We expect our wide receivers to not only run detailed and precise routes, but be effective blockers. Our wide receiver philosophy consists of:
1. Giving maximum effort.
2. Knowing your assignments.
3. The desire and willingness to block effectively and efficiently.
4. The desire to catch every ball thrown to you.
5. The willingness to improve your skills.
Wide Receiver Blocking Mechanics
We have blocking rules for our wide receivers. When a WR is required to block the force player, we designate him as ‘MDM’ or the Most Dangerous Man. The MDM is defined as the secondary defender aligned closest to the line of scrimmage. The base split for an outside WR assigned to block this player is eight yards from the end line of scrimmage.
The basic rules for the WR in this situation include:
• Drive off the MDM at the line of scrimmage and block him if he remains the closest secondary defender to the LOS at the snap of the ball.
• If the MDM changes at the snap of the ball, the WR adjusts his course and blocks the defender that becomes the MDM.
• If the secondary players on the WR’s side of the ball are aligned at the same plane and distance from the LOS, the WR should drive off vertically and then adjust to the defender who becomes the MDM.
• There is a five yard exception rule. If the alignment is similar to the one listed above, but the defenders are five yards or closer to the LOS when the ball is snapped, then the safety automatically becomes the MDM. In this case, the WR needs to take a flat angle of departure to the anticipated point of attack.
• There is also a backside ‘cut-off rule.’ When a WR is on the back side of a run play, he will be required to ‘cut-off’ one of the back side secondary support players. This is the time to make sure the WR takes a normal split as he would do for the majority of pass routes but, on occasion, mix it up. This is especially true if you have a required split to use on a particular route. The angle of departure should be at the butt of the closest defender to the WR that is on the LOS – usually an outside linebacker or defensive end.
• You usually will be blocking the middle to near safety working back to the back side corner. The WR must keep his eyes on the defender, not looking back at the ball carrier and play snap to whistle.
Wide Receiver Blocking Drills
There are a number of drills that can be practiced to improve the blocking techniques of your wide receivers:
Four Cone Stalk Drill (Diagram 1) – In this drill, the DB backpedals to a cone, then attacks the WR. The WR pushes up the field until the DB breaks and then the WR adjusts for the block.
Diagram 1.
Forced Read Drill (Diagram 2) – The WR pushes off vertically in this drill and reads the force player. He then pursues the corner or safety and blocks him.
Diagram 2.
Other drills you can use are the Backside Cut-off Drill, the Mirror Drill and the Capture the Leverage Drill (Diagram 3a-3c).
Diagram 3a.
Diagram 3b.
Diagram 3c.
About the Author: Steve Mooshagian is currently the Head Coach at Ventura College. He has over 30 years of coaching experience on the high school, college, and NFL level. Mooshagian has been the head coach at both Fresno City College and Sacramento State and was an assistant coach with the Cincinnati Bengals. He played wide receiver for Jim Sweeney at Fresno State and his father, Ray, was a head high school coach in southern California for 31 years.