Login
FacebookTwitterSoundCloud
 
Inside The PylonInside The Pylon
Inside The Pylon
Know Football, Love Football
  • NFL
  • CFB
  • Glossary
  • Listen/Watch
    • Podcasts
      • Breaking the Plane
      • Pylon U
    • Videos
  • About
    • About
    • Our Writers
    • Join ITP
  • NFL
  • CFB
  • Glossary
  • Podcasts
  • Video
  • About

ITP Glossary: Punch / Drive Step

May 23, 2017Leave a commentGlossaryBy ITP Editors
glossary

Route-running is about telling lies with your body language. In order for receivers to get open against elite defenders, they have to master the art of lying. Great defensive backs pride themselves on recognizing body language to tell them when a receiver is going to accelerate, decelerate, or make a break left or right. A better receiver is able to use a DB’s “intuition” against them by giving false tells.

One technique that is used to give false tells is the punch / drive step. Coach Emmett Jones, who is the receivers coach for Texas Tech, the number one passing offense in the NCAA in 2016, talked about this technique in depth with Inside the Pylon and provided the clips below. He explains, “The punch / drive step gives an illusion of bursting, and it naturally creates separation. We want the defensive back to feel threatened when we use it.”

The “drive” step is a hard step that makes it look like the receiver is about to burst in one direction, which should cause the defensive back to accelerate or tun his hips that way. Meanwhile, the “punch” step is a short step in the opposite direction and gets the receiver running away from the DB. Coach Jones said, “We use it to get off the line of scrimmage or at the top of certain routes to create separation.”

[jwplayer file=”http://cdn.insidethepylon.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/punch-drive-1.mp4″ image=”http://cdn.insidethepylon.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/punch-drive-1.jpg”]

In the first part of the clip, the receiver is working on an upfield drive step to create the illusion that he is going to run a fade and then takes a punch step inside so he can break that way.

[jwplayer file=”http://cdn.insidethepylon.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/punch-drive-2.mp4″ image=”http://cdn.insidethepylon.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/punch-drive-2.jpg”]

The same receiver uses the same drive / punch step to create separation in a crucial moment of the game. He gets the defensive back to open upfield slightly and then takes advantage by cutting inside to get open for the touchdown.

[jwplayer file=”http://cdn.insidethepylon.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/punch-drive-3.mp4″ image=”http://cdn.insidethepylon.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/punch-drive-3.jpg”]

The receiver here is using the drive / punch technique on comeback routes. Again, the elongated step is with the inside foot and creates the illusion of upfield burst before he takes a couple of short steps to redirect his body outside.

[jwplayer file=”http://cdn.insidethepylon.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/punch-drive-4.mp4″ image=”http://cdn.insidethepylon.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/punch-drive-4.jpg”]

The technique could also be used on deep routes as well. The receiver in this clip does a nice job of taking an inside release and then taking an outside drive step at the top of his route to create the illusion of a possible outside break before breaking inside on the post route. The DB leans outside slightly and stumbles, creating more separation for the receiver.

Thanks to Coach Jones for his time and providing the clips. Make sure to follow him on twitter at @TTU_Jones for more clips and great information on WR techniques and fundamentals.

Click here for more Glossary entries. Follow us @ITPylon.

Ted Nguyen wrote this entry. Follow Ted on Twitter @RaidersAnalysis.

Emmett JonesTexas Tech Red Raiders
Share this post
FacebookTwitterGoogle+
About the author

ITP Editors

Inside The Pylon is focused on providing quality, engaging football analysis for both the NFL and college football. We seek to present the sport in a fun but educational way that allows both newcomers and veteran fans alike to deepen their understanding and enjoyment of the game. Our team aims to deliver high-caliber writing, compelling features and strong opinion on a number of different topics, including sports medicine, film study, in-depth player profiles, statistics, as well as weekly game previews and recaps.

Related posts
glossary
Glossary Entry: Expected Points Added
October 25, 2019
Football Term Glossary
Glossary Entry: Voidable Year
August 9, 2019
glossary
Glossary Entry: Route Stem
August 6, 2019
Football Term Glossary
Glossary Entry: Ghost Motion
July 29, 2019
glossary
Glossary Entry: Trail Technique
July 2, 2019
glossary
Glossary Entry: Key and Diagnose
June 4, 2019
Leave Comment

Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

clear formSubmit

Search
Recent Posts
  • Dan Hatman’s 2019 NFL Scout Movement Tracker (updated)
    November 1, 2019
  • Ravens 2019 Offense: Witnessing Greatness
    December 8, 2019
  • Colin Kaepernick: A Worthy Gamble
    November 22, 2019
  • Chark Attack: The NFL’s Most Improved Player?
    November 15, 2019
  • How Do You Not Punt and Score 19 Points?
    October 26, 2019
  • glossary
    Glossary Entry: Expected Points Added
    October 25, 2019
Recent Articles
  • Ravens 2019 Offense: Witnessing Greatness
  • Colin Kaepernick: A Worthy Gamble
  • Chark Attack: The NFL’s Most Improved Player?
  • Dan Hatman’s 2019 NFL Scout Movement Tracker (updated)
About ITP
About
Advertise
Contact Us
Media Inquiries
Press Room
Write for ITP
Buy 17 Drives