pass routes

Question
Chris,

Here's a question I sent along to another expert who apparently wasn't sure about an answer.  Any ideas?  Thanks, Steve Knippenberg

"I have a pretty basic question about passing routes which, I'm afraid, reveals my ignorance. After looking through more football books and football coaching books than I can count, I still find myself confused about some of the terminology relating to pass routes--there seem to be inconsistencies in the uses of various terms, and I haven't quite figured-out a general organizing principle that clarifies the matter. For example, a hook and curl look pretty much the same to me--indeed, some authors seem to equate the two. Some of the stuff I've read suggests that they are the same, except that one is thrown inside the tackles, more or less, while the other appears to be thrown outside the tackles (in other words, they're the same pass thrown to different zones). Tubby Raymond's book seems to suggest that, when thrown to a split end, the route is a curl, but the same pattern thrown to a TE is a hook.

As to other routes, I've never really quite understood what a drag is, and I'm not sure I can tell a flare from a swing pass. Is there somw fundamental organizing principle at work, like the same pattern run by a split end has one name, while it has another name when run by a TE or someone coming out of the backfield? A throw to the flats is clear enough, but are there different patterns or routes within the flats? Anyway, I'd llike to have the terms and the organizing principle behind them clarified for once and for all, if that's possible."  

Answer
Dear Steve,
 To be honest I've never been an expert on routes, but I can help.  I don't believe there is different terminology depending on the position.  A hook for a TE is a hook for WR.  They are all the same.
 The difference I think between a hook and a curl is really simple.  They are essentially the same things.  In a curl route you actually make a rounded "curl" back to the ball, while in a hook it's more of a sudden stop and then back to the ball making it look kind of like a "hook".
 For a flare route and swing route, I believe a swing route is run a little deeper, almost like a backwards pass and a flare is more forward.  Hope this helps.

Sincerely,
Chris