# Do football receivers know in advance if they're getting the ball? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** football-nfl\ **Created:** [May 15, 2023, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-football-receivers-know-in-advance-if-theyre-getting-the-ball/984072 "2023-05-15T10:12:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2023, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-football-receivers-know-in-advance-if-theyre-getting-the-ball/984072/21 "2023-05-16T14:51:34Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > Then the QB instructs a player to go into motion, changing the formation, hoping to get a different response from the defense. The QB changes his assessment, and the targets change again. Then the ball is snapped, and the defense reacts or blitzes, and the QB needs to adjust again. The ball is going to the player based on a series of cascading if-then logic trees. Usually, the receivers are making the same analysis and arriving at the same unspoken conclusions as the QB, so both the QB and receiver know who is getting the ball around the same time, **usually about a second after the snap.** Bolding mine. This is what casual fans often don’t get when they criticize a QB or receiver – that most passing plays have multiple variables, and the players have to make their decisions simultaneously and instantaneously. If one of them makes the wrong decision, or they make different “right” decisions, or the timing is even slightly off, the play won’t work. The difference between a weak QB and an All-Pro is a fraction of a second in decision-making. OTOH, when the QB and his receivers are clicking, they’re almost unstoppable. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2023, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-football-receivers-know-in-advance-if-theyre-getting-the-ball/984072/22 "2023-05-16T16:23:20Z")
> [@Akaj](#): > > OTOH, when the QB and his receivers are clicking, they’re almost unstoppable. When analysts talk about a QB having “chemistry” with his receivers, that’s not just some touchy-feely thing, it means they’re able to make those connections quickly and successfully. You need that for an elite or even a competent passing game. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2023, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-football-receivers-know-in-advance-if-theyre-getting-the-ball/984072/23 "2023-05-16T16:34:49Z")
> [@slicedalone](#): > > How does he do that? He’s not already planning to run the best route he can? There were some great replies already, but I would add the general point that pass defense generally falls into two buckets: zone or man-to-man. This means a defensive player in coverage (i.e. not rushing the passer) is either responsible for covering any offensive players in a region of the field (zone) or they are responsible for covering a specific player wherever they go (man). Modern pass defenses are often a combination of these, although straight-man and straight-zone coverages are possible too. Receivers and QBs respond to whether the defense is in zone or man when assessing what routes to run and which receivers are most likely to be open, respectively. There are often “hot routes” and “checkdowns” for blitz situations as well, where a receiver has to recognize that the person that he needs to cut his route short so the QB can get the ball to him quickly. It is all insanely complicated and it’s why QBs that can accurately and quickly read defenses are worth their weight in gold. And why receivers that are in sync with those QBs can be unstoppable (e.g. Travis Kelce with Patrick Mahomes). ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2023, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-football-receivers-know-in-advance-if-theyre-getting-the-ball/984072/24 "2023-05-16T18:55:52Z")
> [@slicedalone](#): > > How does he do that? He’s not already planning to run the best route he can? He can’t run the best route he can unless and until he reads the defense. There’s a lot more to route running than just following the line that’s drawn up on the chalkboard. I found this site just now, which seems to have some info on choosing route-running techniques according to the defender’s play. That isn’t everything I’m referring to, but it’s part of it. > **[WR Play: The Art of Route Running](https://rileykolstefootball.com/2018/05/18/wr-play-the-art-of-route-running/)** > > By Taylor Kolste Clemson Head Football Coach, Dabo Swinney, once said that wide receiver was the worst coached position in all of football. This is because of how technical the position can be, yet… Receivers adjust based on a lot of very detailed stuff, like recognizing what technique the defender is using at the line, where the defender will have help, and where the “seams” are, etc., and using the appropriate technique for the route. So depending on what the receiver and the QB see, they should both know the receiver might be slowed down a little because of the press coverage at the line, or that he might adjust a post to a skinny post because of where the deep safety is playing, or adjust exactly where he breaks to the inside to line up with the zone seam. Also in a zone, a receiver might stop in an open area to wait for the throw, vs with man coverage, he’ll keep running. As mentioned, the extremely successful QB/receiver pairs who have “chemistry” are pairs who understand intuitively how to adjust, and how their counterpart will adjust, so they stay in sync. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2023, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-football-receivers-know-in-advance-if-theyre-getting-the-ball/984072/25 "2023-05-16T19:20:22Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Or both. Was that last play with the Cleveland quarterback throwing the ball OK? It’s pretty clear he attempted a forward pass that was batted back to him. Is he allowed to throw a second forward pass on the same play? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2023, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-football-receivers-know-in-advance-if-theyre-getting-the-ball/984072/26 "2023-05-16T19:26:27Z")
> [@OldGuy](#): > > Was that last play with the Cleveland quarterback throwing the ball OK? It’s pretty clear he attempted a forward pass that was batted back to him. Is he allowed to throw a second forward pass on the same play? Nope, it’s not legal. Only one forward pass may be legally attempted per play, even if the first attempt was batted. However, when a forward pass is batted, it **does** change the rules on eligible/ineligible receivers: every member of the offense becomes an eligible receiver at that point (assuming the first person who touched it was also an eligible receiver, or a member of the defense). ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2023, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-football-receivers-know-in-advance-if-theyre-getting-the-ball/984072/27 "2023-05-16T19:43:42Z")
It also changes the rules regarding pass interference – in fact, it eliminates pass interference. Once a forward pass has been tipped or batted, you can trample anyone in your path in and effort to catch the ball. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2023, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-football-receivers-know-in-advance-if-theyre-getting-the-ball/984072/28 "2023-05-16T21:07:13Z")
You’re still not allowed to hold. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2023, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-football-receivers-know-in-advance-if-theyre-getting-the-ball/984072/29 "2023-05-16T21:29:53Z")
No, but you can go for the ball without worrying about contact, as you must on a non-tipped pass. Anyway, getting off the subject. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2023, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-football-receivers-know-in-advance-if-theyre-getting-the-ball/984072/30 "2023-05-16T21:47:04Z")
I remember a defensive back one talking about looking closely at receivers leading the offensive huddle. Often the primary target would have a little extra pep in his step. There’s usually a primary intended target. Only in rare play calls is there no other options, usually “trick” plays when the second option is a throwaway. This [double fake pass](https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1603566519945793536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1603566519945793536%7Ctwgr%5E6c96e8c9aefd1fad55aaf59c86689641ba18cd5e%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sportingnews.com%2Fus%2Fnfl%2Fnews%2Fbrock-purdy-double-fake-george-kittle-bill-walsh-49ers%2Fkby6erf0n4cyonn6uksz1aww) was always going to go to George Kittle. Still, all eligible receivers should be ready to get a pass, even RBs etc kept in to pass block. [Here](https://youtu.be/9TgijYST02E), Kittle was executing a run fake block and wasn’t assigned a route, but broke into open space when he saw the original play design break down. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2023, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-football-receivers-know-in-advance-if-theyre-getting-the-ball/984072/31 "2023-05-17T01:05:35Z")
One of the features of the “west coast offense” popularized by Bill Walsh, Joe Montana and the 1980s San Francisco 49ers, was that wide receivers would come open as the quarterback made his reads. It was very much based on timing: QB looks for his primary receiver, who should break open at the point at which the QB finishes his drop. But, if he’s not open, then the QB progresses to his 2nd option, who breaks open at that point; if he isn’t open, QB looks to his 3rd option, who breaks open next, and so on. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2023, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-football-receivers-know-in-advance-if-theyre-getting-the-ball/984072/32 "2023-05-17T03:03:12Z")
One infamous example of a receiver quitting route-running because he thought the ball wasn’t coming his way was 2007 Giants-Cowboys divisional playoff game. Patrick Crayton was wide open near the end zone but didn’t think his quarterback was going to throw to him, so he pulled up and stopped the route. When the ball _did_ get thrown his way to his surprise, he wasn’t able to reach it, whereas he would have scored an easy touchdown had he just diligently run his route into the end zone 1-2 seconds earlier. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2023, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-football-receivers-know-in-advance-if-theyre-getting-the-ball/984072/33 "2023-05-17T04:27:26Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > - The five interior linemen are _never_ eligible receivers This is _almost_ correct, except for the “never”. From time to time, one of the zebras will announce that one of the tackles has reported eligible. But a tackle cannot be an eligible receiver unless the defense is duly informed before the start of the play. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2023, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-football-receivers-know-in-advance-if-theyre-getting-the-ball/984072/34 "2023-05-17T04:35:51Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > This is _almost_ correct, except for the “never”. From time to time, one of the zebras will announce that one of the tackles has reported eligible. But a tackle cannot be an eligible receiver unless the defense is duly informed before the start of the play. It’s actually a little more complicated than that – it’s not just that he reports as eligible, but that he lines up in an eligible position, as well. If a player (such as a tackle) reports as an eligible receiver, he’s doing so because his uniform number is one which is normally assigned to an ineligible receiver (i.e., numbers 50-79, reserved for linemen on offense), **and** with the intent that he will be lining up, for that play, in the position of an eligible receiver. When the offense lines up in formation, in order to actually be an eligible receiver, that player must line up in a position as an eligible receiver in order to actually be eligible – that is, he must line up as an end (either a tight end or a split end/wide receiver) on the line of scrimmage, or he must line up in the offensive backfield. If he lines up as one of the five interior linemen, despite the fact that he reported as an eligible receiver, he isn’t actually an eligible receiver on that play. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2023, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-football-receivers-know-in-advance-if-theyre-getting-the-ball/984072/35 "2023-05-17T05:28:01Z")
I imagine they would throw a penalty flag if you declared as an eligible receiver and then lined up as one of the five interior linemen. I have no idea what flag; maybe illegal formation? ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2023, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-football-receivers-know-in-advance-if-theyre-getting-the-ball/984072/36 "2023-05-17T13:46:58Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > The five interior linemen are _never_ eligible receivers. > [@eschereal](#): > > This is _almost_ correct, except for the “never”. From time to time, one of the zebras will announce that one of the tackles has reported eligible. But a tackle cannot be an eligible receiver unless the defense is duly informed before the start of the play. If an offensive linemen has reported as eligible, and lines up as such, there are still five interior linemen, and none of them are eligible receivers. So, IMHO, the statement by @kenobi_65 is always correct. > [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Five other players are _always_ eligible receivers This, however, is not correct. From the NFL [rule book](https://operations.nfl.com/the-rules/2022-nfl-rulebook/#): > Eligible receivers must be on both ends of the line, and all of the players on the line between them must be ineligible receivers If 10 players line up on the line of scrimmage (for instance, in punt formation), only the two players on the ends are eligible receivers. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2023, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-football-receivers-know-in-advance-if-theyre-getting-the-ball/984072/37 "2023-05-17T14:03:55Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > If 10 players line up on the line of scrimmage (for instance, in punt formation), only the two players on the ends are eligible receivers. My understanding had been that you can’t have more than 7 players lined up on the line of scrimmage, but it appears that I may be incorrect. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2023, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-football-receivers-know-in-advance-if-theyre-getting-the-ball/984072/38 "2023-05-17T14:07:33Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > you can’t have more than 7 players lined up on the line of scrimmage, but it appears that I may be incorrect. Also from the rule book: > The offensive team must be in compliance with the following at the snap: > > 1. It must have **seven or more** players on the line (my bolding) ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2023, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-football-receivers-know-in-advance-if-theyre-getting-the-ball/984072/39 "2023-05-17T18:48:54Z")
Thank you for the education! In practice, on “normal” offensive plays, there’ll nearly always be five eligible receivers (six if the quarterback isn’t under center); offenses generally don’t want to limit how many possible receivers they have, or telegraph the play too much to the defense. About the only time you’ll see more than seven offensive players on the line of scrimmage (and, thus, five ineligible receivers) is on goal-line/short-yardage plays, or on special teams plays. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2023, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-football-receivers-know-in-advance-if-theyre-getting-the-ball/984072/40 "2023-05-17T19:55:37Z")
Passing offenses before the West Coast offense still had read progressions. The two major innovations were the precision timing and the reads generally went from shallow to deep. Previously, the primary pass desired was something deep, and if that didn’t come open, then take a dumpoff. West Coast would look for an opening on a shallow post row or even a swing pass to a fullback in the flat _first_ and look deeper when those weren’t open. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-football-receivers-know-in-advance-if-theyre-getting-the-ball/984072.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-football-receivers-know-in-advance-if-theyre-getting-the-ball/984072.md?page=3)