Vertical Passing Game
Why Throw Vertically???
• Take a Shot!
– Put the Defense on their heals.
– Make DC / DB’s think “Oh $*&#!”
• 3rd and Long
– When you need it.
• My kid is faster than yours!
• Need a big play / points.
• Make people defend whole field!
Types of Vertical Throws & Concerns
• Fade Route
– Speed, Timing, QB Arm, Hash
• Post
– Angle/Landmark, Play Action? Safety
• Vertical Seam
– Underneath Coverage, Safety, Corner, QB Arm/Timing
• Corner
– Safety/Corner, QB Arm, Angle/Landmark, Hash
• Cross
– Climb the Mike, Find Grass, Underneath Coverage, Control the Safety
• Wheel
– Read, Check Down.
• Double Moves
– Make is look like something, WR/QB Eyes, Pump, Not there?
How???
•
•
•
•
•
Run by them
Play Action them
Force open a Zone
Double Move
Take advantage of weaknesses in Zone
Coverage.
Vertical Pocket Throws
• Smash
• Shallow + Post
• Vertical
Smash
X
Y
H
Z
T
Q
IWR: 10 Yard Corner Route. Apply Corner Route Rules.
OWR: 5 yd. Width Hitch.
T 60-61 Protection and Check Down
QB Pre-read Tightest CB.
Be patient give the CB time to break on the In & Out
Smash
X
Y
H
Z
T
Q
QB Thought Process
Pre-Snap:
Drop:
Progression:
Tighest CB
3 Gun / 5 Under
Corner, In & Out, Check Down
Smash H Corner Post
Y
X
H
Z
Q
T
QB Thought Process
Pre-Snap:
Drop:
Progression:
Tighest CB
3 Gun / 5 Under
Corner, Corner Post, In & Out, Check Down
Smash Z Post
X
Y
H
Z
T
Q
QB Thought Process
Pre-Snap:
Drop:
Progression:
PS Safety
3 Gun / 5 Under
Corner, Post, In & Out, Check Down
Hammer
X
Y
T
Q
QB Thought Process
Pre-Snap:
Drop:
Progression:
MOFO / MOFO
3 Gun / 5 Under
Post, Corner/Wheel, Hitch/Swing
H
Z
Hammer
T
X
Y
Q
QB Thought Process
Pre-Snap:
Drop:
Progression:
MOFO / MOFO
3 Gun / 5 Under
Post, Corner/Wheel, Hitch/Swing
H
Z
Shallow
X
Y
H
Z
T
Q
Z: FOR Fade.
Y: Hot off PS Blitz. Run 10 yd. Dig Route. Work back Downhill
H: Shallow Route. Run on the heels of the DL slightly gaining
ground.
X: Post Route to Protect the Dig.
T: Check Shoot Route
QB Eye the area where you will throw the shallow if defender is
occuping it, find a window for the Dig, to the RB
H Shallow Z Post
Y
X
H
Z
T
QB Thought Process
Pre-Snap:
Drop:
Progression:
Safety Down - Post
3 Gun / 5 Under
Post, Dig, Shallow
Q
Y Shallow X Post
X
Y
H
Z
Q
QB Thought Process
Pre-Snap:
Drop:
Progression:
Safety Down - Post
3 Gun / 5 Under
Post, Dig, Shallow
T
Vertical
Y
X
H
T
Z
Q
#3: Replace far safety. Fastest path to the hash. Always release
over the top of any defender.
#2: Vertical Seem. Landmark is the hash. Vs. 2HS sit down @ 14.
OWR: Run a fade route. If you aren’t over the coverage at 12 yards,
set it down at 14yds.
T: 60-61 Protection. Check down.
QB Pre-read MOFO / MOFC
Vs. 1 Safety – Throw opposite the safety. Possible look off.
Vs. 2 Safeties – Read Safety. Fade to Cross to RB.
Vertical
Y
X
T
Q
QB Thought Process
Pre-Snap:
Drop:
Read:
MOFO / MOFC
1 Gun / 3 Under
FS or Playside Safety
H
Z
Vertical Bomb
Y
X
T
Q
QB Thought Process
Pre-Snap:
Drop:
Read:
MOFO / MOFC
1 Gun / 3 Under
FS or Playside Safety
H
Z
Stutter off sprint out
• Easy 1,2 Run read.
• Moves the Pocket.
• 1st Play of the season.
Stutter
Y
X
Q
QB Thought Process
Pre-Snap:
Drop:
Read:
CB Depth
Sprint Out
CB
T
H
Z
PA Post
• Get in a formation that says run. 1 on 1.
• Make sure protection is solid.
• Teach throwaway.
PA Post
X
Z
H
Q
T
Y