Doomsday101
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I'm sure many here know this already but thought I would share this will all
By Pat Kirwan
NFL.com Senior Analyst
I get asked regularly what the heck an X, a Z, a Y, and every other letter an offensive player can have means? The Dolphins have announced that wide receiver Chris Chambers will move from the 'Z' receiver to the 'X' receiver. It doesn't sound like such a big deal but it has a few differences that can make the job more challenging in some ways. Then we constantly hear about the 'Y' receiver, and if that isn't enough, there are such things as the 'A' and 'B' receiver. Time to sort this football language out for the fans that thought they knew football but struggle when coaches and players get into the coded conversations.
An X receiver is a wide receiver usually lined up on the line of scrimmage and mostly to the weak side (away from the tight end). Because he is on the line, he is not going to use motion in the pre-snap. X receivers tend to be taller than Z receivers and must contend with cornerbacks that want to jam their release. Randy Moss and Terrell Owens are classic X receivers.
A Z receiver is a wide receiver occasionally referred to as a flanker. The Z receiver will line up off the line of scrimmage and is eligible to go in motion. If he motions across the formation all the way to a wide receiver alignment, it is usually referred to as a 'zoom' motion. If he motions to a point right next to the offensive tackle, it is declared a 'zip' motion and is an alert that there is a strong tendency for a running play away from the motion or a bootleg pass. The Z receiver uses his motion to help declare the coverages for the quarterback. In general, the Z receiver is quicker and occasionally a bit shorter than an X receiver. When both wide receivers are to the same side in a formation, it is referred to as a 'slot' or 'flip' and the Z is usually inside. Santana Moss is a typical Z receiver.
A Y receiver is the tight end, and as the modern game progresses, clever offensive coordinators move the tight end all around the formation. If a tight end like Antonio Gates lines up like a wide receiver, it is declared 'Y open'. If the tight end goes in motion instead of the Z receiver, it is labeled 'Y movement'. If the tight end shifts from the left side to the right side or vice versa, it is called 'Y trade' and usually changes the strength call for the defense.
The A receiver is the first receiver to release on the weak side who was not declared the X, Y or Z. When Tiki Barber runs a route at the Will linebacker, he is an A receiver. If a third wide receiver is in the game and he lines up in the slot to the X receiver's side, then he's the A receiver. If a team uses two tight ends and one running back, the extra tight end can be the A receiver if he works on the weak side.
A B receiver is the exact same thing but on the strong side. For example, when a fullback like Lorenzo Neal releases out into the flat on the same side as the tight end, he's a B receiver. If a third wide receiver is in the game and he lines up on the same side as the tight end and the Z receiver, he's the B receiver.
It all sounds a bit complicated but it really isn't, and the defense builds its calls and coverages based on where everyone is and how they are declared.
By Pat Kirwan
NFL.com Senior Analyst
I get asked regularly what the heck an X, a Z, a Y, and every other letter an offensive player can have means? The Dolphins have announced that wide receiver Chris Chambers will move from the 'Z' receiver to the 'X' receiver. It doesn't sound like such a big deal but it has a few differences that can make the job more challenging in some ways. Then we constantly hear about the 'Y' receiver, and if that isn't enough, there are such things as the 'A' and 'B' receiver. Time to sort this football language out for the fans that thought they knew football but struggle when coaches and players get into the coded conversations.
An X receiver is a wide receiver usually lined up on the line of scrimmage and mostly to the weak side (away from the tight end). Because he is on the line, he is not going to use motion in the pre-snap. X receivers tend to be taller than Z receivers and must contend with cornerbacks that want to jam their release. Randy Moss and Terrell Owens are classic X receivers.
A Z receiver is a wide receiver occasionally referred to as a flanker. The Z receiver will line up off the line of scrimmage and is eligible to go in motion. If he motions across the formation all the way to a wide receiver alignment, it is usually referred to as a 'zoom' motion. If he motions to a point right next to the offensive tackle, it is declared a 'zip' motion and is an alert that there is a strong tendency for a running play away from the motion or a bootleg pass. The Z receiver uses his motion to help declare the coverages for the quarterback. In general, the Z receiver is quicker and occasionally a bit shorter than an X receiver. When both wide receivers are to the same side in a formation, it is referred to as a 'slot' or 'flip' and the Z is usually inside. Santana Moss is a typical Z receiver.
A Y receiver is the tight end, and as the modern game progresses, clever offensive coordinators move the tight end all around the formation. If a tight end like Antonio Gates lines up like a wide receiver, it is declared 'Y open'. If the tight end goes in motion instead of the Z receiver, it is labeled 'Y movement'. If the tight end shifts from the left side to the right side or vice versa, it is called 'Y trade' and usually changes the strength call for the defense.
The A receiver is the first receiver to release on the weak side who was not declared the X, Y or Z. When Tiki Barber runs a route at the Will linebacker, he is an A receiver. If a third wide receiver is in the game and he lines up in the slot to the X receiver's side, then he's the A receiver. If a team uses two tight ends and one running back, the extra tight end can be the A receiver if he works on the weak side.
A B receiver is the exact same thing but on the strong side. For example, when a fullback like Lorenzo Neal releases out into the flat on the same side as the tight end, he's a B receiver. If a third wide receiver is in the game and he lines up on the same side as the tight end and the Z receiver, he's the B receiver.
It all sounds a bit complicated but it really isn't, and the defense builds its calls and coverages based on where everyone is and how they are declared.
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