Win the leverage, win the route.

Let's begin by defining leverage as it applies to wide receivers. Leverage is defined as the side the receiver is on, relative to the position of the defensive player. There are typically two ways to identify leverage: inside leverage or outside leverage. The former would suggest that the wide receiver has inside position on the defensive player, so he is closest to the ball, or his body is between the defender and the ball.

The latter would suggest the opposite -- that the wide receiver has outside position, the defender assumes inside position, and the defender is closest to the ball.

The art of getting separation is predicated on understanding leverage and being able to stem your route accordingly. Our stem is defined as the path from the release to the breakpoint. If I asked any receiver, what's more important?: a wide receiver's physical attributes or his mental capacity and understanding of how to manipulate defenders? I think most would choose physical.

What if I were to ask coaches the same question? I'd bet every coach would choose mental. It's true -- I could have the most athletic and talented receiver in the world, but if he doesn't understand leverage or how to get open, then he can't produce. We have to build a plan at the line of scrimmage, which is based on our route and our ability to recognize varying coverages.

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If we are given an in-breaking route then we want to gain inside leverage on the stem. We want to make for a seamless break at the top resulting in an advantageous position for the throw. If we are faced with man coverage, and the defender is square with the receiver, then we'd press his toes, give a little to the outside, stick and dip inside. Once we get inside, we'll hold our leverage by pressing vertically hip-to-hip. Then our break at the top is clean and precise, whether it'd be a slant, dig, cross, post, or curl.

Depending on the depth and timing of the route, we'll have to make our move at a certain pace. In deeper routes, such as digs or posts, getting inside leverage requires a sense of urgency and a "fire" off the ball.

For a slant pattern, it's okay to be patient in the release and stem. The timing and depth allows for an initial release by giving a hard jab outside with body tilt, winning back inside, pressing vertical, and then snapping across for the slant.

Our plan of attack doesn't change when our defender is off-centered, or when the defender shades to a side pre-snap and therefore chooses his leverage. The first thing that you have to realize: the defender wants you to choose the path of least resistance. In other words, if he is shaded outside, then he wants you to take the inside release and stay inside on the stem. This requires no guessing from the defender as he will now be able to anticipate the inside break.

So what if our defender is shaded outside and we have a post? Although we already have inside leverage, we don't want to run clean on our vertical stem, bang the post, and expect to win (unless we're Tyreek Hill). The defender knows that you are running an in-breaking route if you make no effort to attack his positioning. The advantage wideouts have every snap is that we know the route and where we are going to end up. At no point should we tip-off that information by choosing the easy stem. If we have a clear path for a post, and our man defender is aligned outside, don't expect to run straight, stick to the post, and win clean. A better stem would attack his outside shade; the defender will likely move further outside to protect his leverage. At the breakpoint, the defender is unsure where you will go. You've opened up options. Now when you stick to the post, you'll be wide open.

What if the defender is in our space? Let's use the post route example but this time the defender is shaded to the inside. For the post route, we want inside leverage for a clean inside break at the top, so we'll stem at the defender's inside shoulder. If we can get there, great. We'll hold that leverage, press vertical to our depth, and break the post. When were connected, and when we have leverage, we'll use a "chicken-wing" push-off to gain more separation. We do this by pushing off with our elbows instead of our extended arm to avoid being flagged.

What happens when we can't get leverage? Stay tuned for part 2...