Description

Brian Bratton, Assistant Coach, Indianapolis Colts

The full video is available on Glazier Drive: WR Drills

LADDER DRILL PROGRESSION FOR WIDE RECEIVERS

This video demonstrates how to integrate ladder drills with route running to create game-like training scenarios. The coach emphasizes moving beyond traditional cone drills to develop receivers who can execute routes with proper footwork and technique under realistic conditions.

KEY TRAINING PRINCIPLES

The foundation of this system is combining footwork development with route execution. Players go through ladder drills to get their feet active, then immediately transition into route running with a defender present. This creates muscle memory that transfers directly to game situations. The coach stresses that every drill should include a ball and defensive pressure to simulate real gameplay.

SPECIFIC DRILL BREAKDOWN

The progression includes ladder-to-slant combinations where receivers work through the ladder, execute the route break at a 45-degree angle, and catch the ball over the shoulder. For stop routes, players learn to break at exactly six yards after the ladder without using cones as markers. The emphasis is on breaking where their feet are positioned, not where their eyes see the landmark, which prevents receivers from running routes short.

ADVANCED ROUTE APPLICATIONS

Quick out patterns focus on four-step timing with proper shoulder pinning and eye placement. For longer routes like digs, a chute is added after the ladder to force receivers to stay low despite the natural tendency to rise up during extended routes. The coach teaches route-shaving techniques where receivers create separation by getting "friendly to the quarterback" and coming back slightly downhill on their breaks.

COACHING METHODOLOGY

Quality over quantity is emphasized throughout the training. The coach warns against rushing through repetitions without proper instruction, noting that poor muscle memory will carry into games. Each drill should be coached actively, with corrections made in real-time to ensure proper technique development. The goal is creating seamless transfer from individual drills to team situations and ultimately to game performance.

---

Reviews

---

Comments