What Are Pull Routes and Why Do They Matter?
Pull routes push zone defenders to the sideline. Creating massive windows for your underneath routes.
Here's how it works: Most players run drag routes and wonder why they get covered. Defense just shades underneath with hard flats. Your tight end drag? Covered. Your crossing routes? Covered.
But add a swing route to the outside. Now that flat defender has a problem. He can't sit inside anymore. He has to choose: cover the drag or cover the swing.
This is horizontal clear outs. Everyone talks about vertical clear outs going up and down the field. Pull routes clear out horizontally: side to side.
The result? Huge pockets of space for your drag routes, crossers, and underneath game.
How to Set Up Pull Routes
Basic Setup
Start with any formation that has:
- A tight end or slot receiver for your drag route
- A halfback or outside receiver for your pull route
Put your tight end on a drag route. This is your money route once the pull clears space.
Put your halfback on a swing route. This is your pull route that pushes the flat defender outside.
The Read
Pre-snap: Look at the flat defender. Usually a linebacker or safety in the flat zone.
Post-snap: That defender has to pick his poison:
- If he follows the swing, throw the drag in the vacated space
- If he sits on the drag, dump to the swing for easy yards
Best Pull Routes to Use
Swing routes. Your best option. Gets outside fast and forces that flat defender to the sideline.
Other options that work:
- Flat routes
- Out routes
- Quick slants to the outside
But swing is king. It just does the best job pushing everything to the sideline.
When to Use Pull Routes
Pull routes destroy zone coverage. Especially when defenses shade underneath.
Perfect situations:
- Defense playing hard flats
- Linebackers sitting in yellow zones
- Safety help coming down
- Any time your drag routes get jumped
Down and distance:
- 3rd and medium (4-7 yards)
- 1st and 10 for easy completions
- 2nd and long when you need chunks
Don't use against man coverage. The concept relies on zone defenders having to choose between two routes in their area.
Why Pull Routes Work So Well
Zone defenders have area responsibility. They can't cover two routes going in different directions within their zone.
Without a pull route: That flat defender sits inside and jumps your drag. Easy coverage.
With a pull route: Same defender has to respect the outside route. Creates a 2x1 advantage in his zone.
The math is simple. One defender can't cover two routes effectively.
Plus you're attacking horizontally. Most defenses are built to stop vertical routes. Horizontal concepts stress zone coverage differently.
What Counters Pull Routes
Smart defenses will adjust:
Man coverage. Kills the concept completely. Each receiver has a designated defender.
Pattern matching. Defenders switch assignments based on route combinations.
More defenders in the box. Extra linebacker or safety to handle multiple underneath routes.
Press coverage. Disrupts timing on both the pull and the drag routes.
Common Mistakes with Pull Routes
Forcing the drag every time. If the swing is open, take it. Don't get tunnel vision.
Running it against man coverage. You'll just get two routes covered instead of creating space.
Poor timing. The pull route needs to threaten the flat defender's zone BEFORE you throw the drag.
Wrong personnel. Slow halfbacks on swing routes won't threaten the flat fast enough.
Not selling the pull. Look toward the swing route first to get that defender moving, then come back to the drag.
Advanced Pull Route Concepts
Once you master basic pull routes, try the custom stem down post. Mentioned in the source as another route that opens up space.
You can also run multiple pull routes from the same side. Overload one area and create even bigger windows.
Or use pull routes as part of RPO concepts. If the run is there, take it. If not, you've got your horizontal clear out ready.
The key is understanding the principle: push defenders out of position horizontally, then attack the space they vacated.