Playing the Fade Route in Press Coverage

As cornerbacks we often have to play press or bump coverage and we immediately think “Fade” route. Before we even get this far in our processing let’s think like a receiver. To beat your opponent you have to first think like your opponent. When they line up across from you what are they thinking, seeing or preparing for at the snap of the ball?

As simple as it seems — “Run out there and I’ll throw it up” — it’s a surprisingly subtle play, and is often taught improperly.  Here is how it should be taught and as corners we need to know how they other guy teaches it.

The first problem is the name, “fade.” This conjures up the idea that the receiver’s job is to release off the ball and immediately start “fading” to the sideline, where the quarterback has to throw it to an increasingly vanishing spot between the defender and the sideline. This is wrong.

1. The route, at least from the receiver’s perspective, should be thought of as an almost totally vertical route. Against press man coverage, he should get the defender’s feet moving; the goal is not to get “around” the defender but to get through him, by making the defender move and then having the receiver run on a path immediately past him. This isn’t always possible, and the fade is an outside release play, but that should be the goal every time it is called. Too often young receivers want to outside release, get jammed, and can barely get off the line of scrimmage or get run basically out of bounds.

2. Second, the receiver must leave at least six to seven yards between him and the sidelines. Some teach five yards but most prefer seven, because it leaves more margins for error. All Cornerbacks should check the receiver split inside your 20 yard line. 5 to 7 yard split, think Fade!

3. Third, consistent with the above two points, the receiver should actually try to lean into the defender as he bursts upfield. This diabolical and illegal technique is taught at every level and at every school.. Pay attention to what the receiver is being asked to do…to you!

“One imperative technique is to learn to “lean into” the defensive back at the top of the routes. If you’re running an out against press man, once you hit about 10-12 yards you should be “leaning into” the defensive back before you break and separate away. Somewhat counter intuitively, on some of these routes you do want to be near the defender before breaking away at the last minute, and never too early. But this lean will get the defender’s center of gravity and momentum going in the wrong direction.” Mike Leach is famous for this coaching point. If you feel pressure prepare for separation to the opposite end of that pressure.

This is key and it must precede any “fade” aspect to the play. By getting a good vertical release and leaning into the defender, the receiver can keep the necessary space between him and the sideline for the ball to be thrown.

The receiver is being taught to lean into you and then utilize the inherent impetus at separation to produce the needed distance for the play to be successful. When you feel pressure, think break! If he is pressing in, he’s going out. Conversely, if you are playing an outside shade and have help inside and a receiver bodies up he is preparing for separation.

4. The “fade” portion of the play comes in once the ball has been thrown, but not before. The receiver will “fade” to the ball, and catch it at its highest point. Great receivers know how to use their body to keep the defender on the inside while they reach to the outside to snag the ball.

5. The quarterback’s assignment is simple but the techniques take a lot of time to master. The fade is thrown off a three-step drop (or one step from shotgun) to a spot 18-22 yards downfield, and approximately five-to-six yards from the sideline. Obviously, one of the big mistakes you see is the quarterback who throws this pass out of bounds; it’s amazing how frequent that happens. The difficulty comes with properly extending the arm, getting that medium arc down (it’s not a bullet and it isn’t a bomb throw), right to the outside shoulder.

Two final points: One, this is meant to deal with the fade against press man. Second, I’ve left off an adjustment that has become a play unto itself, the back-shoulder fade. It deserves its own article, but I’ll say that I like the rule of thumb for the quarterback to only throw it if the defensive back’s head is turned, and, if so, to throw the ball directly at the back of his head. This way the defender should overrun the throw and the receiver can adjust. This is where eye to eye contact is critical. Those offensive guys are a skeevy sort. They get all the breaks in the rule book and then they go and throw that in? Arrrrgggghhhh!!!

I tell my DBs they will be in trail position when defending this route. They must be in-phase with the receiver at all times. When they feel the WR “fade,” they must continue to close ground. I’ve had DBs that were able to take over the route by actually getting a step on the fade route. Yeah, the back shoulder fade is there, but that’s a difficult throw to make. When the ball is in the air and the DB is in trail, WR. At this point, I’ll take a batted ball or a sure tackle. If the DB has taken the route over, they can turn into the QB to find the ball, but they must be aware of the back shoulder throw.

Have a Bad Day All Day!