What it is

A seam route is a pass pattern where a receiver, usually a tight end or a slot receiver, runs straight up the field between the zones of two defenders.

In a game

It is effective against Cover 2, because the deep middle between the safeties is open. The quarterback must throw it on time, before the safeties close in.

More detail

The receiver runs along the hash marks and reads the safeties. If one safety stays in the middle, he bends the route outside or sits in a hole. Against Cover 3, a seam beats the linebackers but is covered by the free safety. The throw must arrive before the safety closes, so timing is as important as the route.

The route

The bright circle is the player running the route. The arrow shows his path. Scroll down to watch it as an animation.

Animated diagram

1. The tight end leaves the line and runs straight up the field between the hash marks and the linebackers.
2. The safeties split the deep field in halves and the linebackers drop to the hooks, so nobody covers the strip between them.
3. The quarterback throws on time into that gap, and the tight end catches the ball deep before the safeties can close.