Summary: <br> Matt Waldman's RSP NFL Scouting Glossary details the release stance and motion that he seeks from NFL Draft prospects at wide receiver, using Ohio State's Jaxon Smith-Njigba as an example.<br> <br> Why is the Release Stance Important?<br> Wide receiver play bears a lot of similarities to pass rushing. Receivers and pass rushers are both trying to gain ground on an opponent from a static stance. Both positions have to manipulate the opponent to generate an advantageous path. And both positions have to know maneuvers where they attack and defend their leverage.<br> <br> The stance is the foundation for all of these requirements and it means that the stance has to do three things:<br> <br> * Facilitate explosion and pose a threat that every release will lead to a vertical route.<br> * Eliminate the potential for any wasted movement that can give an opponent a first-move advantage if playing the receiver tight.<br> * Disguise the receiver's true intentions with a neutral body position and that net neutral for receiver play is "every route potentially being a deep vertical route."<br> <br> When a wide receiver has an efficient and comfortable stance, he can do a lot of things that will get him separation.<br> <br> Here's Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba's stance and release motion explained.<br> <br> https://youtu.be/ixRUo_KQo8I<br> <br> You can find a summary of the components of a good release stance and release motion below.<br> Components of a Good Release Stance<br> These are the elements of a good stance for a receiver. The components have enough leeway for the receiver to be comfortable and efficient with their stance and movement.<br> <br> * Feet staggered with the back knee aligned with the front heel.<br> * A balanced stance with ~ an 80/20 weight ratio with the front foot and the back foot.<br> <br> * This facilities explosion off the line.<br> * It limits the potential for wasted movement.<br> * It reduces the potential for defender contact to knock the receiver off balance.<br> <br> <br> * The stance should include some bend in the knees and hips.<br> <br> * It's an athletic stance to facilitate balance.<br> * The bend shouldn't be too low or defenders can easily jam the receiver.<br> <br> <br> * The arms should be uncrossed and hanging on either side of the front knee.<br> <br> * This allows for the receiver to efficiently pump his arms for acceleration if not jammed.<br> * It also allows for the receiver to efficiently use his hands to counter jam attempts.<br> <br> <br> <br> This sets the stage for the receiver to deliver an efficient and explosive release motion.<br> Components of A Good Release Motion<br> The release motion is the initial step from the stance. The best route runners sell the potential of the vertical route, specifically, the deep go (or nine-route) with every route release.<br> <br> Receivers do this because if they can compel the defender to believe it's a deep route, the defender will turn his hips downfield to keep up. This allows receivers to set up their actual route.<br> <br> But, what if the route is actually a deep go? <br> <br> While true that receivers may try to manipulate the opponent into believing they are running a shallow route when running a deeper route by using a slower pace, it's still an exceptional circumstance. Most receivers still begin a deep route with an explosive release motion and manipulate it in a different manner because it's harder for defenders to guess a route if every route begins the same way.<br> <br> The release motion that helps receivers achieve this goal has these components:<br> <br> * Going from "low" to "lower" in the stance and exploding outward with the pads down.<br> * Rolling off the front foot with no rocking or extra steps with the ...
