““0”

0” Route Directory

“0” Route Directory

PREVIOUS
SLIDE

Base Route
INTRODUCTION/PHILOSOPHY
INSTRUCTIONAL
“YOU DRAW IT”

VIDEO

Main Summary
Menu Table
0 P hilosophy

0 Route:
“VERTICAL”
•The basic premise of this play is to attack deep coverage
with the threat of four people running vertical along four
evenly-spaced landmarks across the field (2 hashmarks, 2
sets of numbers)…in general, this allows us to outnumber
deep coverage!
•It is one of our favorite plays against any single safety look,
particularly Cover 3, because it gives us a two-on-one
situation against the Free Safety!
•Generally, the QB works to influence the nearest safety to the frontside, which serves
to isolate the backside receivers, allowing them to beat the man they work off of!
•We will use this route heavily in conjunction with Play Action, to hold linebackers
underneath, influence the safety, and open voids for vertical receivers to run in!
•The 0 Route can be used anywhere, but is particularly effective as a Play Action route
on first down, and an excellent all-around call on the outer edge of the Red Zone!

KEYS to a successful play: TAGS/VARIATIONS

•Inside receivers avoid contact underneath & get vertical! •FB “Search”
•Receivers take good splits and attack along their landmark! •Cat
•Bear &Cub
•Backside Receivers make good reads and make them decisively! •Stop
•QB does a great job with his eyes, is decisive, and makes his throw •Breakoff
on time and with authority! •12-13-42-43 Play Action
- t o M A I N D I R E C T O R Y -- t o I N S T R U C T I O N A L -
0 Instructional

0 ROUTE: VERTICAL

## ##
S

C C

O O
I I
•Work hard to MOVE the
safety toward the frontside
hash…
“60” Shown …work the backside Seam Read
•Backside Go Read is an outlet

BS OUTS: GO READ.
READ. Normal even-numbered backside rules. Be decisive, NEVER come inside the hash!
BS INS: SEAM READ.
READ. Normal even numbered backside rules. Pre-read safety, attack and be decisive!
FS INS:
INS: SEAM.
SEAM. Widen your alignment, release cleanly, go HARD up the field vertically 2 yards outside the hash.
FS OUTS: GO.
GO. Outside release, accelerate vertically along the bottom of the numbers, get deep,
deep, stay on your landmark!
QB: 5-step progression Backside Seam Read to Backside Go Read as an outlet. Seam must be thrown on rhythm with a 2
ball! Work hard with your eyes to try and move a single safety frontside so that you can throw the backside Seam. By game
plan or game adjustment, we could potentially throw the frontside Seam as a 3- or 5-step progression if a single Safety just
won’t move.
- C l I c k h e r e t o r e t u r n t o M A I N
0 You Draw It

Right Wing Flip 60 v. Cov 0 Trips Left H8 70 v. Cov 1

J
J
C
C M S C W S
R C
W E T T E R E T N T E

J
R J
M C C
C C R S M W
W N
E N T E E T T E

Stack Strong Hot 60 Search v. Cov 2/4 Larry Over 70-43 v. Cov 3
- C l I c k h e r e t o r e t u r n t o M A I N
0 Cat Instructional

0 ROUTE ADJUSTMENTS

## ##

C
NOTE: If a Cat-
runner is outside any
PEEK for possible
early throw near TARGET AREA C
other receiver(s), he BSG/C area... 5-6 yards deep
gives them the “right
of way” and rubs
ACCELERATE!
Can “stair step” if V
off/underneath them! being chased SEE THE RUNWAY
•Accelerate through if clear
O •Settle in dead spot if closed O
•Look at QB when ready for ball!
Cat Cat I Cat I
Cat
THE ‘CAT’ CAN COME FROM ANY POSITION!
“60” or “Hot 60” with CAT call Shown Depending on the call, any backside receiver can run the Cat

Some basic concepts can be added to our “0” route to provide a little extra “octane,” especially
when we use “Hot” protection to get a fifth receiver into the pattern. These concepts are used to
create additional stress on the defense, give the QB extra options, and open up the basic parts of
the 0 route we already know well.
The word “Cat” alerts us that someone away from the call will be running a “Drag” or “Cat” route
“CAT”
under the LBs. The Cat-runner’s goal is to get to the area cleared out by the frontside Seam at about
5-6 yards deep. On the way, he must give an early glance to the QB (when he reaches the Center) for
an early throw. As he continues, he must see the “runway” in front of him; “show
“show your numbers”
numbers” and
settle if someone is in the runway, stairstep and accelerate on if the runway is clear.
- C l I c k h e r e t o r e t u r n t o M A I N
0 Cat QB Thought

0 ROUTE ADJUSTMENTS

## ##
Stop him in the hole if Lead him away if he’s

C
he shows his numbers running
C
‘Q’ OUTLET
*Must make eye
contact!
*Use the right type
O of throw! O
I Cat I

Some basic concepts can be added to our “0” route to provide a little extra “octane,” especially
when we use “Hot” protection to get a fifth receiver into the pattern. These concepts are used to
create additional stress on the defense, give the QB extra options, and open up the basic parts of
the 0 route we already know well.
The QB goes through his normal “0” route progression, with the following exceptions:
“CAT” *If you get heat early, or an extra rusher comes in a Zone Across situation,
situation, find the Cat…he is your ‘Q’ receiver!
*If nothing shows within your normal reads, find the Cat late…he is your “Outlet.”
QB *On 3rd and 4-7, we may at times use the Cat as our first progression, based on Game plan
Thought *Special Note! Never throw to a Cat until you’ve made eye contact to know whether he’s cutting the throttle (in
Process which case, you stop him with the throw) or accelerating (in which case you lead him)!
- C l I c k h e r e t o r e t u r n t o M A I N
0 Cat Demonstration

0“CAT”
ROUTERULES/COMBINATIONS
ADJUSTMENTS
# # # # # #

## ##
X Z X Z X Y
H Y H R Y H Z
R R
C
Ex. #1: “Base - Hot 60 R Cat”
Cat” Ex. #3: “Slip - Hot 60 H Cat”
Cat”
Ex. #5: “Rt Out - Hot 60 X C
‘Q’ Cat”
Cat”
OUTLET
# # # # # *Must make eye #
contact!
*Use the right type
O of throw! O
X IZ Cat X Y I X Z
H R Y H Z H R Y
R
Ex. #4: “Rt Out - Hot 70 Y
Ex. #2: “Scat - Hot 70 R Cat”
Cat” Ex. #6: “Scat Squeeze - Hot 70 Z Cat”
Cat”
Cat”
Cat”
Some
By basic“R”
default, concepts
runs the can
Cat.be In
added
othertowords,
our “0”our route to provide
normal a little
call would be extra
“60 R“octane,” especially
Cat,” or “70 R Cat,”
whenand R would run the line while all other receivers execute normal “0 Route” assignments! to
we use “Hot” protection to get a fifth receiver into the pattern. These concepts are used
create additional stress on the defense, give the QB extra options, and open up the basic parts of
If another receiver is given the the“Cat,”
0 routethenweRalready
takes overknowtheir
well.job (assuming he doesn’t have
protection responsibility)! In other words, he takes over the Go Read or Seam Read “vacated”
The QB goes through his normal “0” route progression, with the following exceptions:
when
“LINE”the guy he’s
*If you get replacing was
heat early, find thetold to run
Cat…he the‘Q’Cat!
is your So, if an inside receiver is told to run “Cat,”
receiver!
*If nothing shows within your normal R runs
reads,afind
Seam Read
the Cat … is your “Outlet.”
late…he
QB *On 3rd and 4-7, we may at times use the Cat as our first progression, based on Game plan
Thought …andNever
*Special Note! if he’s replacing
throw anyou’ve
to a Cat until outside
madereceiver, R to
eye contact runs
knowa whether
Go Read . cutting the throttle (in
he’s
Process which case, you stop him with the throw) or accelerating (in which case you lead him)!
- C l I c k h e r e t o r e t u r n t o M A I N
0 Bear Instructional

0 ROUTE ADJUSTMENTS

S J S
## ##
PEEK for possible THE TARGET:
early throw as you Split a “2 safety look…

C
get to LB level! Run through the far leg
of a “single safety”
C
WHO GOES FIRST?
*If Bear or Seam is ACCELERATE! SPECIAL NOTE
on L.O.S. he goes 1st! Must affect deep If a single safety lets
*If both are off V WRONG coverage quickly! you cross his face—
L.O.S., Bear goes 1st doesn’t turn with you
v. a 1 safety look,
look, …use a brief at all—flatten once
O Seam goes 1st v. a 2 vertical ‘stair-step’ past him to separate
O
safety look!
I Bear if being chased! I from him!
AVOID any kind of collision underneath. Be patient,
inside release, but don’t get shoved too far down inside! SEAM ADJUSTMENTS!
A) Widen landmark to 3 yards outside hash for best spacing!
“60” or “Hot 60” with BEAR call Shown B) Seam-Reader automatically Stays on Seam!
Some basic concepts can be added to our “0” route to provide a little extra “octane,” especially
when we use “Hot” protection to get a fifth receiver into the pattern. These concepts are used to
create additional stress on the defense, give the QB extra options, and open up the basic parts of
the 0 route we already know well.
The word “Bear” alerts us that someone away from the call will be running a “Bear” route through the
“BEAR” deep ‘heart’ of the defense. This is used to give us an extra deep receiver, putting 5 offenders on 3
deep defenders, or, at worst, 5 on 4. The basic “job” of the Bear is to avoid underneath coverage and
run through the far leg of a single safety (Cover 1,3) or split the two deep safeties in a “two safety”
look (Cover 2, 4). Spacing is the key!
key! Seams must get a little wider, and the Seam Read now
automatically “Stays on Seam (S.O.S.)” because the Bear is controlling the safety he usually reads!
- C l I c k h e r e t o r e t u r n t o M A I N
0 Bear QB Thought

0 ROUTE ADJUSTMENTS

MOVE HIM with your eyes…

S J S
## ##

C ‘Q’ C

O O
I Bear I

Some basic concepts can be added to our “0” route to provide a little extra “octane,” especially
when we use “Hot” protection to get a fifth receiver into the pattern. These concepts are used to
create additional stress on the defense, give the QB extra options, and open up the basic parts of
the 0 route we already know well.
•The Bear early is ‘Q’ if you get heat or Zone Across, especially important to know in ‘Hot” protection!
“BEAR” •V. a 2-safety look, look the FS safety off, throw Bear off anchor step unless BS safety jumps him…if
BS safety jumps him, go to BS Seam Read!
QB
Thought •V. a 1-safety look, look J (FS) hard to the frontside (can use a quick short arm fake/shoulder nod to
Process move him), drill the backside Seam on rhythm into the hole on your anchor step. If he’s stubborn and
allows the Bear to cross his face, throw to the flattening Bear. Work BS Go Read late.
- C l I c k h e r e t o r e t u r n t o M A I N
0 Bear Dem onstration

“BEAR”
0 ROUTERULES/COMBINATIONS
ADJUSTMENTS
# # # # # #

S
## ##
X Z X Z X Z
H Y H R Y H R Y
R
C Ex. #1: “Base - Hot 60 R ‘Q’
Ex. #3: “Slip - Hot 60 H Bear”
Bear”
C
Ex. # 5: “Scat Squeeze Hot 70 Z
Bear”
Bear” Bear”

# # # #

O O
X IZ Bear X Y I
H R Y H Z
R
Ex. #2: “Scat - Hot 70 R Ex. #4: “Rt Out - Hot 70 Y
Bear”
Bear” Bear”
Bear”
Some basic concepts
By default, “R” runs thecanBear.
be added to our
In other “0” route
words, to provide
our normal call awould
little extra
be “60“octane,”
R Bear,”especially
or “70 R
when we use “Hot” protection to get a fifth receiver into the pattern.
Bear,” and R would run the line while all other receivers execute normal “0 Route” assignments! These concepts are used to
create additional stress on the defense, give the QB extra options, and open up the basic parts of
If another receiver is given the the“Bear,”
0 routethen R takesknow
we already over their
well. job (assuming he doesn’t have
protection responsibility)!
•The Bear early is ‘Q’ In other
if you get words, he takes
heat or Zone Across,over the Goimportant
especially Read or to Seam
know“vacated” when
in ‘Hot” protection!
“the
SPLITguy he’s
” •V. areplacing was
2-safety look, told
look thetoFS
run theoff,
safety Bear!
throwSo, if an
Bear off inside receiver
anchor step isBS
unless told to run
safety “Bear,”
jumps him…if R
QB BS safety jumps him, go to BS Seam runs a Seam (S.O.S.!)…
Read!
…
Thought •
and if he’s replacing an outside receiver (thefrontside
V. a 1-safety look, look J (FS) hard to the (can use
least likely, andaonly
quickfrom
shortSqueezed/Bunched
arm fake/shoulder nodtype
to
Process move him), drill the backside Seam on rhythm into the hole on your anchor step. If he’s stubborn and
allows the Bear to cross his face, looks),
throwR to
runs a Go Read
the flattening . Work BS Go Read late.
Bear.
- C l I c k h e r e t o r e t u r n t o M A I N