Developing a Multiple Structure for a "Pro Style" 5 Step Pass Package Dan Robinson Northwestern High School 765-457-8101 x 2606 765-457-1740 (Home) Dan.Robinson@nwsc.k12.in.us Chicago MEGA. Football Clinic February 6, 2003Pro-style. Passing System | . Answers for the blitz . Relative simplicity and ease of teaching with carry-over teaching 7. system of backside tags 8. 9. system of back tags full field route packages 10. 1/2 field frontside route packages 11. Tags that change the structure of the route . Ability to play action pass off the best runs and defeat the coverages you see.PASSING JOB CONSIDERATIONS LE SITUATIONS COVERAGES 3rd & Long Blitz-Cover 0 3rd & Medium 1 Free 3rd & Short 1 Double 3rd & Extra Long Cover 2 Ist & 10 Ball Control 2 Man 2nd & Short “Go for it” 3 Sky Goal Line 3 Cloud Red Zone Attack 3 Prevent Last 3 plays Cover 4 Safe-”Stall” Quarters 1/4 1/4 1/2 BLITZ ANSWERS Robber LB loops & fires LB edge blitzes 4 strong/weak DB edge DB interior Delayed Key Combo-Nickel-Dime Goal line Lanes (6-7) TIMING Can protect with 5 (long) Can protect with 6 (mod) Can not protect (short) Max needed (extra short)q =| S (Aa | 2 || es || ty | BA isi] How many pass routes is enough? | 2MAN 3 SKY 3CLD 4 PREVENT.NORTHWESTERN TIGERS fully functional passing game that can make use of numerous different actions and sets, gain leverage on coverages, create positive matchups, convert numerous situa- tions successfully, and in general provide us with a “toolbox” full of tools that gives s good answers to every defense we see. The structure of our offense allows us to do this through a series of simple building blocks that can be used in different combina- ions, These building blocks include pass actions, protections, route "packages," and modifying route tags that ze a route package's personality with little new learning. As we become masters at understanding, visualizi ments of the system, we fully expect to be able to throw the ball successfully at any time in the game, from any place on the field, and to be able to make use of a large variety of tools to give our players the best possible chance to succeed in every tion they face. ud executing the different ele-Basic Principles of Pass Offense The “Dirty Dozen” Cardinal Principles of the Tiger Pass Offense 1. Multiplicity. Atl plays can be run ont of different formations How: Sal building blocks that speak to specific players Route Adjustment. Routes are run differently vs. different types of covera How: Pre-snap coverage calls, Receivers & QB read on the move Route Conversion. Some routes ate totally changed vs. some coverages Why: Some routes simply will not work against some coverages. How. P. s, Receivers & QB tead on the move Route Exchange. Routes are ran by the players relative to their position within each forma tion, generally numbered from the outside in #1, #2, #3) on either side ofthe ball Why" Different formations and motions put players in different positions, and this flexibility is key to creating positive matchups and being able to present a multiple look while Keeping, learning simple. How: Players lear the entire route package for each position when itis initially in alled 5. Educated Freedom. Players must always have a common sense approach to operating and running their routes, understanding that thetr job, first andforemost, is to get open ina way that the QB can find them. Example: Your assignment is a 10 yd Out, but your cornerback falls down and no one can cover you deep. Common sense & educated fre deep, take the easy TD. Secondly, they must understand what their overall job is within a given route, and do what ever it takes to get that job accomplished. This is the beginning of having an “educated” freedom that enables players to use their freedom responsibly and productively. It basis upon which finer technique details are built, because technique is only a means to most effectively get this job done m say, 20 also the “Sandbox” Rules. Each player within a route, by the design of the route, has a_a specific vers must ensure that their area assigned to him in which to get open, or a “sandbox.” Re route stays out of the “sandbox” of any other player, lest that area get congested and our play ruined, making whatever adjustments necessary 7. Run After Catch. All people involved in the passing game must be aware that over 50% of rame come after the catch. ers will be trained where to ‘on coverage, and QBs will be trained to provide the specific types of 10 maximise their R.A.C. gains the yards gained in the passit g0 after the catch b throws that enables thiBy and large, the ways in which we communicate and use our terminology in the passing game is discussed within the individual “series” introductions, In the most general sense, we have five basic types of “series,” each of which have their own nuances of communication: 1. The “Quick” series passing game, or “90-190” Series. This particular series has its own set of route packages, unique to this group of passes. Our 90-190 passes ave thrown off a quick rhythm, two- or three-step action, and are the highest percentage plays we have in our offense. 2. The “Drop back” series, encompassing $0-150, 60-160, 70-170, drop protections, and 80-180, 30-130 rollout protections. This series will make use of a set of route packages known as the “Read routes,” any of which have the potential to be married with any of these protections. 3. The “Bootleg” series, in which a running play is faked to one side, and the quarterback ralls or “boots” back to the opposite side. ‘The BOOT series has its own “default” set of route rules that are used, but can also be tagged (o make use of the “Read route” packages noted above. 4. The “Play Action” series, which includes both the BACKSIDE & FRONTSIDE actionsIn both of these actions/protections, the quarterback executes a play action fake and sets up on the same side as the fake. Thi of the “Read route” packages, depending on them en has a default rule like the BOOTS. series also makes use ly as neither action The “Screen” series. Any sereen we call will be assigned a name with cone for the right side version of it, one for the left. Despite the diversity of these five series, there are some basic rules of communication that hold up throughout all of then 1, Assignments are designated by RELATIVE POSITION WITHIN THE FORMATION, NOL by position. In other words, we “number” our receivers in each formation, from the outside in on either side, So the outside most receiver on the frontside is the “Frontside #1,” the next guy inside him is “Frontside 42,", and so on. On the “backside,” or side away from the call, the outside most receiver is “Backside #1,” the next inside him, “Backside #2,” etc Basic Definitions & CommunicationOne of the key building blocks of our pass offense is a set of route packages we eall our “Read Routes.” These routes arc nearly universal in that they can and will be applied to numerous pass actions: 50,60, and 70 drop back; 80 half-rol or sprint out; 200 bootleg, and 300-400 play action Communication systems for the 200, 300, and 400 series are detailed in those specific sections; when using read routes with 50, 60, 70, or 80, protections, however, we have a simple formula for commanicat- ing the play, similar to the 90 series: 7 | Z Hinge JL ae Route tag, modifies ‘one or more players within basic route Protection modifier Indicates frontside: Indicates protection Indicates which route e.g.,"Check" call if "1", to the left, beingused, package is being used: ifnone, right. e.g. 60 e.g. the 2 package protection ‘Choice" The first digit, if there is one, tells receivers which side is the frontside. If there is no first digit and we have a two-digit call, the frontside is to the right. If the first digit is “1”, the frontside is to the left. ‘The second digit is indicative of the protection series: tells us that we're in 50, 5 man or “Hoi” protection, '6” indicates 60, or 6 man turnback protection, 7” is 70, or “Cup” 7 man protection, and '8” means we're using 80, or half-roll. “Reach and hinge” protection. The third digit tells us which “route package" is being called. Our basic route packages are numbered and named as follows 1 Route: “Drag” 2 Route: “Post-S 3 Routes “Curl” 4 Route: “Mesh” “Flood” 6 Route: “Smash” “Choice” 8 Route: “Tube” 9 Route: “Verticals”EEVe a gig8n Ota WRONG- TIMING THE SAME, ROUTES OPEN UP AT THE SAME TIME, QB WILL BE LATE BKSIDE BETTER- TIMING DIFFERS FRONT TO BACK BKSIDE BEGINS TO OPEN AFTER FRONTSIDEALL (ZIMING) QB can only throw to one 1" with correct read/timing not come back late have recovered SPEED oN OUT | —- (VISION) Oo QB reading right, coi way for the QB to see & does not enter his vision read w/timing is to pick a side Cc F $ Cc. ALL 5S s+ wom ss 7 WITCH L [eee f | (TIMING) SQEOnoo _ QB will be late to backside routes break in identical QB can only read one side in the correct timing Routes that break with the same timing or out of the QB's vi- sion can create problems for the QB.er Te Backside Tags & Rules The use of Backside tags allows us to "mix and match" combinations of frontside and backside routes, changing the jobs of the receivers away from the call without affecting the players to the call. Ona allows us to present an infinite number of looks to defenses with effectively very little ly, these backside tags can be used to help us enhance the play in a cosmetic level, i teaching. Much more importa number of ways, some of whiel a. Provide an outlet structure that most naturally fits what's being done on the frontside. b. Create specific leverage that helps the frontside route. c. Be used to beat a specific coverage that the frontside route might not handle as well. ams and descriptions of the backside tags we will use follow. ACKSIDE TAGS SU TABLE BACKSIDE TAG BACKSIDE #1 BACKSIDE #2 BACKSIDE #3 Basie Default Rule POST/DIG READ WHIRL READ OPTION Clear MUST DIG CLEAR OPTION Under POST/DIG READ UNDER OPTION Line UNDER POST/DIG READ ----- MUST POST ALLEY oe Frisco War SMASH READ SEAM Panther OPTION SWING/BUBBLE, Option POST/DIG READ OPTION Sink OPTION WHIRL Hook CIRCLE DONUT UNE PLANT Strike BSSDLREAD HASH GO READ. -------- Pole SKINNY POST ADJUSTED SPLIT OPTION Over POST ALLEY UNDERBACKSIDE TAGS POST-DIG READ- "PIG" "LINE" Poe M LINE" #2: rosie reap. QB: as Post SMASH. WHIP"BACKSIDE TAGS "CASH" WHIP" a> @ "DONUT" A diferent way to get (othe hole behind ee eee < cono Oo fag used to quickly attack defenses that leave only ovr backside of blitz and play oooooPia gaekodaaya The"B" Backside Tag The "B" tag is a very specific type of Backside tag that expands our capabilities in creating combinations away from our call side. In short, the "B" tag enables us to take any combination of routes that we normally use on the frontside and apply them to our backside receivers, furthe enabling us to "mix and match" route combinations on either side of the ball, giving us ally unlimited toolbox full of ways that we can construct the best possible route package for any given situation, Short for "Backside," "B", followed by the name of one of our conventional route combinations, tells the backside receivers that they take on the assignments of that route pack- age. ers runi For example, "91 'B Slant’, literally means "91, with the backside r ing a Slant combination" In this example, then, we would get a Hitch and a Seam on the right , or frontside, and a Slant and Shoot on the left, or "B" side. "166 B Hook" would give us the 6 route Smash combination to the left, or front side, while the receivers on the backside would know to run a "Hook" combination, which is defined as #1 Hooking and #2 running a Flat. This is a very potent and multiple tool that we have at our disposal, and will begin employing very carly on o insure that we have answers to anything the defense can show us, and to give our quarterback a multiple number of options.THIS SIDE GOOD MAN ROUTE THIS SIDE ion ZONE-ZONE COVER2 ZONE ROUTE | COVER3 ZONE ROUTE THIS SIDE [ Goop ZONE ROUTE THIS SIDE QB reads zone or man coverage and throws route on zone or man sideROUTE vs SOFT | ROUTE vs HARD CB TECHNIQUE | CB TECHNIQUE GOOD ROUTE IF LB SHIFTED RIGHT GOOD ROUTE IF LB SHIFTED LEFT Oooo oO QB reads under coverage and chooses best side (LB stide opens lane)Backside Frontside 1: SWING. Lose a bit of ground and get width quickly, beginning to tum up as you get to the original width of the outside receiver or the numbers. Ball should not be caught deeper than 2-3 yards down field, After the catch, "Get the sideline," beat one defender at a time, 2: FLAT. Release outside the end and aim for a spot 4-6 yards deep on the sideline. Your angle will depend on coverage and field width; vs. man or into a short field, you must get more vertical push than if to the wide field of against a zone. Snap your head around with hands ready to catch the ball 3: FLY, Release wide & gain depth very quickly up the sideline, Look for ball over your inside shoulder |] 4: SPIKE. Angle sharply for width fo a point 4-6 yards deep on the middle of the numbers, plant your outside | foot & snap your head back inside, working to yet inside the flat coverage once you've tured, |] s: our, Release ouside, straighten & dive inside atthe inside LB to tur his hips. At $6 yards, shoulder nod inside, plant on inside foot, and break FLAT outside, gaining no depth. Snap head around & be ready for he ball 6: HANG. Take the best release inside or outside the end, and seek a zone hole either inside or outside the outside most LB to your side, somewhere in the tackle-TE area, Vs. man, stick inside & break out at 4 7: TRAIL. Release ouside the end and rail” #2, using the same route he used, 8: ARROW. Sell tho Flat route hard, challenge the flat defender, then spin underneath inside at about 4-5 yards. Depending on your lane, you may be able to gain depth coming inside. Vs. zone, settle in a void. 9: ANGLE. Release outside the end, nod outside at about 4-5, plant & angle back into a void left by an inside LB ceither dropping or blitzing, You must get to your spot quickly. Vs. man, give a more forceful nod, 10: SNEAK. Release patiently between your guard & tackle, then "Sneak" underneath LBs to the frontside, Vs. ‘man, accelerate away to lose your LLB; against zones, look for a void to settle in once in the QB's vision UM: CHECK-THRU, or "THRU." Release between guard & tackle or guard & center, and look for a hole |] between the center and tight end on the Giontside. If a LB plays you man, nod & break outside at 4 12, SLIP. Take quickest release through the line, avoid contact from LBs and look to split safeties deep. If you're engaged in man, nod outside and gain inside leverage, then accelerate away HI13, CHASE. Exact same technique as "Sneak" except you're now working, from the froutside to the backside,aa 10 ACKSIDE: "DEFAULT" backside #1 Post if FS vacates middle, Dig stays. #2 Push deep read CB at 14. e. If he drops find hook in open lane, "throw rec. open" ROUTE: 53 UNDER-AWAY [ROUTE: 53 ANG 2 ° oogoo 3 ° c0Roo, ° 3 ¢ ° Qt _- : LJ [ROUTE: 63 BSHORT ‘| (ROUTE: 63 B QK SMASH -y = { LL coe = L § c0goo 3 voWHIRL 4 Oo oonoo 9 5 BACKSIDE: "DEFAULI" back 2 oo eS FRONTSIDE: QB Reads flat defender. #1 Post if FS vacates middle, Dig if FS a eens stays. #2 Push deep read CB at 14. drops find hitch or if press cover~ ROUTE: 66UNDER ‘| ROUTE: _ 66 LINE F eo- i a f © cagoo 6 oT oogoo 6 Q co L oogoo [ROUTES “66 ALLEY Tiles E: 66 FRISCO | St1 Route- "Drag" wre, £ POST u Le DIG =< . Uf 23 IS conoo 6 3 oO @ t FRONTSIDE: QB Reads backside LB, If he ha g route. Ifhe drops find drs BACKSIDE: backside #1 must Dig #2 Push deep read CB at 14 on Whirl 51 UNDER ROUTE: Zo \ IF oe SO 0 eogoo ° 6 ee =STRUCTURAL TAGS Page 1 TRADE” nally assigned 10 kage #2: Run the route normall assigned to #1 in the rout c. | : ° oonoo oO EXAMPLE Twist" #1 and #2 use a “crossed!” release a point 45 yards, original alignmen heother playe -aiming for he other's the routeof a: Rede ‘a point 4-5 yards deep over #2 sition; run the rovte normally assigned #2 in the rackage. point 4-5 yards al position: ron the oonoo #1 and #2 used erossed rs n notmal assignment original position; run the nally assigned x | OoooOooé e (eacksioe Oonoo oonoo oonoo0 STRUCTURAL TAGS O° erowrsive) #1 and #3 use a “crossed” release, aiming a point 4-5 yards deep aver the other original al te the route of, ment, then exe #1: Rel route normally assig route pac se toa point 4-5 yards deep il position: nin the ed #3 in the #3: Release 10a point 4-5 yards deep over #1's original position; run the route normally assigned #1 in the "SWAP" The #1 receiver from the backside and the #1 receiver from the froutside "Swap" their route responsibilities. Used (o maximize Rum the ronte n the backside #1 re package, mally assigned to in the route Run the route normally assigned to the froniside #1 in the route pack- age EXAMPLE: 1 (DRAG) SWAP "copy" We get a "COPY" of the frontside route, because this tag tells all backside receivers 10 take on the responsibility of their frontside counterpart. Allows QB to pick from identi- cal sides based on field width & matchups BS Run the same route assigned to the #1: frontside #1 receiver in the route package. BS Rum the same route assigned to the #2; frontside #2 in the package EXAMPLE: 6 COPY ( DBL SMASH)oO ooyoo £0 g oO TSS TRADE. 2c ue 65 WRAP 6 TWIST O° oonoo @ Oo oonoo fe) Oo __ 65 INSIDIAPPENDIX E Scramble Rules Related to the Quick Passing Game cramble rules" accomplish two specific things for us in our of- fense: first, it enables us to stay out of bad plays, creating a longer, legitimate opportunity for our quarterback tofind a viable place to throw the ball and make yardage. Secondly, and out of that, understanding where to go on a scramble opens up big plays for us, because cover- age responsibilities and anglesoften break down late in the play. Scramble rules are dependent on where a receiver is at the time the scramble begins; fundamentally, whether he's ON the side to which the QB is scrambling or AWAY from it, and also the depth and proximity to the scramble side sideline he's on. We divide the field into a “grid,” with each square on the grid representing one of these relative posi- tions, and each square having a rule @s to where to go next as the scramble unfolds. If the scramble happens long enough that you move into a different area with a different rule that reroutes you, you may ex- ecute more than one different turn or scramble route. There are general principles that should be kept in mind on any scramble, summarized by the following: 1, Outside of a few select spots on the field, work TOWARD the quarterback. Constantly work to get in his vision and make yourself available to him 2. Ifyou're coming from the "Away" side towardthe QB, STAY ON YOUR LEVEL; in other words, don't drift to different depths, 3. The addendum to rule #2 is this: if someone ahead of you is on your level, MOVE UP TO THE NEXT LEVEL on the arid 4, When crossing, use Drag Principle rules, but only once you're in the QB's vision. In other words, cut the throttle to stay open once you're in an open void, but anly if you're in a place where the quarterback can see you. 5. Quarterbacks must keep some basic rules in mind from other parts of the passing game which include: a. Throw BETWEEN people in clearly open lanes, notDIAGRAM Es 97-487 “SHORT” PACKAGE SCRAMBLE COURSES o0R00 OG R — oN ‘Scrampte right DIAGRAM ES 99-199 “FADE/OUT" PACKAGE SCRAMBLE COURSESTHOUGHTS ABOUT DEALING WITH THE BLITZ VS THE PASSING GAME 1. * RECOGNIZE BEFORE THE SNAP * HAPPENS AFTER THE SNAP 2. JST -THOUGHT PROCESS * RECOGNIZE IT * PROTECT IT * ATTACK IT 3. 4, YET SIMPLE AND CONSISTENT 5. °) PRINCIPLE & PACKAGE 6. TO PROVIDE ANSWERS| PHILOSOPHY: Force to pass defend with 5, 6 in the box Y z Key FS- Check protection! F ® bi cheek = c c mo) M os ET TE Cc ————_—_ 00000 z Boe’ S Oo oofoo O° ° H Y Of eeeQB THOUGHT PROCESS TED 1. a 2? = PROTE 2. RECEIVER 8 ---CHOICE OF ATTACK 3. 7 * PROTECT & CHECK QUICK * PROTECT & CHECK DEEP * GAN -STAY WITH PACKAGED CALL hl -CHECK TO PACKAGED CALL 4. i: WHO CAN BLITZ? ANTICIPATE 5. ZA : WHERE IS MY ANSWER TO BLITZ ?—— QB THOUGHT PROCESS FREE SAFETY UNCOVEREDUNCOVERED PRINCIPLE (COVERED DOWN) Cover 3 or 1 Free Cover 2 or 4UNCOVERED RECEIVER le raaiea oo Ne E eT N E ~ 7 "x" call Check to trips slant 183) | _ Gamble | wn c go yy eo ee (= Ss -7t el SX a) ° Gamble because 97 has blitz beater built inBASIC PROTECTION aaLLLRO Seyi [S DEFENDERS). 5 DEFENDERS | F | SINTHEBOX | Cc Cc 8 6 IN THE $ BOX SC 5 OOO 4 0 os 7 BLOCK WITH SIX "FLEX" FORMATION 4 DEFENDERS: 7 IN THE IEBOX | “7 IN THE BOX 7 SonooE. o— gC —e ° 'H" Call CALLIN A BLOCKER oO BLITZ ON THE MOVE Cc 6 IN THE e [ Seon | pee aes SIGHT ADJUST BLITZ CHECK IF RECOGNIZED CRASH CALLBLITZ: [Beet SaICes np) Reel _ MOTION IN-BLOCKER _ c F (Wim sg TO OTE Oo Hoo Oo O° Cc F w Mos ~$ E\T TE SC 9 = BOfoO Oo ~“35N Cc Ww Mis} F $ ET TE ° 2809 9 0Danan hy Tog4 (Short-Smash-Slant) (Y CALL) CHECK 197 SHORT-99 SLANT (“SMITH”) CHECK “166 FRISCO”-99 SLANTOna) Protect-Ck Deep (Cobra- Pop) (“BILL”) CHECK “POP” (69 “VIPER”)(“SMITH”) CHECK “166 FRISCO”-93 SLANTcw \ ET TE POE RS (X CALL) CHECK “69 COBRA-SPLIT” ee MES ET TE -~-000N00 oO x a oe (X CALL) CHECK 68 “COP”SIGHT ADJUSTMENTSIGHT ADJUSTMENTras 14 CHEC CK or SIGH: ey USTMENT "Check 97" ye Wee fe e———, 00 oo | @ "X call" calls in blocker fe "Motion call" gets motion blocker to backside "Short" as blitz check offers several chances for big play plus more than one way to get an extra blocker to be fully protected "Sight Adjustment" “Short” can be used as automatic “for unrecognized or surprise blitzes, not very good vs "Zone Blitz" (use out routes)QB & WR Drills for the Multiple Pro Offense Dan Robinson Northwestern High School . 765-457-8101 x 2606 "765-457-1740 (H) Dan.Robinson@nwsc.k12.in.us FCPGA Clinic 2004CHECKLIST QB DRILLS [ WARMUP DRILL ACTION-REACTION FEET PARALLEL Y WRONG FOOT GLOBE-TROTTER ACROSS BODY. WRIST ROL! OPPOSITE BODY HIGH ELBOW PUSH PULL. OPPOSITE KNEE DOWN RUN MECHANICS HANDOFFS PIVOT DRILI OPTION PITCH DRILL OPTION READ DRILL. TON 7 ARC DRILL NO BALL DRILL SPE DRILLS fy ROUTES VS AIR FADE DRILL 2.Q8 DRILL OPTION DRILL 3.08 DRILL WHIP DRILL LAST 3 STEPS ARROW DRILL TON I SHADOW SNAKE DRILL 20N2 ADE /CMBK ADI. GOAL LINE ROUT. SCREEN DRILL HITCH /FADE ADJUSTMENT DUMP DRILL [EEADERSHIP DRILLS i SITUATION DRILL 2 MINUTE DRILL PROWLING COVE QUICK AUDIBLE DRILL CHECK W/ME (RT-LF) FRONT AUDIBLE DRILL (IN-OUT) GAME PLAN CHECKOFE DRILL SAFETY CALL DRILL-CRASHL THROWING MECHANICS jag : La | a MINIATURE DROP DEEP BALL, GOAL POST SNAP TIRE THROW DROPS DRI CRAMBLE BOOGIE BOMB DRILL POP UP. LINE SPRINT OUT TRAJECTORY CONE SPRINT OUT TRAJECTORY POP UP BOUNCE TO THROW AROUND CLOCK POP UP FORWARD-BACK, COUNTERING THE RUSH TE ARMY. QUICK RELEASE VACANT LANE STEP UP, RUSH + DISTRACTION RUSH + GRAB TARKINGTON HOT-LB WARM CRASH. NT READ HORIZONTAL READ (1-2) VERTICAL READ (1-2) STRONG k UE READ (1-2) WEAK READ UNCOVERED READ FONT 4.0N3READ 2.ON 1 READ (RT-RUSH) 3 ON 2 READ (RT-RUSH) BACKS CROSS READA QQ 4DRILL NAME:PURPOSE: TO DEVELOP CONCENTRATION ON TARGET OR READ WHILE BEING. HELPS TRAIN QB TO KEEP F FORWARD. R R 1 2 1 (STEP-UP W/ POP-UP TRAJECTORY) f (QB TAKES SNAP FROM SNAPPER AND EXECUTES GIVEN DROP WITH EYES DOWNFIELD 3 RUSH MEN ALIGN VI YOUNG QB) RUSH MEN ALTERNATE RIGHT SIDE, EET SIDE, RIGHT SIDE OF QR MISSING HIM BY A YARD 102 FEET . RUSH MEN HAVE HANDS UP AND ARB YELLING, ETC. AS QB ADVANCES RUSH MEN CAN BRUSH THIGH PADS DOWN LOW AND FINALLY GRAB BEHIND QB. JERSEY LOW AND TUG OR PULL (QB SHUFFLES UP THROUGH RUSH, CONCENTRA’ THROWS WHEN HAS CLEAR LANE TO TARGET ‘TICALLY AND RUS 1. ON THIRD STEP (LAST STEP FOR ON TARGET OR READ AND (QB MUST CONCENTRATE ON TARGET OR READ, QB MUSTNOT LOOK AT RUSH BU} EI. RUSH AND SHUFFLE THROUGH IT RLLET A RUSH MAN GRAB QB ARM WHILE THROWING SED WITH ANY THROWING, TRAJECTORY, OR READ DRILL BEHIND IT ‘RRIVES IN OPEN AIR HE MUST STILL STEP TO TARGET TO DELIVER BAL)ACH QB TO STEP TO OPEN LANE IN POCKET IN ORDER TO AVOID RUSH. ‘0 DEVELOP QB FEEL OF THROWING WHIL URE. (VACANT LANE W/POP-UP) PROCEDUR i QB TAKES SNAP FROM SNAPPER WITH 4 RUSH MEN SIMULATING TWO DT AND ‘TWO DE (CAN USE INJURED PLAYERS, MGR, OR RECEIVERS). COACH INDICATES WHICH RUSH LANE WILL NOT BE FILLED (INSIDE OR OUTSIDE, RAL) QB EXECUTES DROP WITH EYES ON TARGET, WHICH CAN BE ANY OF SEVERAL THROWING OR READ DRILLS. '. RUSH MEN IN 3 LANES WAIT UNTIL THIRD STEP (LAST STEP FOR YOUNG QB) OF QB DROP TO RUSH WITH HANDS UP. QB FEELS RUSH AND MOVES TO VACANT LANE TO THROW FOOTBALL. CAN TELL RUSH MEN TO YELL AND CALL QB NAME TO DISTRACT QB, OR CAN TELL INSIDE RUSH MEN TO BRUSH QB BELOW HIPS, OR TO GRAB QB JERSEY FROM BEHIND AND RESTRICT HIS MOVEMENT (DISTRACTION.....GRAB QB) RUSH MEN CAN COACH QB TO FEE HIT QB ARMI! GRAB LOW AND BRUSH THIGH PADS VACANT RUSH LANE, NOT LOOK AT RUSHERS TO FIND IT .. DRILLS BEHIND VACANT LANE CAN BECOME MORE COMPLEX AS QB MATURES ALL QB READ DRILLS CAN BE USED WITH VACNT LANE, ALSO MANY OF THE THROWING TRAJECTORY DRILLS QB MUST MOVE WITH BACK FOOT FIRSTaE DRILL NAME: nor ie. warm re ] USED TO TEACH OB "HOT 'S TO DEFEAT BLITZING LB, AND TO ‘TEACH "WARM" PRINCIPL S TO DEFEAT MAN COVER DURING Bi LBA\ 4S ( — UO tt “7 RY, ; / PROCEDURE i Qe ¢Y z RB F (HOT LB) (WARM RB) SET UP INSIDE LINEBACKER AND TIGHT END OR INSIDE RECEIVER IN PROPER ALIGNMENT ON SPACING DIVIDER OR CONES IDE RELEASE THROUGH "HOT AREA" READING LB. NAP READING LB FOR BLITZ, IF LB COMES QB DELIVERS BALL TO "HOT" RECEIVER, PULLING UP AND. THROWING IMMEDIATELY MAY ADD RE WARM DRILL ADDS RB TO FLAT WITH STRONG SAFETY IN ZONE OR MAN ON TE OR RB IF LB BLITZ, AND STRONG SAFETY JUMPS MAN ONT AND LOOKS FOR BALL QUICKLY THEN RB IS "WARM" QB MUST GET BALL OVER LB WITHOUT BEING TIPPED IF THROWING TO BACK QB MUST RESET AND STEP TO BACK TO MAKE THROW CAN ADD DE HOLDING UP TE FORCING HIM TO USE GOOD RELEASE MOVES CAN BE INCORPORATED INTO MANY ROUTES WITH 4 ON 3 OR 3 ON 2 READ DRILLSDRILL NAME: sarery *crasn’ PURPO. ‘TO TEACH QB AND RECEIV AND TO SIGHT ADJUST ROU STO IDENTIFY CRASHING DEFENSIVE BACKS. 5. OFFENSIVE PLAYERS ALIGN IN FORMATION CALLED AT LINE DEFENSE IS ALIGNED INCOVER | FREE COACH INDICATES DEFENSIVE BACK TO BLITZ INDICATED BACK CHEATS TO LINE OF SCRIMMAGE WITH FREE SAFETY PROWLING TO COVER HIS MAN 5. RECEIVER WHO HAS DEFENDER BLITZING IDENTIFIES "CRACH”. QB SHOULD. ALSO CALL "CRASH" AND IDENTIFY A SIDE FOR RB TO BLOC} 6. RECEIVER RUNS AUTOMATIC UNCOVERED ROUTE ADIUSTMENT IF NOT COVERED, OR IF TIGHT MAN CAN *Y" CALL, SIGHT ADJUST TO SLANT OR FADE ROUTE. ‘COACHING POINTS: 1, WITH YOUNG QB FIRST ALLOW RECEIVER TO UNCOVER WITH FS PLAYING TOO DEEP. 2. AS. QB MATURES FS CAN PLAY TIGHTER AND QB CAN WORK TO AUDIBLE TO Y CALL OR SLANT OR FADE 3. QB SHOULD IDENTIFY LOCATI IN OF BLITZ FOR RB TO BLOCKPURPOSE i DRILL NAMEcoverace ALIGNMENT READ DRILL [J | COVERAG TO TEACH RECEIVERS AND BACKS 70 READ COVERAGE ALIGNMENT, OR ‘ON THE MOVE. ‘TO TEACH DEFENSIVE PLAYERS THE PROI ALIGNMENT TO VARIOUS FORMATIONS WHILE IN COVERAGE, t 4 Ss Ss ot B B B ee PROCEDURE i COACHING POINTS: i BOTH OFFENSE AND DEFENSE HUDDLE, MAKING iB CALLS. OFFENSE CALLS IMATION TO ALIGN IN AND DEFENSE CALLS COVERAGE TO ALIGN IN (SE BREAKS HUDDLE AND ALIGNS AT LINE, DEFENSE ASSUMES PROPER DEFENSIVE ALIGNMENT FOR COVERAGE CALLED IN RELATION TO FORMATION SHOWN BY OFFENSE QB CALLS "DOWN" AND DEFENSE MUST BE IN POSITION TO PROPERLY PLAY Covi |. COACH CALLS OUT PLAYER TO IDENTIFY COVERAGE BEING PLAYED BY DEFENSE CAN USE TWO OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE HUDDLE CAN ALSO RUN SAME DRILL BACK TO BACK FOR REPS WITH TWO GROUPS DEFENSIVE COACH WILL NOT HAVE TIME TO DISGUISE COVER, CA\ ALLOW OFFENSE TO RUN 5 YARDS DOWNFIELD AND BLOW WHISTLE ASK FOR COVERAGE IDENTIFICATION IF DEFENSE iS DISGUISING COVERAGE OR PROWLING TO COVERAG! DRILL IS FOR BOTH SIDES SO BOTH COACHES ARE COACHING THEIR PLAYERS:HORIZONTAL READ (1 PURPOSE: i TO TEACH TE ONE DEFENDER R Re peer? iy —_—D i 7 ‘ v Vv voroey ae \ ‘ 7 c / f PROCEDURI { “ {HORIZONTAL 2-MEN W/VACANT LANE) ALIGN TWO RE BACK ANDC, VERS ABOUT 15 YARDS APART (CAN WIDEN IF QB FARTHER TIGHTEN IF QB CLOSER) SET ONE DEFENDER OR TWO IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RECEIVERS MAKE SURE IF USING TWO THAT THE SECOND IS IN FRONT OF THE RECED SO HE WILL NOT RUN INTO THEM WHEN HE BREAKS WHEN THE QB HITS THE LAST STEP OF HIS DROP THE FRONT MAN BREAKS rT OR LEFT SECOND DEFENDER DOES NOT KNOW WHICH WAY ONT MAN WILL GO. ONCE HE SEES WHICH WAY THE FRONT MAN GOES i: BREAKS OPPOSITE, RONT DEFENDER. WHEN THE FRONT DEFENDER BREAKS THE QB THROWS TO ‘THE OUTSIDE SHOULDER OF THE OTHER RECEIVER ATTEMPTING TO GET THE RECEIVER BEFORE THE DEFENDER ARRIVES TO KNOCK iT DOWN. RECEIVER CATCHES BALL, TUCKS, AND TURNS UPFIELD. DO NOT ALLOW DEFENDERS TO RUN INTO RECEIVERS MAKE SURE DEFENDERS BREAK ON LAST STEP OF QB CAN USE WITH ANY RUSH DRILL IN FRONT FOR ADVANCED QB START TRAINING WITH ONE DEFENDER BREAKING. COACH QB TO THROW AWAY FROM DEFENDER TO RECEIVERS SHOULDER ON FAR SIDE (THROW AWAY FROM PRESSURE) START QB AT SHORT DISTANCES WITH RECEIVERS SPREAD FAR APART. COACH QB TO NOT OVER-THROW, FIRM CONFIDENT THROWS ARE BETTER THAN VELOCITYPURPOSE i DRILL NAME. verticat reap (1-2 MEN) ONE DEFENDE! TO TEACH THE QB THE PRINCIPLES OF THROWING OFF THE MOVEMENT OF Vv us ‘ R ‘COACHING POIN’ J (VERTICAL 1 MAN W/STEP UP) T UP TWO RECEIVERS ON HASH WITH 1 OR 2 DEFENDERS SPA‘ MAKE SURE DEFENDER(S) ARE CLOSER TO THE BOTTOM MAN AND. FARTHER FROM THE TOP MAN BECAUSE THE BALL IS IN THE AIR LONGER TO THE TOP MAN QB EXECUTES DROP KEEPING EYES ON FRONT MAN. WHEN HE BREAKS ‘THROW OPPOSITE HIS MOVEMENT 10 THE OTHER RE x WHEN QB HITS HIS LAST STEP, FRONT DEFENDER BREAKS, RECEIVER. IF USING 2 DEFENDERS, OTHER DEFENDER BREAKS OPPOSITE, MAY BE USED WITH A RUSH DRILL IN FRONT TO CREATE MORE ADVANCED, SITUATIONS. BETWEEN DEFENDERS BREAK IN FRONT OF RECEIV JER QB HAS TO THROW THE FARTHER APARTR '§ TO PREVENT COLLISIONS CEIVERS MUST BETO DR BALL IN AIR COACH THAT DIFFERENT TYPE PASSES HAVE DIFFERENT VELOSCITY AND TRAJECTOR COACH THAT THE AIMING POINT FOR THE QB IS SHOULDER AWAY FROMPURPO! J TO TEACH QB TO READ ANI DRILL NAME: optique reap DRILL 0-2 MEN) | THROW OFF T MOVEMENT OF ONE DEFENDER R DD. fe - “7 - COA ING POINTS: Q = = ig (OBLIQUE READ W/ TWO DEFENDERS) 1. ALIGN TWO RECEIVERS AT AN OBLIQUE ANGLE ABOUT 15 YARDS APART 2. BEST POSITION FOR ALIGNMENT ARE DEEP MIDDLE CURL AREA AT ABOUT 14 YARDS AND DIRE AND FLAT OR HOOK AREA (HOOK TO CURL AREA AT I2 YDS WITH FLAT IS ALSO GOOD ) 3. POSITION ONE OR TWO DEFENDERS CLOSER TO UP MAN THAN FARTHER. RECEIVER 4. WHEN OB HITS LAST STEP OF DROP FRONT DEFENDER BREAKS TOWARD ONE RECEIVER. OTHER DEFENDER READS BREAKS AND GOES OPPOSITE. 5. QB DROPS READING FRONT DEFENDER AND THROWS OPPO! E 6: CANUSE ANY RUSH DRILL IN FRONT OF QB TO GIVE MORE REALISTIC LOOK 1, MUST COACH THAT EACH THROW IS DIFFERENT. QB MUST USE PROPER TRAJECTORY AND ARC 2. QB MUST STEP TO TARGET AND FINISH THROW. DO NOT GET CAUGHT ‘THROWING ONE WAY, BUT STEPPING TOWARD OTHER RECEIVERDRILL NAME UNCOVERED READ DRILL ACH QB AND REC! TENSIVE ALIGN SMENT AND TO EXPLOIT IT WITH THE AUTOMATIC f Ss PROCEDU 1. ALIGN OFFENSIVE FORMATION TO BE WORKED ON AT LINE, OR CALL, FORMATION CALL IN HUDDLE, BREAK AND ALIGN IEFENDER OUT OF CORRECT 2, DEFENSE ALIGNS WITH COACH SIGNALING OD POSIT ‘AD OF DEFENSIVE ALIGNMENT AND EASE AND AUTOMATIC PASS ™ 5 1, RECEIVERS MUSTRI 2. QB CAN CALL "UN" TO ALERT RECEIVERS HE RECOGN! SITUATION, CALL ALSO CALL RECEIVER HE RECOGNIZES 3. RECEIVERS NOT UNCOVERED Rl AND SECOND AND THIRD QB CAN MAKE DEEP THROW. RECEIVERS MUST DRAW DEFENDER AWAY FROM UNCOVERED RECEIVER,COACHING Pt i |. RECEIVER RUNS SLANT, IF WORK TWO GROUPS AT THE SAME TIM ALIGN RECEIVER SPLIT WIDE WITH DEFI RUNNING BACK ALIGNS IN BACKFIELD [AKES SNAP FROM SNAPPER. QB SETS RB IN MOTION CALLING SNAP HOULDER OF RECEIVER 'R RECEIVER OR BACK TO COVER COVERED PROBABLY WILL NOT GET BALL, 5 OR TURNS UPFIELD, IF COVERED. WITH EYES ON READ (3 STEP). THROW OPPOSITE DEFENDERS MOVEMENT ONE RIGHT, ONELFT NDER ALIGNED ON HIM . FOR ADVANCED QB DEFENDER CAN TRY TO FOOL WITH HESITATION, ETC IN MOTION MUST STAY LEVEL AND RUN UNDER CONTROL SO HE CAN SIT OR TURN UP WITH CONTROL SLANT MUST NOT REMAIN LOW IN LB COVER AREA, TAKE SLANT QUICKLY (QB LEAD SLANT UPFIELD, LEAD RB TURNING UP WITH ARC, AND THROW TO UPFIELD NUMBER ON SIT ROUTE BY RB CAN ADD SECOND DEFENDER IN ZONE OR MAN FOR EXPERIENCED QB ELDDRILL NAME: 2 oni reap DRILL —————_ ‘TO TEACH QB TO READ THE MOVEMENT OF HIS KI OFF THAT MOVEMENT, EACH PASS HAS A KEY F Y DEFENDER AND THROW D THAT CAN BE SET UP. 'e \ PROCEDURE: COACHING i \ (2 ON 1 DRAG READ) UPTWORI STEPS OF THEIR ROUTE POSITION THE "KEY" DEFENDER YOU WISH TO READ IN THE PROPER POSITIONING WITH RESPECT TO THE RECEIVERS EACH PASS HAS A KEY, POSSIBLY A LINEBACKER OR STRONG SAFETY QB TAKES SNAP FROM SNAPPER EXECUTING DROP WITH BYES ON KEY WHEN QB HITS LAST STEP RECEIVERS FINISH ROUTE WITH DEFENDER PICKING ONE TO COVER (QB THROWS OPPOSITE MOVEMENT OF DEI ENDER QB MUST STEP TO THROW AND FINISH HIS JOB WI EACH TYPE OF PASS MUST BE THROWN DIFFERENTLY, WITH CORRECT VELOCITY AND TRAJECTORY ‘ANY RUSH DRILL MAY BE INCORPORATED IN FRONT ‘AS QB MATURES, DEFENDER CAN TRY TO FOOL QB WITH FAKES. (QB MUST RESET BEET AND RELOAD IF FOOLED BY DEFENDER A GOOD THROW, icDRILL NAME: 3o0n2REAp parm PURPOS) i TO TEACH QB TO REACT’TO SECONDARY KEYS THAT CAN AFFECT HIS DECISION TO THROW AFTER READING HIS MOVEMENT KEY. ALSO CAN BE USED TO REINFORCE PROGRESSION READS ‘COACHING POINTS: i ECEIVERS ON LAST THREE ST r KEY AND NEXT NEAREST DI PS OF ROUTE DER BETWEEN 0 COVER ENDERS TO PICK ONE OF NEAREST TWO RECEIVERS 1 NOT LET DEFENDERS KNOW WHO EACH OTHER IS COVERING. QB TAKES SNAP EXECUTING DROP READING KEY DEFENDER FOR ROUTE WHEN OB HITS LAST STEP RECEIVERS AND DEFENDERS MOVE QB THROWS OPF ‘EY AND READJUSTS IF SECOND DEFENDER HAS COVERED THAT RECEIVER, 8, CAN USE ANY RUSH DRILL IN CONJUNCTION WITH THIS DRILL COACH QB TO SEE ENTIRE FIELD WITH HIS KEY. WHEN HE FEELS OPEN SPACE HE MUST KNOW WHERE MAN THAT CAN COME UNDER AND INTERCEPT IS COMIN FROM 2. COACH QB TO THROW AWAY FROM Di SPO" 3. EVERY ROUTE HAS A 3 0N 2 THAT CAN BE SET UP USING KI DEFENDER NDERS PRESSURE, KEEPING BALL IN SAE EY AND NEARESTPURPOSE TO TEACH QB TO READ THE MESH IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD THAT OCCURS WHEN BACKS CROSS UNDER LINEBACKERS PROCEDI ih 1 o f ‘ £ 7 1. QB TAKES SNAP FROM SNAPPER EXECUTING 5 STEP DROP. 2. SET UP "Y" RECEIVER AT 12 YARD DEPTH FACI QB SET UP2 BACKS OR RECEIVERS AT 5 YARD DEPTH FACING SIDELINES WITH? DEFENDERS DIRECTLY BEHIND. TEP ALL 3 RECEIVERS MOVE. THE TWO DEFENDERS ARE 4, WHEN QB HITS LA INSTRUCTED TO EITHER COVER YOUR BACK TO THR SIDELINE, OR DROP TO THE "Y" HOOKING BEHIND QB READS THE MESH AREA DOWN MIDDLE OF FIELD FEELING OPEN RECEIVI POP” OPEN KKE SURE QB LOOKS DOWN MIDDLE ATTEMPTING TO TAKE IN FULL IN ONE GLANC BO NOT LI NDERS DISC\ THIS WILL CREATE REAL LIFE "SC RECEIVER CAN USE MANY RUSH DRILLS IN FRONT OF THIS CAN PUT BOTH BACKS RIGHT OR LEFT TO CREATE "BACKS RIGHT" CALL, ETC A COVER, RATHER JUST GO GET ONE. WITH 2 COVERING ONE, WHO Tc 2. ‘W-UPSDRILL NAME: srruation rit GRD-LONG) PURPOS TO ALLOW QB ANDI oa | GAIN CONFIDENCE 1 | SEVERAL REPETIONS OF THE SAME SITUATION TO, ECUTION SET UP SCRIPTED OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE SEGMENT TO WORK ON A KEY SITUATION SUCH AS 3RD AND 7 YARDS. ALL PLAYS TO BE USED DURING THE GAME FOR THIS SITUATION APPEAR ON ‘THE SCRIPT. 3. COACHES Ki STOPS (SIVE SUCCESSES AND DEI ‘SIVE eP SCORE BETWEEN OFFE) MAKE SURE THE EMPHASIS IS ON PLAYS THAT WILL BE s EXCELLANT WAY TO ELIMINATE PLAYS THAT ARE NOT SUCCESSFUL FROM THE GAME PLAN COACHING POINTS: 5 1 2D ADJUST ROUTES IN QUICK [ PURPOS TO TEACH QB AND RECEIVERS TO READ. PASSING GAME TO PROWLING COVERAGE SET UP 70N7 OR FULL TEAM SCRIMMAG ALLOW DEFENSIVE COVERAGE TO PROWL AND JUMP BACK AND FORTH ‘ATTEMPTING TO CONFUSE QB REAL 3. RECEIVERS MUST ADJUST ROUTES ON THE MOVE WITH QB COVERAGE ON THE DROP. PROCEDURE i DING DRILLS FOR THE QUICK PASSING GAME, 2. TRAIN QB TO BE AWARE OF SHORTEST THROW AND BEST MATCHUP,DRILL NAME. ouick aupiBLe pri. ] TO TRAIN THE QB TO AUDIBLE TO THE PROPER QUICK P, COVERAGE LOOKS VERSES CERTAIN (QUICK AUDIBLE VS/ 40 FRONT) PROCEDURE: 1. SETUP 7 ON7 OR FULL TEAM AGAINST SCRIPTED COVERAGES AND FRONTS 2: QB READS COVERAGE AND AUDIBLES TO CORRECT QUICK PA’ 3. CAN BE RUN WITH 2 HUDDLES OR BACK TO BACK FOR REPETT CHANGE FORMATION CAN BE TIED IN IFFULL TO FORCE QB TO READ CO’ GAME PLAN CHECKOFF DRILL -AM CAN BE USED T0 BLOCK STUNTS AND LB BLITZ RAGE CHANGESTO TEACH QB TO AUDIBLE RIGHT OR LEFT TO BEST SIDE TO RUN PLAY, OR TO EACH QB TO CALL TWO PLAYS IN THE HUDDLE AND DECIDE ON THE L WiHICH ONE TORUN DURI 1 PLAYS IN THE HUDDLE: (OPTION OR PASS PLAY) 2 'S SOFT COVERAGE CHECK TO PAS: 3 I'S NO FORCE TO A SIDE CHECK TO RUN 4. QBMAY CALL OPTION IN HUDDLE, THEN CHECK RIGHT OR LEFT AWAY FROM FORCE, ENSE TO GET MAXIMUM PRACTICE LOOKS CH QB PRINCIPLES OF FORCE CONTAINMENT FIRSTDRILL NAME: rronr aupigie pri. | ‘TO TEACH QB THE PRINCIPLES OF AUDIBLING BASED ON THE FRONT ADJUSTMENTS TO FORMATION. USED PRIMARILY FOR INSIDE OR OUTSIDE, RUNS QB CALLS FORMATION IN HUDDLE, QB CAN MAKE A PLAY CALL OR NOT. BECAUSE HE WILL CHECK THE FRONT TO DETERMINE RUN INSIDE OR OUT DEFENSE IS SCRIPTED MATCHED UP TO OFFENSIVE FORMATION SO THAT THERE IS A WEAKNESS INSIDE OR OUTSIDE ON THE DEFENSIVE FRONT 3. QB AUDIBLES TO THE APPROPRIATE PLAY BASED ON FRONT RECOGNITION COA ING POINTS: 1. COACH QB TO LOOK FOR FORCE PLAYERS OUTSIDE FIRST. IF NO FORCE OPTION OR SWE 3O0D ALTERNATIVES 2. COACH QB TO LOOK AT THE MIDDLE OF THE FRONT 10 SEE IF IT IS OVE SHIFTED. IF SO RUN AWAY 3. QB NEED BE AWARE OF BEST MATCH-UPS AND GAM REASONABLE DECISIONS "LAN TO MAKEF DRILL. DRILL NAME: Game Lan cies ‘OSE ‘TO TRAIN QB TO RECOGNIZE KEY FRONTS OR COVERAGES VERSES FORMATION OR SITUATION WHERE YOU WANT KEY PLAYS CALLED 1. QB CALLS FORMATION AND PLAY INHUDDLE. SITUATION IS KNOWN 2. IF QB GETS ONE OF HIS GAME PLAN CHECKOFFS FOR THIS GAME HE (CHECKS TO THE APPROPRIATE PLAY ING POINTS: 1. QB MUST HAVE PRACTICED AGAINST FILM OR MEMORIZED THE KEY HECKOFFS FOR THIS GAME 2. CHECKOFFS ARE CONSTRUCTRED SUCH THAT: "AGAINST THIS COVERAGE TO TRIPS WIDE, WE WILL DO THIS OR THIS 3. EXAMPLE: VS/TRIPS, COVER 3 CHECK TO SNAKE-SPLIT OR COMEBACK WEAK’Teaching a BLITZ Beating Progression Dan Robinson Northwestern High School , 765-457-8101 x 2606 * 765-457-1740 (H) Dan.Robinson@nwsc.k12.in.us FCPGA ClinicCHAPTER 19 Building and Teaching a Full Blitz-Beating Progression with the Quick Passing Game Because of the popularity of pressure defenses in today's football, it goes without saying that any offense must have good ways to deal with all varieties of defensive blitzes. Generally, if you have any type of success throwing the ball against a base defense, one of the first alternatives a defensive coordinator will resort to is to use additional rushers to fest your protection scheme to see if it holds up and to see if you have effective answers. These “answers” must not just exist on the blackboard or on pa- per, but must be provided through a careful, meticulous teaching progression that everyone, starting with the quarterback, can un- derstand and execute. This chapter shows how such a progression can be built from the ground up with the quick passing game as its center- piece. In our case, there are a few routes outside the quick game that we'll use in our blitz-beating package (specifically the Verti- cal Switch and Post/Corner combinations), but a complete and thorough answer for blitzes can easily be found within the quick game without the need of these additional five-step type routes Step One: Creating a Positive Mentality toward the Blitz Important to the teaching of a blitz-beating progression is the approach and mentality you impart to your players where the blitz is concerned. We have always taught our players from day one that the blitz is an opportunity that provides us a chance to attack and make a big play. In other words, we're going to take a positive, aggressive approach. A key component of this approach is the fact that our players understand very early that we have a PLAN, and that specific answers have been given them to back up this sort of confidence. Too often, coaches convey a certain fear of the blitz to their players that results in @ defensive, “escapist” approach. This plays right into the defense’s hands, because part of the blitz's effect is created by the perceived threat that creates tentativeness on the offense’s part. In other words, the defense has seized the initia~ tive and become the aggressor, dictating to the offense and rel- egating them to a passive, reactive role. By virtue of our basicapproach, we do not let this happen. This is not to say that “escaping” bad plays is not a part of dealing with the blitz at times. By taking a positive, proactive stance from the beginning, however, we feel that we can always get back to the escape because of the way we've planned, while “attack” as a first priority gives us a big play dimension that we would not otherwise have The simple axiom that we give our players to summarize our blitz approach is: "Recognize it, Protect it, and Attack it." This provides a simple teaching phrase that both portrays our mentality and provides a skeleton upon which we can build the rest of our teaching progression. When we have breakdown, we can always point back to one of these simple areas and effec- tively teach: any failure to beat the blitz is likely to have occurred because we failed to RECOGNIZE the blitz, because, through a wrong scheme or a one-on-one breakdown we didn't PROTECT effectively, or didn't ATTACK as we should. The ability to bring all the elements of blitz-beating back down to these areas helps keep things clear in the minds of our players. Practice Emphasis For these ideas to effectively take hold, the proper practice emphasis must be given to the blitz. This emphasis will extend not only to the line and backs in regards to protection, but also the quarterback recognizing, checking, and adjusting his footwork, and receivers in adjusting their routes as necessary. For us, our practice emphasis will begin with a full offen- sive practice during the second week of pre-season practice that is devoted to working against the blitz and beginning our blitz teaching progression. This will include blitzes not only in pass rush situations, but “run blitzes" as well. Once this foundation has been established, we next begin to designate ten to fifteen minute blocks within each practice as “blitz periods.” This blitz period will always involve the line, pro- tecting backs, and at least one quarterback; sometimes it will in- clude receivers as well Questions to Answer/Forms of Blitz To be able to best attack the blitz from week to week or play to play, it is important to answer some basic questions that help identify where the rush is coming from, how coverage is beingplayed behind it, and where the holes are that can be exploited A discussion of some of the questions we'll ask follow. -How MANY ARE RUSHING? Specifically, we want to know how many rush in relationship to the number of people we have protecting. Generally, we're most con- cerned with situations in which their number of rushers potentially exceeds our number of protectors. If the two numbers are equal, related questions would include -Are they trying to overload a particular side to break down our protection? —_ and -Are they trying to guarantee a one-on-one matchup for one of their players or against one of ours? Who and how? Recent defensive developments, specifically the zone blitz, have forced us, at times, to answer these related questions as well “Are they trying to absorb a block or blocks with a player who will ultimately drop in order to free someone else to rush? Who and how? -Are they trying to trigger a hot breakoff by a receiver while dropping someone into that specific throwing Jane? cls ira "Tice" Buirz on A "Sort" Buirz? This is important to know because it dictates to us exactly what types of shots we can take at the blitz downfield. In "soft" blitzing schemes, the number of rushers has been increased, but the sec- ondary is playing "soft" to keep everything in front of them so they don't give up the big play. This tactic is becoming more and more prevalent on third and long: extra rushers will be brought to force @ quick throw by the quarterback, while pass defenders are in a position to make the quick tackle in front of the first down marker. Obviously we have to have a different plan for this type of ap- proach than against a "tight" blitz, which in our terminology means that defenders are locked down in a closer relationship to receiv- ers, often trying to smother them and prevent separation long enough for the rush to cause problems. In this case we'd be much more apt to try and exploit the defense deep. ~Are THEY PLaviNG MAN oR ZoNE BEHIND THE BLITZ? Once we've established the general approach on the defense, we want to know more specifics about their coverage scheme. Most generally, different types of blitzes will dictate that man coverage is being played by the secondary. If they are playing man, there is one further specific bit of information that's vital for us to know:-Do they “Banjo” within their man coverage or "lock"? As noted above, "zone blitzes" in various forms are becoming more and more common, in which secondary people are dropping within a zone scheme of some sort. In these cases, we will also ask: -Which zones are being vacated by the blitzers? -Is there an attempt to cover up these voids with a fineman dropping? -Wuar is THE Free Sarery's ROLE WHEN HE COMES OUT OF THE MIDDLE? Is HE IN COVERAGE TO THE WEAKSIDE, COVERAGE TO THE STRONGSIDE, A BLITZER, OR A POTENTIAL ROBBER? The free safety's function is very important to us in terms of match- ups and where we want to go with the ball in our blitz checks. His alignment also tells us who's likely to be blitzing. For example, if he's aligned in a coverage position to the same side as the strong safety, there's a good chance that he's there to assume the strong safety's coverage position while the strong safety rushes We also want to understand his coverage position related to people we may call in to block. If he’s over a tight end, for example, and our check makes the tight end a blocker, the middle that the free safety had originally left open by his alignment may no longer be open because he can now become a "free" player. So, we need to be very careful about throwing into the middle in this case, and would prefer to throw away from the tight end Beginning the Teaching Progression Before diving fully into our step-by-step teaching progres- sion, it is important to understand that we deal with the blitz on two different levels: blitzes we can recognize pre-snap and deal with from a checkoff standpoint, and blitzes that we have to adjust fo “on the move.” Specifically, the latter category refers to situa- tions in which a player we had counted as a “coverage player” in our pre-snap checklist quickly became a “rush player” not ac- counted for in the protection. This is a scenario that we would like to avoid as much as possible—we would much rather have the contro/ of dealing with things pre-snap—but we must build in and practice ways to deal with these situations when they occur. Certain types of formations can help us in this regard be- cause they make blitzes more recognizable by making it more dif- ficult for people who line up in coverage initially to effectively rush. Most formations of this type fall into the category of ‘wider’ sets,generally involving four spread receivers. Certainly, the use of these kinds of looks is one of the preventive measures we will feature to minimize the number of times we have to resort to “on the move" blitz adjustments Basic Philosophies: Protection Checks vs. “Hot” Two fundamental philosophies exist as to how the blitz should be attacked. While it is important, especially at the higher levels of football, to have the ability to do both, our philosophy has always been to use protection checks any time we can, thus avoiding the need for "Hot" throws as much as possible. Our reasons for having this philosophy revolve around our quarterback. At the levels we have coached, we have had limited practice time and young, inexperienced quarterbacks. In many cases, "hot" breakoffs add an additional thought process to all the other things we ask him to do, making his job exponentially more difficult. By matching people up man for man in blocking people through a "protect first" concept, we eliminate the "hot" thought process and allow fewer clean shots on our passer. Again, this isn't to say that we never throw hot, because we do have to sight adjust some when we don't recognize blitzes prior to the snap, and there are also times in which we intentionally create hot situations through our protection call. In the case of the latter, however, we marry up the routes we use out of hot pro- tection in such a way that the "hot" read and the quarterback’s basic read are either off of the exact same person or in close prox- imity of each other so that we're not adding an extra worry for our trigger man. At the professional level, higher percentages of hot prin- ciples are used for a number of reasons 1) Because of the athleticism of the defenses they face, ‘opponents can much more easily "bluff" the blitz and then play base coverage. To check extra protectors every time a blitz look was shown would leave NFL offenses at a severe disadvantage when it was a "bluff." 2) The multiplicity of sets that NFL teams use, at times, also make disguising and bluffing easier. 3) NFL teams have much greater amount of time to get hot principles fully taught and practiced, and their quar- terbacks are the "best of the best” by the time they reach that level, making it practical to use hot on a wider scale.Of course, this more widespread use of hot concepts is one of the things that spawned the evolution of "zone blitzes,” which is another reason we're leery about selling out too much to hot schemes. Two of the zone blitz's main principles are to 4) Absorb blocks with people who are actually not rush- ing but dropping (defensive linemen), freeing up rush lanes for people who are 2) Trigger "hot" breakoffs by offenses with rushes by linebackers and secondary people, and, by studying the opposition's hot tendencies, drop unexpected people (linemen or LBs) directly in the path of those hot routes A basic example of these ideas is illustrated below: DIAGRAM 19-4 BASIC ZONE BLITZ CONCEPT ‘Rush by M&S tiggors a hot broakolf fo a Slant by #2. T stops to the guard to ‘absorb” hs block and mako i hard for him fo come off $ in dane. T then drops into the hot breakoft lane that tho QB antieipates boing open duc fo the rush. Being fully protected averts some of these snafus (For our basic menu on beating zone blitzes, see Appendix M). This is not to say that our approach is the only approach, or that there are not benefits to being predominantly "hot;" we have merely outlined our thought process and what we have had suc- cess with in our situation. The Starting Point: Finding the Free Safety Because our primary concern in attacking the blitz is get- ting a blocker ‘married up" to each potential rusher, and because the free safety’s position provides us critical clues as to how many rushers we may face, we start our teaching progression with the identification of where the free safety is To understand why the free safety is so vital, it is important to go back to the fact that our blitz/protection philosophy begins with the idea that defenses must commit one person to coveragefor each spread receiver we have plus one. In other words, if we split four receivers into the formation, the defense must cover with at least five; if we've split three, they must cover with four, and so on. As long as the defense does this, we will have enough block- ers to match up with potential rushers one for one. Covering with at least one more than the offense has split means that, at the very least, there is one safety deep who is not locked into man coverage with someone or in arush position. So, if the quarterback can identify the free safety in a deep position, he knows that we have the numbers to match up in protection. Examples of how this fits together from different types of formations are illustrated below, with potential rushers enclosed in squares and committed coverage people circled \ v » HM Y@ @ (wy) fii} © 6 Cegoo, og o featinaar’) DIAGRAMS 192 THROUGH 19-4 "FLEX" FORMATION AGAINST DIFFERENT RUSH SCENARIOS: POTENTIAL RUSHERS BONED, COVERAGE PEOPLE CIRCLED 1 potential rashers wi the Fee Slsy na covraye poston on ie same ‘ie asthe Song Saety 2) 1 potential rors win th Fee Steyn acoveroge positon aay rom the Stong Sas and potential risers wth te Fre saan the dep mile (8)4 a ® < ® 2 wii Ww ° weaver ° ° 6 o [etna] ® u _°® vim ww Cone ° 6 © © ww Y wully) ww) ° 90R00 is oe 6 o Pion DIAGRAMS 19.6 THROUGH 19.7 “REX 6" FORMATION AGAINST DIFFERENT RUSH SCENARIOS: POTENTIAL RUSHERS BOXED, COVERAGE PEOPLE CIRCLED 7 potential rushers with the Free Safety n a potential double team, rush, or “tree” position away from the Strong Safety (5) 7 potential rusters withthe Free Safety in a coverage position on the same ‘ide as the Strong Safety (6) ‘and 6 potential rushers with the Fre safety inthe doop middie (7)viv} wiv) o0g00 OO [Peatentatraaiers DIAGRAMS 19.8 AND 19-8 “SPLIT LEX" FORMATION AGAINST DIFFERENT RUSH SCENARIOS: POTENTIAL RUSHERS BOXED, COVERAGE PEOPLE CIRCLED 8 potential rushers with the Free Safety in a potential coverage, or “ree” ‘position away trom the Strong Safety (8) ‘and 7 potential rushers withthe Free safety Inthe deep middle (9) ® ® ° Ogee @ “Vow - wim ° ocoHo0o0 ° ° ‘blockers | DIAGRAMS 19-10 AND 19-11 “RAN” FORMATION AGAINST DIFFERENT RUSH SCENARIOS: POTENTIAL RUSHERS BOXED, COVERAGE PEOPLE CIRCLED 9 potential rushers with the Fre Safety in a potential coverage or rush position away trom the Strong Safety (10) and 8 potential rushors withthe Free safety inthe deep midale (19)ue wil): (wie) ga ° oogoo 8 ° oo Parmar 9 pana hrs tte Suey ra sovrageon sre ate Song Sty an 8 potent sts wo Bow Saye dp mie (3) If the quarterback sees that the free safety is out of the middle, he immediately knows that we probably have a protection problem. By virtue of taking the free safety out of the middle of the field and having him do some other job—specifically covering someone man-to-man or rushing himself, the defense has freed an extra man to rush and can now outnumber our blockers Seeing this, the quarterback has three basic options: check protection and throw quick, check protection and throw deep, or "gamble," not checking protection, and hope that the ball can be delivered before the unblocked man can get there. For us, the first two options are the ones we will primarily emphasize, the third option being one we will build toward only once the quarterback has some experience handling the blitz. This, of course, relates back to our "protect first" philosophy. To check protection, he simply motions to the man he wants to come in to protect, calling his position, e.g., 'Y, Y, Y," or "X, X, X." If the man he wants to protect is already in a closed position, he simply calls his position. The called in protector blocks the end man on the line of scrimmage, with the tackle next to him having the ability (especially if the tackle is uncovered) to make @ call that will put them in a tandem to "zone" protect the end manon the line of scrimmage and the linebacker over the tackle. This offers the man called into block a "check release" option if both the down lineman and linebacker do not rush. In a single back set, this dictates that the running back initially works away from the called in protector, the line making whatever calls they would normally make to fit him in and match themselves up. Most times, we also tell the back that he can "cheat" to get closer to the man he is assigned to. In other words, he offsets himself to the side of his protection responsibility. In making his protection check, the quarterback can also use more generalized checks to keep more than one man in. "Stay," "Max," and "Colt," would be examples of these kinds of calls. These adjustments made, the quarterback may also need to change the route, depending on what was originally called and which of the two options he chooses. This is done within our nor- mal cadence. We teach our quarterbacks to consider a number of factors in deciding whether to check to a deep throw or check to a quick throw. The major ones are down and distance, matchups, and the depth at which the man defenders are playing. Obviously, we don't want to take too many deep shots on 3rd and 3, and we don't want to be throwing quick too much of the time on 3rd and 12. In the same way, the number of deep throws should be limited if we're getting loose, soft coverage. As you will see, many of the routes we use as our "base" blitz checks give us the ability both to throw deep and throw quickly. Following are some examples of this checking process, showing both the "throw deep" option as well as the "throw quick" option.DIAGRAMS 19-45 THROUGH 19-17, EXAMPLES OF PROTECTING AND CHECKING DEEP Flex Chock ¥ 198 Fado (15) Rex Check X96 Quick Smash (16) ‘Rip 8 Check Y 99 Fade (17)99 — red DIAGRAMS 19-18 THROUGH 19-20 EXAMPLES OF PROTECTING AND CHECKING QUICK Rox 6 Chack x 93 Slant Larry Plus Check Stay 190 n ‘trong Rip Check Max 92 Quick Out "Gambling" without a protection check: When and Why? "Gambling" without a protection check, either with the play called or a pass that was checked to without adding a protector, must be done only when certain criteria are met ~First of all, he and the line must be able to clearly iden- tify and communicate with each other as to who is being left unblocked. If there is confusion related to this, there's a good possibility that not only one, but fwo unblocked players will come storming in on our passer. Clear com- munication between the quarterback and the line allowsthe line to create a situation where they can best match up and secure things from inside out. Usually, this QB/ line communication amounts to the QB shouting the num- ber of the unblocked player to the line and having the center or playside guard echoing the number back to him -Secondly, he should have a route within the pass he’s executing that quickly gets into the area that would be vacated by the unblocked rusher. -Thirdly, he has to be willing to stand in, deliver the ball, and take a hit shortly after the ball is thrown. If the quarterback does not clearly understand these three things very clearly, he's much better off getting himself protected. As noted earlier, we progress a considerable amount in the teach- ing and working of the other two approaches before we get to this. lilustrated below are two situations in which we would be willing to “gamble.” DIAGRAM 19.24 EMPTY HOT 90 F OUT QB can “gamblo" bocause: 43) He has a "Box" route coming into the area M would vacate If ho rushod 1) He has a quick receiver available inthe “Out” working off tub that ean ‘become available very earlyDIAGRAM 19.22, FLEX 97 SHORT 28 can gamble because he fas two quick routes coming into his Vision that can replace te unaccounted for N if ho comes. Is ‘especially workable since interfor Slant ean turn into a ig play. Dealing with ‘Blitzes on the Move’ All the elements that have been discussed up to this point have involved scenarios in which the quarterback was able to rec- ognize the presence of extra rushers prior to the snap of the ball There are times, however, when people that had been counted as ‘coverage people” before the snap blitz off the edge of the forma- tion. Obviously, this is a possibility for which we must practice. The way that we deal with this is to sight adjust with our receivers, In other words, they are made responsible for the cov- erage people over or nearest them if they rush. If one of these people do rush, an automatic breakoff route combination is acti- vated on that side of the formation, shouting an alert call such as “Fire! Fire! Fire!" as they see the rush developing, This tells the quarterback that he must abort his initial read and get the ball to one of his sight adjusting receivers in a hurry. Ideally, we like to use our receiver splits in such a way that a secondary person blitzing will have to “prowl” before the snap to get close enough to stunt. This “prowling” will alert the receivers, and subsequently the quarterback that something is up, enabling us to either make a full check or be better prepared to sight adjust Of the three or four basic sight adjustments that we practice overall, we will carry into a game one or two of them, based on the types of blitzes teams use. These combinations enable us to get the ball off very quickly and attack defenses in spots where they have left themselves vulnerable. Generally, we will start a game using one that will be automatic on any “Fire* call, with the idea that, if we find our “alternate” combination would work better, or if we've had to sight adjust enough times that we need a change-up, we'll switch to a different combination as the “automatic” on the sidelines or at halitime.Below are shown three basic sight adjust combinations as they apply to one, two, and three-receiver sides. Notice that all of them are simply extensions of route combinations that we use in our basic quick passing game, so actual new learning is limited. DIAGRAM 19.23 DIAGRAM 19-24 BASIC SIGHT ADJUSTMENT TO A ALTERNATE SIGHT ADJUSTMENT TO SINGLE RECEIVER SIDE: ‘SINGLE RECEIVER SIDE: ‘SLANT HITCH \c'60g } DIAGRAM 19.25 DIAGRAM 19.26 “SLANTISEAM” SIGHT ADJUSTMENT “SLANTISEAM" SIGHT ADJUSTMENT PACKAGE: PACKAGE: TWO RECEIVERS, THREE RECEIVERS DIAGRAM 19.27 DIAGRAM 19.28 "SHORT" SIGHT ADJUSTMENT “SHORT SIGHT ADJUSTMENT PACKAGE: PACKAGE: TWO RECEIVERS THREE RECEIVERSDIAGRAM 19.29 DIAGRAM 19-30 “FADEIOUT” SIGHT ADJUSTMENT “FADEIOUT” SIGHT ADJUSTMENT PACKAGE: PACKAGE: ‘TWO RECEIVERS THREE RECEIVERS Base Blitz-Beating Route Combinations How many different pass routes you place at your quarterback’s disposal in terms of blitz checks depends on how much blitzing your opponents do. One or two blitz checks may be more than sufficient for a full year in many cases. Which routes you establish as your base blitz checks should revolve first and foremost around what things your quarterback throws well and what routes your receivers can execute and gain separation with. Ide- ally, within that framework you'd like the ability to effectively at- tack all kinds of techniques and at both short and deep depths. Five of the quick routes we have presented in the book could easily function as “base” blitz checks because of some distinct strengths they possess. A summary of those routes and their strengths follow: uM s ss \c ™ s si Oo" 0" 8 8 ° DIAGRAM 19.31 DIAGRAM 19-32 93-183 SLANT AS A BASE BLITZ CHECK: 96-196 GK SMASH AS A BASE BLITZ CHECK: ‘Simple check that ean be delivered fast “Qk Smash a good deep shot vs. inside Has a big play chance in that the Stant can be leverage man defenders, can't banjo to it ‘ion tho move & run through open middle Hitch a solid, “quick” throw vs. soft blitzes “Shoot a safe "qulek throw" on the outside “Good vs. zone blitzes that drop tinemen ‘away from the danger -#2's break sequences well with 97-197DIAGRAM 19.33, DIAGRAM 18.34 97-487 SHORT AS A BASE BLITZ CHECK: 98-198 FADEIOUT AS A BASE BLITZ CHECK: -Inside Slant the quickest path fo exploting “Fado as a deop throw and Break Out a5 @ the doop midalo ‘short throw both very good against al types Short coming inte QBs vision a good, qulek ‘of man coverage ‘row running away from C Safe, effective way {0 combat the zone blitz -Good 1-2 combination vs. basie zone being with dropping linemen ‘played behind blitz -#2's break sequences well wth 96-196 ™ Te goo ° DIAGRAM 19-35, 90-480 IN AS A BASE BLITZ CHECK: “Added loverage of a plok to got a receiver running tree withthe ball through the middle; Picker’s route has a chance to go big if a switch or banjo ls busted by man defenders Blitz-Beating “Accessories” vs. specific blitz types In addition to basic blitz checks, certain routes within the quick package may be very useful on a game plan basis to best take advantage of certain types of blitzes. A table illustrating those blitzes and routes that can attack them follows.RATIONALE! “Two Slants that can gain separation & run free Good leverage to get Qk Smash deep; Whip 3 good way to turn & separate from tight C Fade or Break Out both good ways to gain ‘separation Inside and outside Vertical routes can take advantage of speed mismatches 90 out Pick for the Out; Picker may have a chance to get up over the top as well oa o2 Quick, safe throws-can spin & make RAG yds 93 Stick Inside Stick @ good, quick look; Slant may have a hole and a good RAC lane behind him 94 Good way to gain 8-11 on the edge against a ‘soft comer who doasn't want to give up Fade 97 ‘Short can catch the ball on the run, separating from cornerback 3 Slant has no inside help if he beats his man 93 Seam Slant has a chance to rub underneath Seam 98 Trips version creates natural picks for Break Out| 90 In Hard for people to fight through picks 90 Out 33 Dupe No inside help for man over outside Slant 96 Whip If inside defender switches, he gets leveraged by Whip running away from him; if he doesn't, he's stuck on Quick Smash 97 Two inside releases--nathing to “switch 80 In In & Out with pickers eross at @ point in the 90 Out route development that makes it hard to time switch correctly..defenders’ hips already turned, hard to “re-recover.” 97 Dupe Two quick, stationary throws with men working into open areas 93 Dupe Inside Slant good to adjust into open voids 93 Stick Stick safe & quick, Slant has chance to get into ‘open cavity, running free through vacated zone 97 Two people working into voids left by zone-- should have solid 2 on 4 vs. any variety ‘Check protection In from strongside, go weakside with singled Fades and Slant combinations Pick best matchup side, gain protector from other side.Formation Ideas for Combatting the Blitz Certain types of sets and movement are useful when deal- ing with steady diets of the blitz. Some of the concepts that we have found helpful are discussed below. Wide sets As a general rule, the easiest way in our minds to attack the blitz has been to spread people out. Why? One of the most diffi- cult things about dealing with heavy rush schemes and large num- bers of players in the box is sorting out who is rushing and who isn't, particularly for the linemen. In wider sets, the number of people that can be in the box is dramatically reduced if each re- ceiver is going to have a player over him. This reduces the num- ber of fronts, stacks, and variations that can be used to confuse protection schemes. Against base defenses, wide sets normally face either a 4-1, 4-2, or 3-2 front, all of which tend to be bal- anced and somewhat “vanilla.” Blitz defenses usually entail 4-3 or 5-2 fronts. Further, if a secondary player is going to “blitz on the move” after aligning in a coverage position, he will have to tip his hand somewhat to have a reasonable chance of getting to the quarter- back in time. The other advantage of wide sets is that it increases the operating space for the four quick receivers that have been de- ployed, increasing the chances of a big run after catch “Ram” Two Tight End sets Sets from our ‘Ram” package with two tight ends and two split receivers, either together or on opposite sides, also poses some problems for blitzing defenses. First of all, it widens the rush angles for outside blitzers, giving them a more circuitous course than normal. This split-second difference is key to getting the ball off cleanly. Secondly, two tight end sets limit the number of blitz and stunt schemes that can be used without compromising “gap sound- ness.” In other words, sound defensive football, especially against the run, revolves around having a player responsible for every gap. Double tight end sets give defenses two more gaps to ac- count for than they might normally have in a set with no tight ends. Ram sets, therefore, are valuable on early downs or downs where the run is a viable threat; defenses will be less apt to stay in blitzes that leave gaps undefended if they think the run is a threat, espe- cially from a strong run set from the Ram package.Lastly, two tight ends are helpful because it provides nine big people immediately available for pass protection. Even in situ- ations in which there aren’t seven or eight men rushing, this can be valuable in terms of gaining double teams, especially if the route being run does not depend on having four receivers in the pattern. Split Backs Formations employing “Split” backs are one of the most time- tested ideas in dealing with heavy pass rushes. The pre-position- ing of the backs gets them in an ideal spot to serve as pass pro- tectors; they have a much shorter distance to go, and can there- fore meet rushers at a point much further away from the quarter- back. Having ready pass protectors on both sides is also a luxury that enables the line to use their full repertoire of calls that will help them gain the best matchups for themselves. They can make “big on big” calls to either side or “slide” the protection to either side to gain double teams. Lastly, backs from a split position can function well as “eras- ers" when their assigned rusher doesn’t come. Their backfield positioning enables them to move to a lot of different spots to pro- vide help or cover up mistakes that have been made. This is an- other tool that can help us counter the confusion that sometimes results from effectively executed zone blitzes. Backfield Motion Since so much of our blitz philosophy relates to attacking it in a “proactive” way, backfield motion is a good fit for us. Backfield motion forces the defense to very quickly reveal who's covering whom. Often, it is the free safety who is forced to make the motion adjustment, or better yet, a linebacker running from an inside position to a wide coverage position. Properly planned and utilized, backfield motion can change matchups very quickly in the offense’s favor and/or disrupt the choreography of a pre-called blitz scheme. Some teams will check out of the blitz altogether and check back into a basic form of zone coverage. When we can do this, we have truly seized the initiativeUsing BUNCH with the 3 & 5 Step Pass Package Dan Robinson Northwestern High School . 765-457-8101 x 2606 765-457-1740 (H) Dan.Robinson@nwsc.k12.in.us FCPGA Clinic 2004Enhancing the Passing Game wtih THE "BUNCH" PRINCIPLE Dan Robinson Northwestern HS, Kokomo, IN * or “Cluster” type sets in which multiple recievers radically tighten their ity has grown in popularity at the college and professional levels, Using ready had in the offense, we were able to put together our own Bunch-type pad (ve then referred to it as “Squeeze") that posed a minimal learning burden, yet helped our protection, caused defenses some real problems, and gave us good answers for different sit BASIC CONC T OF SPLIT COMPRESSION AND EXPANSION Fundamental to the passing game is the for specific routes. On a Slant or a Hooking pattern for example, most teams widen the man runnit those patterns to create more oper be compressed to allow more r room inside, Conversely, on out-breaking routes, the sp to the outside and shorten the throw for the quarterback. “Bunch”, then, is just a continuation and exten By compressing the splits of all side, we shorten our throws, create opportunities with the room outside, and in the n the additional benefits of the picks and rub-offs that can occur. receivers on process g TS OF BUNCHING RECEIVERS experience and 0 can pinpoint provided the offense wh study that there are at least a dozen specific benefits that we 1 it compresses its sets to a Bunch. Some of these include: 1. Passing wit great speed in create that separ: h consistent success against man-to-man teams can be a real problem if you don't have ven year—it becomes very difficult to get the needed separation. With Bunch, we ation with the natural picks and rubs that occur through the right kind of teaching, 2. The Bunch game gives you lots of short, timed throws that can be delivered drop (cither straight back or off a half roll). Because the line doesn’ would on slower developing patterns, your protection is helped. iythm off a 3 or S-step have to protect as long as they 3. Football is very much a game of situations, and some of the toughest situations include 3d & 3, 3d & 4-6, Red Zone, Overtime, and Two Point Plays. A basic Bunch package gives you quality answers for each of these situations. 4. The space created by compressing the formation gives receivers leverage for running outside routes. If you have an athlete that you want to isolate who can outrun people deep to a spot, this is one of the best situations in which you can put him.5, Bunch completely changes the environment in which the defense is used to operating, ‘The result of this oftentimes are screwed up drops, bad angles, and a general sense of uncertainty on the defenses part while your players are aggressively executing something they know well. Good pass coverage is often predicated on pattern recognition and being able to find people. Bunch makes both very diffi- cult. 6. Many routes very basic to many offenses can realize different advantages when placed in a "bunched" environment. This can cause defenses all the types of problems noted and give your offense and extra dimension while creating very little learning for quarterback or receivers. ALERTS/POTENTIAL PROBLEMS Part of being fully prepared to install a new concept within any offense is understanding the potential problems that can occur within it and working toward minimizing those disadvantages. While Bunch has really been no burden to learning in the sense that we're using basic route structures and respon sibilities that the player ly know, we're also fully aware that it brings with it the need for different technique and coaching points if it is to be successful. ‘The area of technique that we have to concern ourselves with the most in Bunch is in releases. Suffice it to say that if Bunched receivers don’t understand how to release, when to release, and perhaps more importantly what their purpose is within the pattern, you have the potential of your own men crashing into and tripping over each other, creating a big mess and no one for your quarterback to throw to, We set up specific five-minute and ten-minute "traffic rule" drills to get this job done. By taking time to isolate this skill specifically, kids get good at it quickly, and after about the second day of a five- or ten-minute release drill block, it's no longer necessary. It is important also that the process of rubs and picks are taught carefully, because your players will naturally want to pull their arms in, stare straight at a defender and try and deck him, which will get you penalized. These are two specific areas within the Bunch that you have to be very aware of as you teach. FORMATIONS & GNMENT In our case, “Bunch” or “Squeeze” is not an individual formation, but rather a formation concept that refers to the splits of two or three receivers on a side. Therefore, it can be utilized with very little tinkering from nearly any offensive structure you can imagine: Run & Shoot, Wing-T, Pro Set, Single Back, and so on, DIAGRAM 1 shows different examples of Bunch adaptations ime wears on, it becomes more vital and helpful to have more than one type of Bunch set to use within a game. Different leverage for different types of routes are created by different types of looks. Further, the element of disguise is vital to keeping opponents from getting zeroed in and/or into specific types adjustments, The ideas of motion, as well as sequence, fit in here also, both for leverage purposes and using a defense’s recognition against them. As a general rule, we will split Bunched receivers 1 to 1 1/2 yards apart from each other, mostly with the #2 receiver being on the ball, Adding a "Squeeze" call in front of a two or three receiver set puts the inside most receiver 4 or so yards outside the tackle (If the inside receiver is a Tight End, nothing ges for him, and the next receiver lines up 1 1/2 yards outside him). This can be changed by 2 “Bunch,” which starts the whole group 8 yards outside the tackle, or “Cluster,” putting them ds outside. Each of these may be beneficial for specific routes (See DIAGRAM 2).- Diagram 1 - EXAMPLES OF "BUNCHED" Basic "Bunch" Version {_Split Backs Variation | #0 a2 #1 mon ° ° ° Q00R00 089 Q cogooo ° ° a [Run and Shoot Adaptation Wing-T Version #9 #2 #1 nal Te Gq 20H, 2 g000Hoo Q & os we ° QO HB 1 Formation Version "Ace" Adaptation nn Q00H00 O 2O9G? Po Ons oF #3 #2 #1 9 2.008000 , Oo Wing & Offset Back Concepts #142 #9 99H . 9 oO #1 a2 (#2) Oo ° Oooo oy x (3) BOian oa CALLS TO GROUP || RECEIVERS SQUEEZE" CALL Er e.g: "Squeeze Rex 6" | N “BUNCH” CALL Byards 1 yard "CLUSTER" CALL Tg “cater nox 6™ ° | ROUTE PACKAGES 1, The FADE Route The first route we employed in the Bi responsibilities do not change for teach from the second day of sum Fade; the #2 receiver (next inside) h concept was the basic 3 step FADE, Again, the route s when we tighten the formation; it is the same route we ractice on. The #1, or outside receiver on either side, has the a six yard Break Out cut. Technique details follow on theBae SQUEEZED/BUNCHED 98-198 FADE POS | ASSIGNMENT (COACHING POINTS TTADE_ Fron sce cigs fo RIGHT NOW oy naval Fue na SPOS ox ot ine an wae a ch wpe no #1 | seemless ny hh ale oo kg rl) ou Over the Suler-psier ogres eows pace (| SPAM. Kw a yore Wie ot cb San Tit eletern Cor We hab aly WA |e ale a! VOID COLLISTONS, pepo aio hi dle wher sas ys ak ellen le, te mve| #3 | Shin m goneor We wav dan nat mae ya ede ek bad eeecsvod | ies sand ia hans mage One coe RAG Ta | FADE Genabowy | BERG as Satatos Minera rk aaiany wena OTR QB | ic rcp ad tt lo uy lo ses ‘Or Outer fade | by ln evap bet ete oe te’ vr ln Joauee os ole ard fd cate following page in DIAGRAM 3. The Bunch Fade was designed speci the hash, By squeezing both of our re ve 2 deep coverages real problems when we're aligned on side the wide side hash, we've given our Fade a full 1/3 of the field to run to, and have put the Corn d._If the Corner sits in his flat area and waits for the Out break from the inside, there’s a huge hole for us to hit the Fade. Having begun his backpedal, the hash will find that he can’t make up ground fast enough to get to the Fade; we've thrown it to a spot, and our man is running away from this hash defender. If the Corner gives ground and starts to sink with the Fade to reduce the hole, our quarterback is trained to get the ball outside to the Break Out quickly. That receiver will be outside the Cornerback with the ball in a hurry because of the tightened alignment, and he'll have a lot of field to run to, giving us a great chance for good yards after the catch. This dynamic is illustrated in DIAGRAM 4.Poor SQUEEZED FADE S. COVER2 B { oo! 7 “1 Corner sits on the Out: Corer sinks with the Fade: FS can't get to Fade because of #2 gets outside the entire space created by “squeeze,” QB defense very quickly, with 113 of ils Fade, open in the hole. the field to run to after the catch 2. The “TRIANGLE” Package Initially developed strictly as a goalline route, the Triangle package gives us three good routes and a systematic way to change their distributions to attack defenses differently. Again, it is useful both from spre The route is initially taught in a goalline context. We set the balll at the 4, and line three groups of assorted receivers in a standard Trips set. Three cones will be set up in the end zone: an “Option Cone” two yards from the end line (translated to the field, about 10-12 yards deep), a “Whip Cone” two yards into the end zone (5-6 yards from the L.O.S. in the field), and a “Fade Cone” in the back corner of the end zone. We emphasize that each of these three routes, as represented by cones, has to be occu- pied, or run. We tell them that as a base definition, #3 (as mumbered from the outside in) will have the Option, #2 the Whip, and #1 the Fade. That's if we just call “Triangle.” If we call Triangle and tag a receiver with some other route, then the man next to him has to take his route, or his "cone." For example, in what we call a “Rip 8° formation, Z is the #1 receiver, H is #2, and Y is #3, inside, If ar “Triangle” is called, Y has the Option, H the Whip, and Z the Fade. But if we call “Triangle, H Option,” Y now knows that he must take H's Whip route. “Triangle, Z Whip” tells H that he has to take Z's Fade. From a Bunched set, the Basi The variations that can be created, though, help really make Squeeze be The first example of this would be to call “Triangle, H Fade,” with H as the #3 receiver. He gets the same room to run as before, but with two receivers outside him running interference. This is tremendous against tight man cov age. As another example, giving the #3 receiver the Whip route helps what was already a good man route even more by bringing him underneath two receivers, which increases the likelihood of him pop- ping out cleanly and having room to run after the catch. Examples of the basic route and tag applications follow:Sao. SQUEEZED/BUNCHED WU le oy Simian TRIANGLE PACKAGE TAG EXAMPLES - Backside - COACHING POINTS a iNZ9 180 TRIANGLE H WIMP vs. Man3. The MESH Package ‘The MESH route is beneficial not on ic route, but also can be tagged e: attack a lot of different ways. DIAGRAM 7 on the next page fully details the assignments and tech- niques for each man. The big thing that we want to do with this route is HIT THE FLAT FAST. If ng to try for the Smash, it will be in a specific situation and matchup that we've determined. The Whip Read or any other route we've tagged in its place will most always become secondary, because we MUST force the defense to run to the Flat and take that away before any of the route’s other aspects become effective. Prioritizing and teaching it this way makes the Quarterback’s job ‘ore clear, and more importantly increases our run after the catch productivity 100%. If you wait for the Flat and try and come back to it late, defenders will often be arriving as the ball is, or worse, before. Throwing it quickly gets him moving upfield, often with a lot of room, before defenders can drop, react, and break, This is the most important part of being successful with this route in our minds. Once the defense gets hit this way a few times and begins sprinting to jump the Flat, all kinds of things start opening up for you inside. So the Quarterback’s thinking most of the time is, “5 quick steps, hit the Flat right now, if he’s jumped, bounce up and find the Whip showing me his numbers.” Vs. any 2 deep look to his fromtside, is “5 quick, hit the Flat right now, or the Smash in the hole if the Corner is closing forward. Not there, bounce up and find the Whip.” IC is vitally important that the Flat, coming out of the Bunch last, get the correct angle and depth as he comes off the WhipRead’s hip. Initially, players will have a tendency to come out of their initial release too "flat," and not be deep enough when they make their break. ‘The result is that they're open before the quarterback can get the ball to him. Diagram 8 contrasts the right and wrong angles for the Flat. The Whip is an outlet who is responsible to get open and show the Quarterback his numbers when he’s in the hole. ‘This cuts down dramatically on error, because by the time the quarterback is to his outlet receiver, protection is many times breaking down around him, and he doesn’t have time to make a good decision as to whether his outlet is open—bad thows and interceptions occur. By having the receiver make the decision for him, the QB can quickly spot whether he’s shown his numbers and either hit him instantly, or if he doesn’t see his numbers throw it away or wait for him to get open (See Diagram 9), Giving the Mesh Different Personalities ‘The flexibility that the Mesh provides in terms of formations and pass actions means that we can give it different personalities from week to week or even within a game, We can use two-back sets, one- back sets, and even motion to no-back sets. Using different types of formations can not only help camoflauge our intentions and cause problems for defenses’ practice weeks against us, but can pro- vide different types of leverage against different defenses. Bringing #3 from out of the backfield, for example, can create real difficulty for an inside linebacker assigned to him in man coverage. This versatility also means that the "Mesh" route can be incorporated into different aspects of our offense (¢.g., Backed Up situations, Red Zone, Nickel situations, ete.) as well as different personnel groupings. This further makes it harder for defenders to anticipate and pinpoint where the Mesh is, coming from. The Mesh is applicable to numerous pass actions as well, allowing us to change the launch point for the quarterback and use the protections that best match up with our opponent. Included among these actions are half-roll, straight drop, frontside play action, and bootleg protections. Diagram 10 shows a few of the nearly limitless different ways we can change the "personality" of the Mesh without creating any new learning for our quarterback or receivers.re BASIC (OM ROUTE a - Backside - 208 [ASSIGNMENT HFS wa FS ws Ate we te ioe pede a1 BS (Qs at Whip Re ~ SQUEEZE REX 6 62 MESH, hs Comer EZE RAY OF | 77 MESH, [STRONG LARRY Z6 SOUE SCrs CORRECT ANGLE | FOR THE FLAT | e Za g° 2 PPR #8: Proven RELEASe ANGLE ann DEPTH FoR Fir arene TECHNIQUE OF MATE Le OPN WHIP READ RELEASE OFF #2'S HIP 10 Spor 6-7 YARDS DEEP OVER ORIGINAL POSITION OF #3. Work rove or LB. N00 6 Y ee LB brows: Whar srs WHERE ne LEFT "|eerie hie GIVING THE MESH VARIED PERSONALITIES 000009 | Lae ar vont | >souremxe ssn | O° Tagging the Basic Mesh Route The next phase of changing the basic route’s personality is to “tag” a receiver to do a different job. Again, minimal learning is required because only one person is changing his job for the base that’s already been established. Further, the “tagged” route looks exactly the same as the basic route to defenders until the final breaking point. The tags we used are designed to take advantage of their expected reactions that attempt to cover them basic route, getting people into areas that their reac- tions prevent them from covering. ‘Two of the best tags are the CROSS and ARROW tags. CROSS changes the route of #1 from a Whip to a Shallow Cross, a 5 yard route that is a good man beater, and also gets the receiver in the zone hole. It is an easy throw right in front of the QB, and a high percentage call (See Diagram 11),misdirection route bel way to attack inst him (Di am 12). Because the things mentioned so fi important at this level to take advant: drops, we will also feature a tag called S the throw dictate that it is probably the tag we hooking pattern to #2, who would normally ri come straight back down the Ste backers start reacting to all of certain down-distance scenar through than a sta 0O yy a pattern, ubsing ovr #1 to ARROW is just the opposite of a Whip, it changes the route of #3 from a Flat to ind the Shallow Cross. When flat defenders begin to anticipate and widen for the outside break by #3, they create a hole for the Arrow to turn into, jjoed” or switching man coverages, because it uses the outside defender’s leverage (hence the name), between and bel id chasing the shorter routes, the quarterback will find a big lane through which to throw the ball on this, though he has still looked to the Flat first (with the possible exception s) to get the horizontal stretch of the defense. ard Hook or Curl, with the same potential to convert Iong-yardage downs. action is a great way to enhance this particular tag (Diagram 13). ~ Diagram I] - Oe aye ys. zone (left) & man (right) S yard outside-in It is also an extremely effective ically happened on a 5-8 yard plane, and because it is xe of the fact that linebackers often do have poor, shallow pass against zones and the high-percentage nature of “e most. What it effectively does is give a 12-14 yard Smash. He wants to widen son 00 6O #8 a Tubbig over to ty an impeae hs man e on his weave and id linebackers. When line- It is also a shorter Playi - Diagram 12 - "ARROW" TAG IES (cots kauasert (i ‘the “St partion ofthe Whip Read to control & nse ji Digan ig. | "STEM" TAG | 1 adjustment: must exercise “he "Si" portion of he Whip- Train 14 "MESH'' TAG VARIATIONS BUNCH R9 Y7 157 Y ARROW vs. Cover 2 ley BUNCH REX 67 STEM we Ciner’d [BOUGREENTARRY INIT ISTEM@SWNG ve Gn?] E \ F a F ss é | : ee | 8 : cope Se 09, [STRONUSING MOTION As our Bunch package has evolved, we have made more and more use of motion concepts in both getting fo bunched sets and motioning our of bunched sets. This has been critical as defenses have gotten better at understanding it and adjusting to it. It is important that, as we do this, we clearly defined purpose for it in both our minds and the quarterback's, because motion at ti have drawbacks in of unexpected defensive reactions that change reads and the "sight picture" created for the players, Timing is also an issue that must be dealt with and perfected so that the motion man doesn't have to stop and then restart himself before and just after the snap. However, the benefits that we realize from motion make us more than willing to invest ourselves to these ends. Four of the biggest benefits we've realized are: 1. DISGUISE. Motion ean prevent defenses trom getting itu special adjustinent defenses against bunched sets, beeau ceuts down their recognition/cheek ull tie, The lined up ina straight hued to be a8 good because of the hurried nature of the heck. 2, LEVERAGE POR CERTAIN ROUTES. Different kinds of motion can gain a half step or more for receivers running certain types of routes, and help thea cireunvent jamming and collision tacties at the line. For example, if we're runnning receiver on some type of ernssing route, motioning him fron the outside in gets him going in that provdide a clean, fast 3. CRENTING IDENTIFICATION PROBLEMS, Defenses who a) pattern-read or 6) use "bumped" based on receivers’ relative positions (.e, corner has final HT, $8 h 1 vecciver no matter where he goes), When motionin a player to a b positions of people change very quickly, and it's hard to sort ut who's who. 4. GETTING OUTSIDE A "JANES CLOSE" CORNER. receiver down against a cornerback who jams hard and Quickly motioning another player tu « postion just inside hin, we ean spring a player outside this comer into the fat while he’s still engaged, and effectively havea person running with the ball outside the whole defense in a big hurry Two of these motion concepts are illustrated below: S pee iia MOTION CONCEPTS ew ome tietoa( (sia) vs. hard jam (right) ‘hort, quick motion to a squseze #1 When G steps down to jam #t and ‘engages im, motion man gets undemeatn and outside im ve C's 2 ‘ulcy, its nim vithout freing him to break sti, gets ball nie hangs outside ene defense with over 19 of B ® ® © the fleld to rum in, ecooo 2 peop a ey close ‘changing relative postions of ‘potently all very quip,- rer a as OTHER BUNCH ROUTE ("Turn (Trade)" cee eee LE “ee OF Shallow Cross Concepts _] a Lz o0ohog Deep Hook/"Bend" | tele o ‘Double Slant Choice under Switch ° aogco YP | Qoo sy \ re | 0 \oCONCLUSION The principle of bunching receivers is nearly limitless in its possibilites; we've only attempted here to demonstrate a few of our most proven bunch route concepts. In fact, a great deal of basic routes already in your offense likely have some kind of bunch application that can give them a different effect and expand your inventory without any new teach On the following page are some additional route ideas from bunched environments, many of which are, in fact, basic to many offenses, Another aspect of bunching not explored here are the opportunities bunched sets can provide in the rwming game, We have experienced success running underneath bunched sets because of the adjust- ments defenses made to them with their underneath structure; we have also found good angles to block on the perimeter for our tosses out of squeezed and bunched looks. We have recently released a book that deals in comprehensive detail with all the routes illustrated throughout this article, as well as with issues like systematics, protection, basic release mechanics, teaching progression, installation, situational application, and so on. The book is called "The Bunch Attack," and is available through Sagamore Publishing, Both of us truly thrive on exchanging and discussing ideas, and will be glad to share any of our time and resources with any coach. Anyone curious to know more should feel free to contact one or both of us at any of the places listed below. We would be happy to spend some time with you. ANDREW: — Phone- 317 773-6974 Address 829 Nelson Circle Noblesville, IN 46060-5610 E-mai aecover@sprynet.com OR andy_coverdale@mail.nobL.k12.in.us Phone 317 457-1740 Address- 910 Bellevue Kokomo, IN 46901 E-mail- robinsond@nwse.k12.in.us1. RECEIVERS LINED UP IN CLOSE PROXIMIITY OF EACH OTHER _ Can happen either through alignment or motion 2. RECEIVERS SEVERELY COMPRESSING THEIR SPLITS Creates a wide field to which they can work outside1. BREAKS MAN COVERAGE Creates natural separation through natural picks/rubs that force defenders to “bubble” their courses. HELPS PROTECTION: QUICK, TIMED THROWS Most routes delivered off a quick rhythm, so offensive line doesn't have to protect as long. GOOD ANSWERS FOR SITUATIONAL FOOTBALL Different applications extremely useful on 3rd & 3, 3rd & 4-6, throughout the Red Zone, Overtime, Two point plays. CREATES WIDE SPACES TO RUN TO/IN Compression gives receivers more field to work to, which can help gain separation for routes and maximize Run After Catch yardage. CHANGES DEFENSE'S ENVIRONMENT Presents scout week problems, also drastically alters drop and support angles of defenders. Makes pat tern-reading difficult.#392 41 Ooonco e7¢ GOOGOO 98 O Split Backs Variation 2 oH ° 90Go0o . ® O° Ons H F Run and Shoot Adaptation Wing-T Version #3 #24 Oo eG O. 8 & se a #2 Te e pee we w@ O HB I Formation Version "Ace" Adaptation wm #392 #1 Qo00nCO @ OOOn00 6 POPG? Fe | @-LLQFOOS. On : OF oO Wing & Offset Back Concepts #42 #3 He (#2) OONO°. e Q 0000S, - (93) HD)"SQUEEZE" CALL e.g. "Squeeze Rex 6" 4yards 1 yerd /\ Gal ated Oo oohoo e e ® ° "BUNCH" CALL e.g. “Bunch Rex 6" Syards = tyard /\ ° ooRoo ° "CLUSTER" CALL e.g. “Cluster Rex 6" 12 yards 1 jad Lf I-——_ HH oO Oooo e e e °|[Dovstes Rute vs. Cover 2 | | Traps RULE vs. Man CoveraceeS i oul, Backside Soa Postibig. Read Whip Read Flat oono #3 ag Traffic Rules SECOND INTO 43. GET OUT ROUTE: Li unper #2 RELEASE OFF ju OF over #1 41SMASH 1s, Maw CovensceWine Pusnes, PINs, ACCELERATES W040 LB props: Win sivs wuere ne LB sus:#3: RELEASE ANGLE 100 FLAT DEPTH TOO SHALLOW, TIMING Wrone, LB Can FOLLOW 3: PROPER RELEASE ANGLE & DEPTH FOR FLAY, UNDER #1 FORCE LB 10 BUBBLE, @%— oog00 #3 aee nad | MESH Route ys. Cover 3 SS WALLS, CB SHOULD DROP, HIT FLAT fe QB READ: SS JompinG Fiat TURAL HOLEMESH Rovre vs. Cover 2 CB SHOULD COVER FLAT MESH READ PROGRESSION Vs. COVER 2: -FLat To SMASH OFF C -Wuip READ As LATE OUTLET ssMESH vs. Man Coverace FLAT-LB MUST BUBBLE SMASH-MATCHUP? WHIP-MAN BEATER74 O_o THROTTLE DOWN IN VACATED ZONESIncorrect ' " TECHNIQUE: No PusH BACK TOWARD QB THROWING LANE CREATED BY #1 WALL [AND #3 EXPANDING Correcr "$ TECHNIQU BACK TOWARD QB TIGHTLY DOWN THE "STEM"ARROW" Tac vs. ZONE "ARROW" Tac vs. MANMOTION #2 ACROSS (SHIFT) TO SMASH ROUTE (MAN) SPRINT ACTION, MOTION #3, LATE TO FLAT OFF BOOT ACTION“Turn (Trade)" "Flood" OOO! ee wd a "Razor" ( a D) 0 oat “ "Traingle Fade" 1 Deep Hook/"DIG" "Hinge" 0 OOOO G, ae OOO! sob Double Slant O seh Choice under Switch Coo Ne3 MOTION RB_(NO BACK) (0 FLAT RELEASE INSIDE #4 SPLITAttacking Cover 2 & Cover 4 with the 3 & 5 Step Pass Package Dan Robinson Northwestern High School 765-457-8101 x 2606 765-457-1740 (I) Dan.Robinson@nwsc.k12.in.us Hall of Fame/FCPGA Football Clinic 2004Cover 2 ZoneFLATBASIC COVER WHAT IS IT? _ zone coverage that plays with two deep safeties each responsible for 1/2 of the field, & five shor \ders in undemeath zones, including two "hard!" corners, HOWISIT RECOGNIZED? Corners are tightened down, normally to 6 yards or tighter, usually with outside leverage (.e., you can see the stripe down the middle of their hel met). One deep saielty is aligned in the vicinity of each hash at 12 yards or so. WHAT IS THE PHILOSOPHY BEHIND IT? To cut down undemeath throwing lanes with a droppers, & to funnel routes tothe inside with hard, low corners. Many times w entail physical cornerback play to try and destroy the timing of pass routes withthe jam. 's generally a balanced coverage that also has ability to ’brackat" single receivers. Also used as a run support defense vs. outside runs. WHO PLAYS IT? Anderson, Walsh, lowa Wesleyan, St. Xavier, Findlay WHAT ARE THE THINGS WE MUST DO TO BEAT IT? ~Use purposeful, VIOLENT releases on the outside to maintain route timing ~Get people to the deep dead spots quickly and deliver the ball on time ~Get into open WINDOWS, with the QB stopping receivers in those WINDOWS -Use formations to either isolate one underneath player on two receivers or cause an imbalance that favors us. WHAT KINDS OF QUESTIONS WILL WE ASK TO BEST ATTACK IT? What is the comer technique? Depth? How and when do they jam? How easily can they be outside release: -How active are the LBsin coverage? Deep drops or Shallow? Do they wall or spot drop? Do they collision peapie? Do they "cover down" on inside receivers? ~Do the safeties tend to hang tightly on the ha: y play wide? -Are they a pattern-reademphasis team or a ‘spot drop! Nill they stay in this coverage vs. tr Will the comers top in "Cowboy" technique vs. a single width ~Oo they always play with § underneath? Do they ever play with 4? 6? de?Med Deep eI oveten Pap we nepoveren \ i F 8s Posabiedanevenmean s— SomW Spans erites oO oo 068 CAN pose sane onat a2 yoo . WHATIS IT? | Aman-to-man coverage underneath with two deep safeties to help deep ‘oneelther side. Undemeath coverage often with tight, inside leverage, or “all technique.” HOWIS IT RECOGNIZED? Sateties at normal Cover 2 depth near the hashes with ‘comers playing head up to inside leverage instead of outside, WHATIS THE PHILOSOPHY BEHIND IT? Oten along yardage coverage, Cover 2 man enables a defense to play aggressive man technique underneath to eliminate zone holes while having two deep safeties to help deep 10 prevent deep shots, WHO PLAYS IT?. Walsh, Olivet Nazerene, Saint Xavier WHAT ARE THE THINGS WE MUST DO TO BEAT IT? -Use effective releases & violent misdirection moves: ATTACK, then SEPARATE. -Lead receivers away from pressure so that they can run after catch Create and take advantage of good matchups -Make use of rubs and picks -Understand where safety help is and take people away from those safeties with the right reads and throws WHAT KINDS OF QUESTIONS WILL WE ASK TO BEST ATTACK IT? “What are the Cs' general technique? Can we get underneath and inside them? \Will they open their hips if threatened with the Fade? Do they jam? When? -Do they BUMP with motion or LOCK? -Do they BANJO? Who? If hey don, how do they deal with rubs? ~Can we get a LB to move wide with a TE lined up as #1? Can we force a LB to cover a WR by lining him up inside or in the backlield? “What route(s) are the safeties trying hardest to stop? Do they stay near the hash or preter to widen and bracket #17 Can they be moved? -Wil they stay in itit we line up in ‘Bunche! alignments? -How do they handle flaring actions and backs out of the backliald? -Do they use a "Cowboy" adjustment vs. Ray & Larry sets?WHATISIT? Atwo-deep coverage that employs a combination of zone and man prin- Cipies to try andi cut down holes left by traditional Cover 2. a "pattern-read" coverage, HOW IS IT RECOGNIZED? Looks very similar to Cover 2...comer to wide side often plays with inside leverage, neither comer generally playing a “funnel position as in nor- mal Cover2. Safeties never wider than #2 on their side. WHAT IS THE PHILOSOPHY BEHIND IT? To “cover people, not grass," trying to cut ‘down the voids leftby zone coverages while employing the switching techniques that help against crossing routes and rubs. To try and use keys to get people in position to stop most “traditional” route combinations, WHO PLAYS IT? WHAT ARE THE THINGS WE MUST DO TO BEAT IT? -Understand when to "sit" and when to "accelerate" since it can appear to be bot h man and zone coverage at the same time -SEPARATE with decisive breaks and good acceleration away from people -Create situations where a comer or linebacker is in a bad matchup with no help -Cause problems for inside defenders in identifying who their#1, #2, and #3 ara, 28 well as when to switch WHAT KINDS OF QUESTIONS WILL WE ASK TO BEST ATTACK IT? -Who's their weakest linebacker, and where does he usually get help from? -Which comer to we want o attack, and how? How do we prevent him fram getting help? -How quickly will the safeties jump #2 on a vertical release? -With whatkind of depth ancleverage to the cornecbacks try to play? Which Toutes are they most rying to stop? At what paint do they fully engage #17 -Will they stay in this vs. trips? Do they crass-key #3 with the free safety? -Does the bunching and squeezing of receivers cause their interior coverage identification problems? ~Can we gain leverage for certain routes with motion? What kinds of motion?Punseptiecintay omc Rane fees _\ ae & | Eee / oT a bondod 6 tai naiest Gy Shan man floes WHAT ISIT? four deep" coverage concept thal uses safeties in keyed run support and often uses heavy pattem reading techniques by both deep and underneath coverage. HOWIS IT RECOGNIZED? Similar cok as 22 deep shell, but corners will often align deeper, and safeties closer togethertighter. Safeties usually “walk up" on the snap, WHAT IS THE PHILOSOPHY BEHIND IT? To use satety run support as a means of getting nine run defenders in he "box" while minimizing deep ball risk with a “four deep" secondary, Pattern-reading techniques are employed to get in the lanes of many "rad tional” patterns. WHO PLAYS IT? Anderson, Tinily, Saint Ambrose WHAT ARE THE THINGS WE MUST DO TO BEAT IT? -Consistenily make yards on the outside edges by controling OLB coverage and maximizing R.A.C. with sharp turns and north-south running ~Teke advantage of over-agaressive safety support with deep shots behind them Have receivers understand when to seitie and when to continue on routes, with QBs making appropriate throws as this can look ike zone & man both Create mismatches on corners and linebackers with formation, and force them into situations where they cannot get help WHAT KINDS OF QUESTIONS WILL WE ASK TO BEST ATTACK IT? Are the Cs & LBs able to effectively cover quick throws on the outside? How? -Do hey play this with a heavy pattern-read, run sugport emphasis, or a sotter, Geep quarters" emphasis? -Who are the safeties keying? -Dothey stay in this vs. Trips? If so, how do they handle various releases by #9? -What are the MLB's respansiblies and keys? Gan he be isolated? -How athietc are the OLBs at reacting to and running with out-breaking routes? How can we create mismatches for them? “At what point do the safeties enaage vertical releases in man coverage? -How do they lke to deal withiheip on crossing routes?KEY | QUESTIONS | =I * CB technique/depth? Jam? Funnel? Bail? * Can we get outside release ys CB? * LB depths of drops? Spot drop/reading routes? * Do LB’s wall off? Depth of zone off? Cover Middle? Cover down/uncovered? * Safeties hang on hash or get off quickly? When? tay cover 2-4 vs trips? if 4 does FS renegade #3? Number rushers? Always 4 ? 5? Backside alignment vs TE single? * Safety alignment if WR inside Hash? * Can we get outside CB while funneling? * Will they mix in 1/4 1/4 1/2? * How do CB react to #1 vertical w/flat? * vs 4 LB in flat? quickness? Width? * vs/4 CB jump 3 step? Safety hard force? * vs 4 Can play action fool safety? Keying? vs 4 Heavy run support or more like “quarters” vs 4 LB’s under cover vs crosses? * vs 4 At what depth are DB’s locked in man?PAAR R WHS | 9. = TIGER PASS OFFENSE - Concepts to Attack Cover 2 & 4 | Corner routes Hold $ & get under in Lane Create 2 receivers on 1 defender Hold $ & get over from outside Isolate $ on #2 inside Lock #3 on FS Outflank (get outside) CB in flat Fade-flat combination Isolate an OLB 10. Pry open area between S and CB 11. Option routes 12. Rec spaced between OLB & CBAnon PASS aan ] Cover 2-4 ZONE Package | (2) POST -SIT “POSTER/POSSUM” (4) DAGGER-POP (6) SMASH (LINE & UP) (8) TUBE (“COP-POLICE”) (0) DEEP OUT (DEPOT) (0) MESH (0) CHAIR (CHARIOT) (0) FADE-OUT-”FOX” (0) ALAMO (INSIDE FADE) (3) CURL (5) FLOOD-DODGE (B) DIAGONAL/POST-DIG “PIG” 92 ALAMO 94 SPACING 96 QK SMASH 98 FADE-FLAT6 Route- ' CLEAR \ F \ | I | | 1 : 1 | | I | I oO Oooo 3 8 ROUTE: 66 FRONTSIDE: QB Reads flat defender. Ifhe hangs throw route. If he Arops find hitch or "Fin" if press cover BACKSIDE: "DEFAULT" backside CLEAR RULES #1 Dig #2 Clear ROUTE: 56 CLIMB -THRU T [ROUTE 66 CURL SPLITE-TATTOO (56) \ oe Cc D CG VW = UNDER ROUTE:6 Route- "Line & Up" e| ow SMASH LINE & B O° O Cones : @ oY ROUTE: 66 LINE & UP FRONTSIDE: QB Reads $S,If he widens with #2 Smash then throw #2 Line & up, if he gain s depth throw smash IDE: backside EVEN CLEAR : 66 SPLIT-LINE & UP (56) | ROUTE: 56 FLAT-LINE & UP-PIG se | w oB ° ©0T00, ° B-POST -SIT-"POSSUMY MAN2 Route OoOoHo0o q : 62 (POSSUM) )B Reads 8S, If sits throw top, if deepens throw #2 sit in BACKSIDE: backside CLEAR RULES ER #1 Dig #2 Clear 1 post 0} hole IS 62 B COBRA (52) ROUTE: 62 SPLIT-TATTOO (52 AWAY) Dh a xr MAN [RouTE: 62 WHEEL-TATTOO4 Route-' GGER” SEAM READ Post /@D 7 2 Fy POST a 1W B ® | ° 1 oogo00 ©} 3 6 ° IDE: backside DBL POST(POP) Fi rs) QB Reads $8, #1POST #2 POST hit #1 Dig under #2 Seam cle: hangs throw sean [ROUTE: 54 DAG! B POSTER ] ROUTE: 54 DAGG c Cc I Ww B 6 oopoo fg o__. ROUTE: 54DAGGER-FRISCO ROUTE: 54 DAGGE! ie MAN4 Route Oo fe} BACKSIDE: Even Default CLEAR ar through seam no middle #1 Dig #2 read because of post "Double Po oon00 _% @ Oo 6 ~ POST >| B ROUTE: 64 DBL POST (POP) FRONTSIDE: QB Reads $8 If takes inside post throw skinny outside post, if deepens to keep leverage hit post in front or bkside clear ROUTE: 164 POP-Z DIAGONAL (ALLEY) ROUTE: 64 POP- B Smash F c | i, Ww Ww B B e ! 8 90gee MAN _ MAN [ROUTE: 64 POP-Frisco [ROUTE: 64 POP-Split( Y Drag) Cc 7 BoB 100 ° BLITZ Le MANUBE" SEAM READ \ c | B i | ° | oono0o o 3 e 1 of route: 68 (TUBE) BACKSIDE: backside EVEN CLEAR FRONTS! QB Reads $8, if he stays RULES #1 Dig #2 clear over top of #3 SEAM hit 22 TWIST- BENCH, if feel CB see #1 GO. ROUTE: 68 COP. | [Rout E: 58 H DODGE | corNeROvERPOsT Ng, ROUTE: 68 POLICE \ EF c w BoB ° cog00 Posrovercorner Nycne ° ooyoo c c OOOO 0 oohoo 6 3 6 3 ror POSSUM-POSTER ae F c IN c f° Oo oo000 008 00, 3° O° DIAGONAL ALAMO F ye OV 008 008 00, ALLEY. | | [come F Or c In - 000 Oo o o—500 | POSTER} (Dagger) (ons FRONTSIDE PLAY ACTION Double POST (POP) has chance off stretch play action to free outside Post. Play action CHASE holds $$ and frees POST or Dagger.(OO BACKSIDE ora ane *O~ cSt Be Bic of Teg Play action CHASE may convince FS to constrict to run sup- port or hesitate and give up deep outside. LEVEL aids vs MAN Double POST has excellent ch of getting over F nal or Alley gets under smart FS who feels Post. ye. ey ol Ties ° ; Post Sit holds FS and allows POST over the top. Diago-@ F $ | 12 1 n cl OX | ! B | 7 ae sror-winr gi = 1 Oo | oogoo @ © 0 I ROUTE: 60 MESH EN CLEAR FRONTSIDE: QB Reads #3 FLAT, throw RULES #1 DIG #2 CL SINGLE #1 “PIG” AR flat first then to #1 whip-spot, snaek peak at #2 smash ys matchup/cover 2 [Rou TE: 60 MESH-STEM [Rout ‘E: 50 MESH-CROSS-UNDER-AWAY | c ° ROUTE: 60 MESH-ARROW q ° MAN94-194 "SPACING" EF $ ‘O-~ oO tT SIDE: backside 90 RULES FRONTSIDE: QB Reads CB, work outside in, #1 MINI-CHOICE If CB widens look #1 hitch, if LB takes away, or B-TAG #2 hitch inside LB’s numbers 94 ] {ROUTE: 94 SPACING “GO” r_ —— ic . | - w B | w B —@ ° cog00 e ° oog0o ° 020900 . ° ROUTE: 94 ROUTE: 94 SPACING “GO” FE F c ic w B w ° ooo °HITCH. LEVEL \ \ \ r / (MAN) oonoo e . © 9 “MINI” 7 oY ROUTE: 92 ALAMO BAC backside 90 RULES FRONTSIDE: QB Reads CB for #2 fade back to #1 Hitch-IEVEL, If $$ widens to DbI-MIRROR-Single MINI-CHOICE fade hit #3 SEAM (B-TAG) ROUTE: — 92 ALAMO [ROUTE: 92. ALamoswrrc LEVEL | ZPD0 Route- "ALAMO” oN SEAM ct HITCH eye e l BACKSID backside EVEN CLEAR 6 ALAMO FRONTSIDE: QB Reads CB for #2 fade back to #1 Hitch, If $$ widens to fade hit #3 SEAM ROUTE: ~~ 50 ALAMO-AWAY [ROUTE: 60 ALAMO SWITCH-TATTOO t As ROUTE: 60 ALAMO-B CHOICE ] ©og00 ~ MAN98-198-FADE-OUT-” FOX” i a = io FADE. \\ \ \ \ én Oo oo 7 oo ‘a MIRRORED iy ROUTE: 60 FOX BACKSIDE: backside 90 RULES RONTSID) QB Reads CB, if deepens #1 FADE throw #2 quick out, if sitsin flat throw to fade as clears CB DbL-MIRROR - Single-”MINI-CHOICE’ ROUTE: 98 FOX 98 DOUBLE FOX oogoo \ ROUTE: 98 (BUNCH) ROUTE: 98 DBL FOX -Y PIVOT RN ° POSSUM96-196 "Quick Smash" \ F SMASH SMASH i \ y w © HITCH ° IDE: backside 90 RULES DbI-MIRROR Single-MINI-CHOICE or B-TAG FRONTSIDE: QB Reads flat defender, Ifhe hangs throw Quick Smash route, If he drops, find hitch or "Fin" if press cover ROUT 96 UNDER ROUTE: 96 B LEVEL MAN-BLITZGO oono0o e O° e e 1 ‘NI ROUTE 60 DEEP OUT (DEPOT) BACKSIDE: backside EVEN CLEAR FRONTSIDE: QB Reads $5, if he stays 'S #1 DIG-PIG if single, #2 clear deep throw deep out, be aware of LB drop, if SS jumps out throw seam read RUL [ROUTE: ROUTE: 60 DEEP IN / |) ic 50 DEEP OUT-TATTO ] ROUTE:HAIR-CHARIOT" SEA) @ co I CHAIR n tA F CLEAR | | IC N\ | Ww B | ! O° J oohoo e ° e e ROUTE: 60 CHAIR BACKSIDE: backsideEVEN CLEAR 1 QB Reads LB and throws RULES #1 Dig (Pig if single) #2 Clear on break behind his helmet ROUTE: 60 CHAIR-TATTOO ROUTE: 50 CHAIR-AWAY [ROUTE: 60 CHAIR X POST CORNER, y oH MAN3 Route- “Curl-Hook” QD SEAM READ A | | coco Ln CURL (HOOK) : 1 U @ FLAT ‘ oO } eee e e ° Ni ROUTE: 63 O 6. FRONTSIDE: QB Reads flat defender, throw curV/hook to open area WHIRL RULES #1 Pig #2 Whirl ROUTE: 55 INSIDE HOOK-AWAY ROUTE: 63 HOOK