Matt Waldman defines the basics of Transitions in this edition of the RSP NFL Scouting Glossary with the help of a play from Iowa State NFL Draft Prospect, WR Xavier Hutchinson.
What Are Transitions?
Transitions are the techniques used to change from pass catcher to ball carrier. Effective transitions get receivers downhill in a hurry and help them maximize yardage.
Offenses that employ a lot of pass patterns with receivers moving across the field after the break rely heavily on the receiver to execute good transitions. Teams that feature a lot of these patterns in their scheme drafted these receivers for their skills in the open field.
Receivers who don’t transition effectively aren’t optimizing the intent of the pattern, the timing of the target, or the quarterback’s placement of the ball relative to the coverage.
Even when receivers are running patterns with breaks that terminate with a turn back the quarterback against tight coverage, an effective transition can create space that isn’t there at the catch point.
There are two simple and valuable rules for effective transitions that help receivers optimize their transition from a pass catcher to a ballcarrier.
The Basic Techniques of Transitions
- Catch and Pierce: Getting downhill as fast as possible.
- Snap turns north-south.
- Limit unnecessary steps and make the turn tight and immediate.
- Accelerate through and out of the turn.
- When possible, use optimal pad level and body lean to anticipate contact and maximize gains through collisions.
- Tight ball security.
- Obey the Ball: The receiver turns downhill in the direction where the target leads them.
- The premise is to trust that the quarterback is acting as the receiver’s eyes and placing the ball in the optimal position.
- The exception to this premise: When the receiver is aware of the position of the coverage relative to the break and it requires a turn away from the target’s placement.
- Even when the target isn’t accurate and leads the receiver into potential contact that the receiver couldn’t anticipate prior to the break, a tight catch and pierce can mitigate contact if not avoid it altogether.
What It Looks Like on Film with Iowa St. WR Xavier Hutchinson
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