
• Here at the desired combine numbers for wide receivers:
40 yard dash: 4.55 seconds Broad Jump: 10’0”
10 yard split: 1.60 seconds 20 yard shuttle: 4.15 seconds
Bench press: 12 60 yard shuttle: 11.4 seconds
Vertical jump: 36” 3 cone drill: 7.00 seconds

6. Basics of Film Review
• Once again, we turn to Phil Savage, formerGM of the Cleveland Browns and
current director of the Senior Bowl to give us a breakdown of the wide
receiver position.
• Please watch this video and take notes.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geLiqSSN-Uw

7. Basic Film Review
• Phil Savage says there are three key things to look at when evaluating wide
receivers
• Suddenness, which we are going to call acceleration
• Make Plays
• Size/strength

8. Hands
• The #1 job of the wide receiver is to catch the ball. How can we determine
whether or not that a wide receiver has the ability to catch the ball at the
right level?
• Well we can start with a chart that resembles the QB passing chart
• Download the Blank Receiving Chart from BlackBoard and proceed to the
next slide.

9. Hands
• The two major differences between
the QB chart and the receiving chart
• No INT numbers needed
• Behind line of scrimmage (LOS) has
changed to No Gain; if a receiver
catches a ball behind the LOS and
doesn’t make it to the LOS there’s no
gain on the play and its important to
chart that.

10. Practice
• In this video we are going to watch Penn State standout Allen Robinson, #8.
• Watch the video and chart his progress using the blank receiving chart which you
can download from BlackBoard.
• Also keep track of how many times he run blocks or blocks for another receiver.
• Be mindful of the replays.This is broadcast film and not All-22
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDzAtmj_4kA&list=UU3goSfAins9Aj8vWOHb
xPZw

11. Practice
• Did your chart look like this?

12. IfYoursWasn’t Quite Right
• Here are a break down of the plays:
Play # What Happened Play # What Happened
1 Five yard completion to the left
hash
6 Run block
2 Incomplete to the left hash; 10
to 19 yards
7 Incomplete pass between the
hashes; 0-9 yards
3 11 yard completion to the left
hash
8 Fumble recovery
4 Run block 9 Run block
5 Forty-six yard completion to
the right hash
10 Not involved

13. Routes
• The next thing that NFL scout look for when evaluating receivers is their
ability to use as many different routes as possible.
• Some of this is the result of the offense; yet the best players can run crisp,
clean routes.
• The best way to learn routes is view the route tree.

14. RouteTree
• Route 1: Flat
• Receiver runs a short,
prespecified distance and
cuts to the side line
• Route 2: Slant
• Receiver runs a short,
prespecified distance and
cuts inward at an obtuse
angle toward the opposite
sideline

15. RouteTree
• Route 3: Comeback
• Receiver runs a medium,
prespecified distance and
cuts back towards the line of
scrimmage away from the
ball
• Route 4: Curl
• Receiver runs a medium,
prespecified distance and
cuts back towards the line of
scrimmage towards the ball

16. RouteTree
• Route 5: Out
• Receiver runs a medium,
prespecified distance and
cuts out towards the sidelines
• Route 6: Dig
• Receiver runs a medium,
prespecified distance and
cuts towards the middle of
the field

17. RouteTree
• Route 7: Corner
• Receiver runs a long,
prespecified distance and
cuts at an angle to the corner
of the end zone away from
the ball
• Route 8: Post
• Receiver runs a long,
prespecified distance and
cuts at an angle to the center
of the goal post in the
endzone

18. RouteTree
• Route 9: Fade or Go Route
• Receiver runs as fast and as
far as he can in a straight line
towards the end zone

19. Suddenness
• What Phil Savage described in his video as suddenness can be described as
the receiver being able to accelerate at a high rate
• When the receiver gets the ball in his hand is he already at his top speed or
does he speed up and cover ground faster than the defense?

20. Suddenness
• Suddenness can be viewed on tape but we can also get a realistic preview in
the 10 yard split from the 40 yard dash.
• Remember the time we are looking for is 1.60 seconds to cover 10 yards

21. Blocking
• As alluded to earlier wide receivers are expected to block for the running
back and/or other wide receivers
• When evaluating wide receivers we need to see that the receiver latches on
to his assigned block and doesn’t give him room to make the tackle until the
play is over.
• If a receiver can catch and block; he will be a useful commodity for his team.