Route Diagrams & Visual Playbook 🏈

Standard Route Tree — Visual Reference

Complete Route Tree (0-9 System)

         9 (GO/FADE)
         |
         ↑
         |    8 (POST)
  6 ←────●────→ 7 (CORNER)
    (COMEBACK) |     ↗
         |    ↙2 (DIG/IN)
  4 ←────●────→ 3 (OUT)
    (HITCH)|
         ↑
         1 (QUICK OUT)

         0 (SLANT/QUICK)
         ↗

Individual Route Diagrams

Route 0: Slant (Quick Game)

Receiver vs. Defender

X ←─D     X = Receiver starting position
  ↘       D = Defender
   ●      ● = Break point (3-5 yards)
   ↓
  QB

Coaching Points:
- 3 steps upfield
- Quick inside break
- Hands ready immediately
- Attack inside shoulder of DB

Route 1: Quick Out

X
│
│ 5 yds
●────→
     ↓
    QB

Coaching Points:
- Drive vertical 5 yards
- Sharp 90-degree break
- Get immediate width
- Expect ball quickly

Route 2: Dig/In Route

X
│
│ 8-12 yds
●────────→
         ↓
        QB

Coaching Points:
- Stem vertical 8-12 yards
- Sharp inside break
- Find soft spot in zone
- Cross defender's face vs. man

Route 3: Out Route

X
│
│ 12-15 yds
●─────────→
          ↓
         QB

Coaching Points:
- Drive vertical to depth
- Plant outside foot, break out
- Get width for throwing window
- Come back to ball vs. pressure

Route 4: Hitch/Comeback (Short)

X
│ ↑
│ │ 6-8 yds
●─┘
↓
QB

Coaching Points:
- Drive vertical 6-8 yards
- Settle vs. zone coverage
- Come back to QB vs. pressure
- Square shoulders to QB

Route 5: Speed Slant

X ←─D
  ↘ 3 yds
   ●
   ↓
  QB

Coaching Points:
- Quick 3-step release
- Beat DB inside
- Catch and run
- Similar to Route 0 but faster tempo

Route 6: Comeback (Deep)

X
│ ↑
│ │ 12-18 yds
●─┘
↓
QB

Coaching Points:
- Sell vertical stem
- Plant and drive back to QB
- Create separation on break
- Sit vs. zone, break vs. man

Route 7: Corner Route

X
│    ╱
│   ╱ 14-18 yds
●  ╱
  ↙
 QB

Coaching Points:
- Drive vertical to safety level
- Break at 45-degree angle
- Get behind coverage
- Track ball over outside shoulder

Route 8: Post Route

X
│     ╲
│      ╲ 12-20 yds
●       ╲
↓        ╲
QB        ●

Coaching Points:
- Drive vertical past linebacker
- Break inside at 45 degrees
- Split safeties in coverage
- Adjust to coverage rotation

Route 9: Go/Fade Route

X
│
│
│ 20+ yds
│
●

↓
QB

Coaching Points:
- Straight vertical stem
- Beat DB vertically
- Track ball in air
- Back shoulder vs. safety help

Bunch Formation Route Combinations

Stick Concept Diagram

Formation: 3x1 Bunch Right

    H ────→ (Route 2: 12-yard Dig)
    Z ●     (Stick Route: 8-yard settle)
    X ●     (Route 4: 6-yard Hitch)
        ↓
       QB

Y ●         (Route 6: 12-yard Comeback)
  ↑

Read: Middle Linebacker
1. If MLB drops → throw stick behind him
2. If MLB sits → throw dig over the top
3. Pressure → hitch or comeback

Smash Concept Diagram

Formation: 3x1 Bunch Right

    H    ╱● (Route 7: Corner)
    Z ──→   (Route 1: Speed Out - 6 yards)
    X   ╱●  (Route 7: Corner)
       ↙
      QB

Y ────→● (Route 3: 15-yard Out)

Read: Corner/Safety leverage
1. Single high safety → corner behind
2. Two high safeties → speed out underneath
3. Natural pick action in bunch

Mills Concept Diagram

Formation: 3x1 Bunch Right

    H ──────────→● (Route 2: 8-yard Drag)
    Z ────→●       (Route 2: 12-yard Square-in)
    X ●            (Route 6: 18-yard Comeback)
      ↑
     ↙
    QB

Y │●              (Route 9: 20-yard Go)
  ↑

Read: Inside-out progression
1. Drag first (hot vs. blitz)
2. Square-in in window
3. Comeback vs. coverage

Four Verticals Diagram

Formation: 3x1 Bunch Right

    H │●  (Route 9: Seam)
    Z │●  (Route 9: Seam)
    X │●  (Route 9: Seam)
      ↑
     QB

Y │●    (Route 9: Seam)
  ↑

Coverage Adjustments:
- Cover 2: Bend routes to seams (18-20 yds)
- Cover 3: Outside WRs convert to comebacks
- Cover 4: Inside seams, outside corners
- Man: Push vertical, use speed

Running Play Diagrams

Inside Zone Blocking Scheme

Defensive Front:
  E   T   N   T   E
  │   │   │   │   │
  5   3   0   3   5

Offensive Line:
 LT  LG   C  RG  RT
 │   │    │   │   │
 │   └──●─┘   │   │  ← Double team to LB
 │      │     │   │
 └──────●─────┘   │  ← Work to LB level
        │
       QB ●
        │
       RB ●

RB Path: Press B gap, follow double teams

Coaching Points:
- "Big-on-big" rule
- Work together then climb
- RB reads backside flow

Outside Zone Blocking Scheme

Defensive Front:
  E   T   N   T   E
  │   │   │   │   │

Offensive Line:
 LT  LG   C  RG  RT
 →   →    ←   ←   ← ← ← Reach blocking
        │
       QB ● (pitch relationship)
        │
       RB ●→→→→ (stretch path)

RB Path:
1. Get width first
2. Press edge until defense shows
3. Cut back when pursuit overruns

Coaching Points:
- Reach block: get helmet outside
- RB patience is key
- Cut when defense commits

Power O Diagram

     FB
     ↓
 LT  LG   C  RG  RT
 │   ↑    ↑   ←   │
 │   └─●──┘   │   │  ← Double team
 │     │      │   │
 │     │    Pull →│   ← RG pulls, kicks out
 │     │      ●───┘
 │     │     ↙
 │    QB ●  ←
 │     │
 │    RB ●
 │     ↑
 └─────┘  ← Power gap

Coaching Points:
- RG kicks out EMLOS
- FB leads through hole
- Double team creates movement
- RB attacks inside shoulder

RPO Diagrams

Zone + Slant RPO

Read: Inside Linebacker

    X ● (Route 0: Slant - 5 yards)
      ↙
     QB ● ─── Read ILB
      │       │
      │       ↓
     RB ●   If ILB:
            - Steps to run → Throw slant
            - Sits on slant → Hand off

Zone Blocking:
 LT  LG   C  RG  RT
 │   └──●─┘   │   │
 │      │     │   │
 └──────●─────┘   │

Zone + Bubble RPO

Pre-Snap Count: 6+ in box = throw

    H ●→→→ (Bubble Screen)
    Z ●     (Block most dangerous)
    X ●     (Block outside)
        ↓
       QB ● Count box
        │
       RB ● (Zone path)

Bubble Mechanics:
- H gets quick pitch
- Z and X block threats
- Numbers advantage creates easy gain

Red Zone Packages

Fade Combination

    H │● (Back shoulder fade)
    Z →● (Speed out - 4 yards)
    X │● (Back shoulder fade)
      ↓
     QB

Y ────→● (8-yard out)

Coaching Points:
- Outside fades to back shoulder
- Speed out underneath coverage
- Use height advantage
- Quick release timing

Pick Package

    H   ╱● (Corner after pick)
    Z ↙●   (Slant - sets pick)
    X │●   (Fade)
        ↓
       QB

Y ────→● (Quick arrow route)

Coaching Points:
- Z sets natural pick on H's release
- H uses pick to get free on corner
- X runs fade as clearout
- Pick must look natural/legal

Game Day Hand Signals

Formation Calls

Point Right: 3x1 Bunch Right
Point Left: 3x1 Bunch Left
Both Hands Up: Trips formation
Fist: Tight bunch (1-yard spacing)

Route Signals

Closed Fist: Go route (9)
Open Hand: Out route (3)
Point Down: Slant (0/5)
Circular Motion: Comeback (4/6)
Diagonal Point: Corner (7)

Concept Calls

"Stick": Stick concept
"Smash": Smash concept
"Mills": Mills concept
"Flood": All levels concept
"Four": Four verticals

Coaching Clinic Notes

Teaching Route Running

Alignment: Consistent splits and stances
Release: Beat press coverage techniques
Stem: Sell the route, set up breaks
Break: Sharp cuts, plant and drive
Finish: Catch technique and YAC

Timing Development

3-Step Drops: Quick game (0, 1, 4 routes)
5-Step Drops: Intermediate (2, 3, 6 routes)
7-Step Drops: Deep shots (7, 8, 9 routes)

Coverage Recognition

High Safety Count: 1 or 2 high safeties
Linebacker Leverage: Over/under routes
Corner Technique: Press/off coverage
Safety Rotation: Pre/post snap movement