Colorado State University Athletics
Photo by: Mike Brohard
In Position: Cox wants his group to carry a wide perspective
7/21/2019 12:00:00 PM | Football
Rams receivers understand a route is not simply a route
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – There's something to be said for doing what you're told, knowing what to do and doing it well.
What Joe Cox is trying to impart on his Colorado State wide receivers is there is more to the game of football than following the design in the playbook.
In other words, a route is not just a route. The plays are designed with a purpose, and comprehending the part you play is paramount.
"It's total understanding for what we're doing on offense," said Cox, who took over the group in the spring. "Not just knowing you have a certain route, but knowing why you have a certain route, what it's good for on certain coverages, when you should be expecting the ball and how your route affects the route of the guy next to you."
Definitely not Football 101. Young players find the process of learning the why comes after figuring out the what.
It takes time, but when the information sinks it, it all makes sense, said Brenden Fulton.
"I think when I came in, I was just thinking about on this play, I have this route," he said. "Now that I'm a senior, I understand the offense more and I understand it conceptually. Either you're trying to get open or get somebody else open, so it's reading defenses differently. It's just helped me grow as a football player and kind of teach the other guys too.
"When I was a young player, I didn't understand it at all. Now that I understand the whole offense, I can play with my routes a little bit. I think that's the best part of my game. I can play with them to pull coverages to help other guys get open."
Cox has veteran receivers tutoring the younger set, helping them understand the advanced nature of the offensive system. The Rams have had an impressive run of production from the spot in recent years with Rashard Higgins and Michael Gallup becoming productive NFL players, while Bisi Johnson and Preston Williams are trying to earn their spots this summer.
Naturally, the current group of Rams would like to follow the footsteps in the sand, and the advanced teachings can help provide a road map. Most importantly, it can help the Rams get back to being a more productive, balanced offense.
"It just makes life easier. Just knowing what the quarterback reads are, you know the progression," sophomore Nikko Hall said. "You know not to run your route too fast, not too slow, just even keeled. It's knowing the concepts.
"In the meeting room, I sit right next to Fulton. We talk to each other, see what we could do better, what I could have done to get him open, what he could do to get me open. It's a player-to-player deal, learning to get better. Once everybody gets on that same page, it's like we're playing for each other. It's confidence."
Fulton said confidence is the key, and it comes faster with understanding. They said Cox has been very good in drawing up and discussing concepts, then helping them develop on the field.
Cox pointed out Warren Jackson has expanded his knowledge, and while he's played in big games and performed well, Cox is not ready to say he's arrived. What encourages him is the junior's passion to improve. He's not just stopping at learning, he and the rest of his group are really trying to see.
As in all aspects of the game, running a route is not cut and dried. Depending on protections and coverage schemes, each play has deviations to carry out. In a game, on third-and-6, Cox needs them all to read and react, not just follow the line in the playbook.
So in meetings, Fulton explained Cox does his best to stump them, to make them think.
"I told the young guys to make sure you go to those guys and ask questions," he said. "I want guys to know how they're tied in to the whole picture."
What Joe Cox is trying to impart on his Colorado State wide receivers is there is more to the game of football than following the design in the playbook.
In other words, a route is not just a route. The plays are designed with a purpose, and comprehending the part you play is paramount.
"It's total understanding for what we're doing on offense," said Cox, who took over the group in the spring. "Not just knowing you have a certain route, but knowing why you have a certain route, what it's good for on certain coverages, when you should be expecting the ball and how your route affects the route of the guy next to you."
Definitely not Football 101. Young players find the process of learning the why comes after figuring out the what.
It takes time, but when the information sinks it, it all makes sense, said Brenden Fulton.
"I think when I came in, I was just thinking about on this play, I have this route," he said. "Now that I'm a senior, I understand the offense more and I understand it conceptually. Either you're trying to get open or get somebody else open, so it's reading defenses differently. It's just helped me grow as a football player and kind of teach the other guys too.
"When I was a young player, I didn't understand it at all. Now that I understand the whole offense, I can play with my routes a little bit. I think that's the best part of my game. I can play with them to pull coverages to help other guys get open."
Cox has veteran receivers tutoring the younger set, helping them understand the advanced nature of the offensive system. The Rams have had an impressive run of production from the spot in recent years with Rashard Higgins and Michael Gallup becoming productive NFL players, while Bisi Johnson and Preston Williams are trying to earn their spots this summer.
Naturally, the current group of Rams would like to follow the footsteps in the sand, and the advanced teachings can help provide a road map. Most importantly, it can help the Rams get back to being a more productive, balanced offense.
"It just makes life easier. Just knowing what the quarterback reads are, you know the progression," sophomore Nikko Hall said. "You know not to run your route too fast, not too slow, just even keeled. It's knowing the concepts.
"In the meeting room, I sit right next to Fulton. We talk to each other, see what we could do better, what I could have done to get him open, what he could do to get me open. It's a player-to-player deal, learning to get better. Once everybody gets on that same page, it's like we're playing for each other. It's confidence."
Fulton said confidence is the key, and it comes faster with understanding. They said Cox has been very good in drawing up and discussing concepts, then helping them develop on the field.
Cox pointed out Warren Jackson has expanded his knowledge, and while he's played in big games and performed well, Cox is not ready to say he's arrived. What encourages him is the junior's passion to improve. He's not just stopping at learning, he and the rest of his group are really trying to see.
As in all aspects of the game, running a route is not cut and dried. Depending on protections and coverage schemes, each play has deviations to carry out. In a game, on third-and-6, Cox needs them all to read and react, not just follow the line in the playbook.
So in meetings, Fulton explained Cox does his best to stump them, to make them think.
"I told the young guys to make sure you go to those guys and ask questions," he said. "I want guys to know how they're tied in to the whole picture."
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