Carter's Classroom: Washington vs. the press

Beating press coverage is one of the major challenges young receivers face in their NFL careers, and it will be one which James Washington will have to adjust to facing more regularly in his rookie season.

Washington looked at his best when he was in the middle of his route or beating defensive backs deep down the field. But his time in the Big 12 Conference did not put him up against defenses that applied consistent press coverage.

We delve into Washington's college tape to show him against press coverage, study how he won and lost those battles, and where he can work to improve.

We covered several focus points for cornerbacks in press coverage in our study of Artie Burns' 2017 season, but receivers also have multiple keys to be successful in these situations.

In order to consistently win at the line of scrimmage, the receiver must be able to combine several skills, primarily the use of solid footwork and active, well-placed hands. Remember that a cornerback's job is often to force the receiver to the sideline, so in contrast, a receiver must work to beat the cornerback to the inside.

In the play below, watch Washington use a simple jab step to the outside to freeze the cornerback and beat him to the inside, release off the line, then sprint to the open field to win a jump ball:

One physical skill that Washington seems to possess is how he minimizes his frame by keeping his shoulders low. He's not a big receiver and many wideouts his size run into problems because they stand too tall at the start of their routes, presenting a bigger target for cornerbacks to jab. By lowering the shoulders, Washington limits the amount of space cornerbacks can attack.

Washington also flashes instances when he combines both solid footwork and textbook hand placement to break free of the press. Watch how he works against Pitt's Avonte Maddox by using his first two steps to work to the outside, but then explodes into his slant route. He crosses Maddox's face to get into the middle of the field by using his right hand to swipe down Maddox's attempt to jab into his chest and bump him off his route.

Notice how Washington uses his right hand to attack Maddox's forearm; that's the textbook spot coaches teach receivers to attack when fighting against cornerbacks looking to win with their hands at the line of scrimmage, and Washington capitalized:

Washington needs to improve by more consistently applying solid footwork in his release. Many receivers naturally employ false steps to try and shake off pressing cornerbacks, but the best steps are those that allow the receiver to gain ground and actually move the cornerback.

If a receiver uses a stutter-step that doesn't move him in any direction, a good cornerback can sit in his spot and continue to settle while waiting for the receiver to make his real move. By using those steps to gain ground instead of staying in place, the receiver can move the cornerback from his spot while also not tipping off his true route.

Here's an instance where Washington tried to use a stutter-step that didn't work as the cornerback was able to stick with him:

If you compare that to the two earlier plays we used as positive examples, you'll notice how each of Washington's steps in the earlier plays allowed him to move the cornerback, while the above play simply keeps him in the same spot.

The good cornerbacks in the NFL will use those mistakes to get a fix on the receiver and apply their hands to knock him off his route. Here's an example from that same game, but Washington recovers by making a great swim move after the fact to beat his man back to the inside:

Though Washington wasn't targeted on the play, that was an example of how he could win in his routes despite not having the best release off the line. While that worked well for him at Oklahoma State, the NFL won't be as forgiving.

Fortunately for him, he gets to work alongside Antonio Brown, who has the best release of any receiver in the NFL. Brown has made a career of running precise routes where he gains ground with each step, even while setting up cornerbacks with false steps to set up his true pattern.

Here he is in the playoffs ripping off A.J. Bouye, one of the NFL's best press cornerbacks. Watch how he beats Bouye to the inside by starting his route targeting the outside, all the while pushing Bouye backwards with his strong strides, and swims over Bouye's attempted jab with ease:

I've seen Brown stick with the Steelers' young receivers after a practice finishes in camp to work with them on improving their release. If Washington can add some of the skills Brown has acquired in his experience, he could easily overcome an aspect of the game that frustrates many young receivers.

MATT SUNDAY GALLERY