Route (gridiron football)
A route is a pattern or path that a receiver in gridiron football runs to get open for a forward pass.
[2] A curl route, also called a hitch or hook (sometimes a button hook), is a route where the receiver appears to be running a fly pattern but after a set number of steps or yards will quickly stop and turn around, looking for a pass.
[4] The curl is a pattern used frequently by the West Coast offensive scheme, where quick and accurate passes are favored.
[5][6] This type of route is relatively safe and is thrown to an agile receiver who can make a play after the catch.
[7] Usually, the pass is used when the defensive back is playing towards the inside shoulder of the receiver, thus creating a one on one vertical matchup.
The pass is used frequently in the West Coast offensive scheme, where quick, accurate throwing is key.
The quarterback will lob the ball over a beaten defender to a wide receiver at the back corner of the end zone.
[9] The goal of the pattern is to outrun any defensive backs and get behind them, catching an undefended pass while running untouched for a touchdown.
Generally, a fly pattern will draw the attention of both the cornerback assigned to the receiver as well as "over the top" help from a safety.
The famed "Hail Mary" play generally involves between three and five receivers all running fly routes in order to have the most chance of one of them catching the ball and scoring or at least gaining significant yardage.
This route is used much more frequently near the end of each half, or when a team is running their two-minute drill to preserve time on the clock, because, as soon as the receiver catches the ball or after a short run after the catch, he should be able to get out of bounds, stopping the clock.
[13] It is designed to stretch the opposing secondary deep down the field, opening holes in the coverage over the middle.
It tends to induce the opposing defense to play a deeper field and drop more defenders into deep coverage, but this may still open up the run.
The eligible receiver runs parallel to the line of scrimmage till near the sidelines (in the flat) and turns toward the quarterback to wait for the pass.
There should be a linebacker covering the RB/FB on these kinds of plays, which is likely to be an easy match for an elusive runner like the running back.
It is distinguished from a flat route by approaching the line of scrimmage more gradually, on a curved path.
One stops as if he is receiving a pass on a curl or going to retrace his steps, then he has the option to continue across the field, or change direction at an angle.
The sail concept is a three-level passing scheme that overloads one side of the defense while stretching the coverage vertically.
