Post by Coach Campbell on Feb 6, 2013 10:06:16 GMT
What Is a Fade in Football?
2011 | By Jonathan Croswell
Running the Fade
The fade route is easily run by a wide receiver. The receiver will approach a defender after the ball is snapped and try to make a move to the left or right. The goal is to get around the defender as quick as possible, creating a straight path downfield. The receiver then sprints as fast as he can and turns to look for the pass when he is expecting it to be thrown, based on the play called and the open space on the field.
Benefits
The fade route, when achieved successfully, can pick up large chunks of yardage quickly. Teams running out of time to score are likely to turn to this and other deep routes to try and make quick gains without burning the clock. But the fade route also helps stretch a defense on the field --- if the threat of a long pass is real, the defense will have to devote more personnel to downfield passing. The threat of a successful fade pass can help open up the short game, which offenses can use to get first downs and put together long drives.
Considerations
On most teams the efficacy --- and safety --- of the fade route is predicated on the skills of the quarterback. Wide receiver speed does play a factor, but if a quarterback doesn't have the strength to overthrow the receiver the route could be a recipe for disaster. Underthrown balls on a fade route are almost sure to provide the defensive secondary with an uncontested interception attempt. In many games you will see quarterbacks often overthrow the receiver since the goal is to lead the wideout and hit him in stride, and the risk of underthrowing leading to an interception is too great.
Misconceptions
Some people mistakenly believe a fade route differs from a deep route. By some definitions, the fade route features a receiver running downfield nearly vertically, but instead of running straight the receiver gradually drifts closer to the sideline. This does happen sometimes, particularly if the quarterback is skilled at throwing to the outside of a receiver and if the receiver is trying to create space between himself and the defensive back, but in general terms this is not any different from a normal fade route that runs directly toward the end zone.