RNS Route Adjustments

[uhwarriors]

What does it really mean when we're discussing RNS route adjustments? In its simplest terms, it means the receiver will run a route based on what the coverage is. If the receiver and the QB read it the same way, it should be a completion. But what does this really mean?

The Twitter video below is actually the same play run against 3 different coverages. The play is actually an Air Raid play which have route adjustments similar to the RNS. The X is running routes similar to the RNS Choice route. The other receivers are running mesh concepts which the Air Raid offense is known for.

It's pretty easy to see the pre-snap coverage in this series of plays. The secondary isn't trying to disguise their coverage and the QB and X know where they are going before the snap. When secondaries disguise their coverage and move into their coverage after the snap, the QB and X might be midway through the play before they know what route to run. That makes it much harder.

The graphics give some basic keys. I'll try to fill in some blanks so it's easier to understand.

Play 1 - The CB is soft with inside leverage and there's a one high S in the middle of the field. The route is a 10 yard speed out where there's a soft spot since the CB is protecting against inside and deep routes.
Play 2 - The CB is in press coverage and there is no S help. The CB knows he doesn't have S help and can't let the X beat him deep, so he's vulnerable to a back shoulder pass.
Play 3 - The CB is soft head on with X and there's no S in the middle of the field. The CB has to protect against outside and inside routes with no S help. X runs at the CB, sets him making him vulnerable to a post.

https://twitter.com/5_wide/status/1152039805880086533

[UnBiasFan]

Are some route adjustments called out by the QB prior to the snap and others just done automatically with QB and WR expected to make the same read?

[st808]

after watching 5 wide's video i was bit by the r&s bug and i searched youtube and found: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MDOOCg9gws

starts off with fundamental explanation of the four wide "six" play. called six because they expect to score on every play. then it gets into when each receiver executes their option routes based on a right handed qb.

first 30 minutes are whiteboard diagrams of the four wide r&s routes and options. instructive.

the last 30 is a difficult video of a video on whiteboard. tuned out.

good to see what the 2s are learning with chevan as the 1s are working with cole.

looking forward to a fun season with at least one post season game.

[Markazulu]

From what ive read its mostly the wr and qb have to be on the same page. Both pre snap read and based off what they see usually qb and wr know what route to run.

Are some route adjustments called out by the QB prior to the snap and others just done automatically with QB and WR expected to make the same read?

[shrek2]

Doesn't a lot of this depend on what the defense is giving? Ie, man to man, zone, empty safety over the middle, etc? I saw something really interesting on ESPN on why Kyler Murray is going to do well in the pros at 5'10 yesterday. There were three receivers left and one to the right. He first looked for the bubble screen on the left then looked at the one on one coverage on the right, then took the receiver from the three man left that crossed the middle. It's going to be tough for Hawaii if they drop 8 in coverage like some of the teams with strong defensive push did last year.

[uhwarriors]

From what ive read its mostly the wr and qb have to be on the same page. Both pre snap read and based off what they see usually qb and wr know what route to run.

Are some route adjustments called out by the QB prior to the snap and others just done automatically with QB and WR expected to make the same read?

In the RNS, route adjustments are made on the fly as the play evolves not as a pre-snap audible. The defense could be disguising their coverage pre-snap and audibling could be playing right into their hands. Or the defense can change their coverage after an audible is called, thus nullifying any advantage the audible is supposed to have.

Mouse Davis, father of the RNS says that we (the RNS offense) has the chalk last and we always have an answer. What he means is that there’s always a counter (i.e. route adjustments) to whatever the defense does during the play.

The pre-snap reads that the WRs and QBs tell them what routes to run only if the defense isn’t disguising its coverage. Many times secondaries are disguising their coverage pre-snap and reveal their actual coverage on the snap. So as the play develops and the WRs are in the first steps of their routes, both the WRs and QBs need to recognize what the coverage actually is. The WRs will then adjust their routes based on the coverage and the QBs need to see the same thing and make the throw on a timely basis.

[RedZone]

From what ive read its mostly the wr and qb have to be on the same page. Both pre snap read and based off what they see usually qb and wr know what route to run.

Are some route adjustments called out by the QB prior to the snap and others just done automatically with QB and WR expected to make the same read?

In the RNS, route adjustments are made on the fly as the play evolves not as a pre-snap audible. The defense could be disguising their coverage pre-snap and audibling could be playing right into their hands. Or the defense can change their coverage after an audible is called, thus nullifying any advantage the audible is supposed to have.

Mouse Davis, father of the RNS says that we (the RNS offense) has the chalk last and we always have an answer. What he means is that there’s always a counter (i.e. route adjustments) to whatever the defense does during the play.

The pre-snap reads that the WRs and QBs tell them what routes to run only if the defense isn’t disguising its coverage. Many times secondaries are disguising their coverage pre-snap and reveal their actual coverage on the snap. So as the play develops and the WRs are in the first steps of their routes, both the WRs and QBs need to recognize what the coverage actually is. The WRs will then adjust their routes based on the coverage and the QBs need to see the same thing and make the throw on a timely basis.

Agree with this. This probably why we see our offense struggle against some defenses which are good at disguising their defenses. Since our routes are predetermined there are times when we see defenses sneaking players underneath our routes. They also put players on the line of scrimmage trying to take away our passing lanes. June used to say it was the quarterbacks job to find the lane to the receiver. Some are good at this some aren’t.

[TheDuke]

that's why June used a lot of motion to expose coverages prior to the snap.

[shrek2]

that's why June used a lot of motion to expose coverages prior to the snap.

And we don't see much of that in our current offense.

[uhwarriors]

that's why June used a lot of motion to expose coverages prior to the snap.

And we don't see much of that in our current offense.

Defenses have gotten much more sophisticated in disguising their coverage, so motion doesn't always reveal the coverage. Jones used a lot of motion early in his stay here, but much less later. He even said he didn't use as much motion because defenses had ways to disguise coverages even with motion.