On an NFL offense, the quarterback often takes all the praise when it comes to a big play due to the decisions they have to make under pressure.
However, the QB cannot make plays if he does not have a wide receiver to target on a drive.
But what is a wide receiver and what is their role on the offense?
What is a wide receiver in the NFL?
A wide receiver (WR) is a player on the offense who is tasked with catching the football thrown by a quarterback (QB) and is occasionally asked to the run the ball.
The WR sets up on the line of scrimmage outside the offensive line and they make breaks downfield through open lanes as they attempt to get open for a pass.
What are the responsibilties of a wide receiver?
Once the quarterback has snapped the ball, the wide receiver will likely run downfield in an attempt to catch a throw from the QB.
With the constant running and frequent use during plays, WRs are often the quickest players on the team, and look to use quick turns and their speed to negate any threat posed by the defense.
What skills does a good wide receiver need?
With defenses placing an emphasis on wide receivers, there is a lot of stress placed on the shoulders of players in that position.
In order to be effective as a WR, there is no surprise that players in that role have to be exceptional catchers as their main responsibility is to catch passes.
WRs should also be able to withstand any hits or blocks from defensive players and hang onto the ball if hit after they catch it.
There also needs to be an excellent understanding of their positioning on the field from WRs to ensure that they stay inbounds when receiving passes.