Wide Receiver Stance/Start and Efficiency in Motion

PSU Wide Receiver

One of the many things that drive me crazy, is seeing WR's in a improper/inefficient stance. This is a huge issue at the youth and HS level, and even some college levels if their players are not coached up. I am also a stickler for and big believer in efficiency of motion. No false steps, no steps backward, unnecessary hand movements, etc...we move forward on a football field. Why? Thats where the end zone is!

Unfortunately, coaches do not spend time coaching up their youth and HS players in a proper WR stance. What do I mean by proper stance? One that enables the WR to explode off the LOS, does NOT waste motion or energy, gets the jump on the DB, creates space, and enable a clean route.

I have seen receivers with their hands up by their numbers, receivers with their hands resting on their knees, the front toe turned in, back foot waaay the hell back, standing straight up or at too much of a crouch/load, etc. etc. etc. Not only are these stances ineffective, they create wasted movement and as I said, I am huge fan of efficiency of motion. Any wasted motion takes away from speed. Just ask any world class sprinter. Whether its a receiver as described above or a running back taking a false step backward before hitting the hole, etc.. Wasted motion. Wasted motion equals wasted energy. The only time a RB should really be taking a false step is for a timing play i.e. delayed counter, etc.

Many coaches have taught, improperly in my opinion, to have their players keep their hands up to get off and out of a press or a man covering DB, or put the receivers hands on the knees (this is to keep their receivers from going off sides!), have their back leg way back because they saw it on Youtube or another team doing it. STOP!!!! None of this is helpful and in fact will inject issues for your execution not to mention your stud WR's who may go on to play at the next level will have to unlearn ALL of it!

Fundamentals, form, stance, execution, etc. All of this adds up over 4 quarters. The team that is fundamentally sound, has the greatest chance of success. While I could spend a very long blog post on WR stances, stance/start, etc. and how I coach players, I thought it would be better to share Penn State Assistant WRs Coach Mark Dupuis - Stance/Start Technique and WR drills.

These are outstanding and can be incorporated at the Youth and HS Flag and Contact levels. Check Coach's technique and drills below:

Coach's Principles

Stance - Comfortable

Feet - shoulder width (Coach Frederick - I refer to this as an AP - Athletic Position)

Low pad level = Coiled Up

Forward lean - (75/25)

Weight - on balls of feet

Hands - ready Start

Minimize wasted motion - Strain! ( Coach Frederick - Efficiency in Motion!)

Run your best 40

Maintain forward lean - (Drive Phase)

Make DB defend the end zone

I coach my WR's to never play patty cake with a DB. Your job as a WR is break through the press/man either through a dynamic release, speed or explosion. If the secondary is in zone, then exploding off the line will give you the advantage on executing your route. Like Coach Dupuis said, "Make the DB defend the end zone!" Coach's points above put the WR in the best position (no pun intended) to succeed in this.

You can view Coach Dupius presentation here: https://x.com/i/status/1935483862991175784

You can view Coach Dupius and Penn State's WR drills here: https://x.com/i/status/1897678228585664794

Hat tip to Coach Jordan Gush for posting Coach Dupuis' material... check him out at @JordanGush

As I said, when speed, agility, and explosiveness is critical at the WR position, proper stance is crucial. Please for the love of Don Shula, work with your WR's to incorporate, rep, and execute proper stance, start, and release. If you don't have time in your practices or the skill set/staff, send them to me. I would love to work with them!

Coach David Frederick