Defending the Fade Route
On the Goal Line
I t is an honor to be asked to contribute to
the AFCA Summer Manual. I share that
honor with my fellow defensive coaches,
Bob Davie, Curley Hallman, Paul Register
and Bob Matey. With their excellent coach-
ing, and the play of some outstanding
young men, we moved from No. 8 in the
nation in total defense a year ago to No. 4
this past season. More importantly, we won
our second straight Southwest Conference
Championship. These accomplishments
are certainly a reflection of the loyalty, ded-
ication, and outstanding coaching of these
fine men.
The topic which I have been asked to
discuss is certainly worthy of consideration.
Many of us on the defensive side of the ball
have had anxious moments over the years
while considering how to stop the fade. It is
a well-conceived play that offers maximum
gain with very little risk. It is normally a
touchdown or is incomplete. It is run more
often in goal line situations simply because
man coverage is easier to predict in this
area.
The first step in defending this pass is to
study your opponent’s philosophy and ten-
dencies in the following areas:
R.C. Slocum When does he like to throw this route?
Will he throw it on 1st down, or is it a play
Defensive Coordinator that is just called in obvious passing or blitz
situations? Is it a check when man cover-
Texas A&M University age is read? Will he repeat the call?
From what formation does he like this
College Station, Texas route? Many teams prefer the fade from a
pro-set so that there is a wide receiver on
both sides and two opportunities at getting
a tight corner. Many motion teams will
never motion and throw the fade.
To which receiver do they prefer to
throw this route? Is one receiver taller or is
one a better leaper?
Does the receiver tip his route by his
alignment (split)?
Knowing the answers to the above
questions is essential to designing a plan to
defend this route. By answering these
questions, you have a chance to anticipate
and will increase your chances to defend
against it.
We have a pressure philosophy when a
team gets inside our 20-yard line, and con-
sequently, we play a high percentage of
man coverage. While we do mix in some
zones, we play a lot of man and are prime
targets for the fade route.
Because we do play so much man
inside the 20, the fade pass, along with the
flood pass, must be taught early and
• AFCA Summer Manual — 2001 •
worked on often if we are to be successful.
We start our teaching in man coverage
by stressing that the fade is a timing pat-
tern. Our best chance for success is to dis-
rupt the timing of the receiver. To accom-
plish this, we move to a position very near
head-up on the receiver and about one
yard off the ball. We want complete con-
centration on the waist area of the receiver.
The defensive back should be in a well-bal-
anced and comfortable stance with both
hands up.
It is important to have the hands in a
ready-to-hit position as timing on the hand
shiver (catch) is critical. The inside foot
should be firmly planted and slow to move.
On an attempt to release inside, the corner
should catch the receiver and ride him
down the line. If he tries to release outside,
he should be jammed with the inside hand
on the shoulder pad. In case of a swim
release technique, the corner should jam
him hard in the rib area to disrupt his route,
again using the inside hand.
To back up a little bit; when the receiver
first came to the line, the corner should
have checked the receiver’s split to deter-
mine what techniques to use in man cover-
age: 1) In the pocket, or 2) Pin and look.
Now to explain briefly these two tech-
niques:
In-the-pocket is the technique used
when the receiver has cut his split down
and has considerable room to the outside.
With this alignment, the threat of an out
pattern must also be defended. Also, when
the fade is run from this alignment, the
receiver normally shows a short, hard push
up the field and then fades hard to the cor-
ner of the end zone.
After trying to make contact on the
release, the defender should wheel
towards the receiver and drive upfield with
him with visual focus on his hands. When
the receiver lifts his hands, the defender
must immediately lift his own hands
(inside hand) and prepare to drive it
through the pocket (receiver’s hands). We
stress trying to whack the receiver’s off
arm. The defender must get the ball out of
the pocket.
If the receiver is aligned close to the
sideline (three yards or less), we will use
our second technique—and look. Again,
our alignment should be very near head-up
and we want to disrupt the receiver’s
release if at all possible. As he releases to
the outside, the defender should step first
with the outside foot and wheel with the
receiver. The inside foot remains stationary
as long as possible to prevent the head
fake and inside move. As the defender
turns up the field with the receiver, he
should try to crowd him into the boundary,
feel him on his arm, and get his eyes
around to look for the ball. If the receiver
has gotten a clean release and has the
defender beaten, it is important not to run a
circle in attempting to cover him. Rather, a
cut-off angle should be taken to regain
position. When the receiver is pinned, then
the defender can turn and look for the ball.
These techniques obviously must be
practiced repeatedly to develop proficiency
and confidence. Probably the greatest
problem to overcome is the “panic reaction”
at the moment when the ball is arriving,
regardless of the techniques being used.
The defender must realize that it is always
going to be close and the bottom line is
whether the ball is caught. For this reason,
“it is not over, until it’s over” as the saying
goes. Find some way to get the ball out if it
is momentarily in the pocket.
The above techniques are used when
we are playing straight man with no help.
There are other maneuvers that we will use
to help our corners defend the fade. Having
some anticipation as to when this route is
likely to be run is very beneficial. If the fade
is a problem, one of our first alternate
choices is to show a pressed corner and
R.C. Slocum at a Glance
Experience: Defensive Coordinator, Lake Charles (La.) High
School, 1968-69; Freshman Offensive Line Coach, Kansas State,
1970; Freshman Coach Kansas State, 1971; Offensive Assistant,
Texas A&M, 1972; Defensive Assistant, Texas A&M, 1973-78;
Assistant Coach, Saskatchewan Rough Riders, 1977 & 1979;
Defensive Coordinator, Texas A&M, 1979-80; Defensive
Coordinator, Southern California, 1981; Defensive Coordinator,
Texas A&M, 1982-88; Assistant Head Coach, Texas A&M, 1985-
88; Head Coach, Texas A&M, 1989- (109-37-2).
Career Head Coaching Record: 109-37-2
Bowl Games: 1989 John Hancock Bowl; 1990 Holiday Bowl; 1992 Cotton Bowl, 1993
Cotton Bowl, 1994 Cotton Bowl; 1995 Alamo Bowl; 1998 Cotton Bowl; 1999 Sugar
Bowl, 1999 Alamo Bowl
Conference Championships: Southwest Conference, 1991, 1992, 1993; Big XII, 1998
hope to get the fade or an audible to the can stop in any of our coverages, but is a
fade. Our corner will give the quarterback a challenge when we are one-on-one. We
good look, then will back out and play hope we will always have players that rel-
three-deep. We will also do the opposite if ish that type situation.
this; show three-deep and walk up to a Hopefully, these ideas will be of some
press alignment late. benefit to the reader. These techniques are
In obvious passing situations, we have the subject of as many discussions as any
numerous other zones and bracket man topic in football. However, as is always the
coverages that we will employ to defend case, if you have something that you really
the fade route. I think that it is important believe in, sell to your players, and practice
that you present the fade as a route that we diligently, it will usually work for you.

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• AFCA Summer Manual — 2001 •