-
Step 1
Learn every route for every player on every play. That gives you an overall sense of where people will be and how you fit into that pattern. Situational awareness is the basis of smart routes.
-
Step 2
Recognize defensive alignments. Know if your are facing zone coverage or man-to-man. Recognize if you're going to draw safety help and where it's coming from.
-
Step 3
Run every pattern precisely. If the pattern is a timed pattern, be exactly where you are supposed to be when you make your cut. If you are running an "out for a first" make sure you know where you have to go to get the first.
-
Step 4
Spend time after practices with your quarterback. Put in the extra work so he knows how you run your routes.
-
Step 5
Know your defender. Learn about him as a game goes along. Exploit what you have learned. For example, if he favors the outside, cheat a bit outside so you can make an exaggerated move inside if you're running an out.
-
Step 6
Be aware. If your quarterback starts to scramble, help out by running back towards him.
-
Step 7
Communicate honestly with your quarterback. He needs better input than, "I'm open." If you think running a particular pattern slightly differently than usual will exploit a weakness, tell him. Don't just run the pattern differently.
