Winning a Go Route with an Inside Release
Johnny Wilson during the UF at FSU game in 2022
Once again, we’re looking at something that “probably” shouldn’t work.
There is nothing more simple in the passing game than the go route. It’s a beautiful and aggressive attack on the defense. However, not all go balls are the same. The traditional go ball is the one that has lots of air and has the WR taking an outside release and beating the cornerback deep. Another classic is the goal line fade where the WR creates separation at his release and catches a moon ball over the cornerback’s head or over his own shoulder in the corner of the end zone.
And while it might be a low percentage play in terms of completion, there is a reason it will never go away.
The play is all about the 1 on 1 matchup and there are a variety of ways to make it work. Depending on the defensive structure and the cornerback’s technique, there are various ways to win the route.
Today, let’s take a look at Johnny Wilson of Florida State run and win a go route with an inside release against Florida in 2022.
Here’s the play drawn up:
It was 3rd and 5 and the Gators were playing a closed-man coverage. The free safety was playing closer to the left receiver though covering the middle. The boundary corner was playing press. Because of that, the QB Jordan Travis could anticipate a 1 on 1 without a threat from the free safety if he got the ball out fast. It was a great look to throw a go ball pre-snap — there are a couple other things that made it work besides the advantageous look from the defense, however.
First, the release from Johnny Wilson.
Wilson started with an outside release and the cornerback got depth to match it in a square back pedal. Right when the cornerback tried to get physical, Wilson shoved the hand away and won inside. Now the corner was running right along with Wilson, but outside. Which brings us to the second point which made the play work…
Second, great timing, ball trajectory, and ball placement from QB Jordan Travis.
Travis looked Wilson’s way the entire time (and he could since the free safety was playing closer to the field hash and had a lot of ground to cover in order to help the cornerback) and threw the ball off three steps and a reset.
He threw a 2 ball (middle trajectory) and this is important because he couldn’t put air on it like you might want to on a normal go versus man because Wilson took an inside release. If Travis had thrown a 3 ball (high trajectory) with lots of air, then Wilson would’ve had to fight through the outside leverage of the cornerback and would’ve had a difficult time tracking the ball.
Third, fantastic finish by Johnny Wilson. The ball was at a height a little higher than his face and Wilson decided to catch it in stride with both palms up. While he bobbled it, he turned on the way down to the turf and was able to recapture the ball and secure it on contact with the ground.
Diagnosing plays like this one in detail has been helpful for me because it focuses my attention on what actually matters to making a play work. In turn, it provides really good insight into all the situations out there that you need to coach up. When a situation like this occurs for our own team, we now have a reference point to refer to in order to show and help our players figure this situation out.
You can watch the play here:
Until tomorrow,
Emory Wilhite
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