Passing Game Concepts
Diversify and Multiply Your Passing Game
Scott Burton – Highland Springs High School
15 S. Oak Avenue, Highland Springs VA, 23075
(804) 306 – 1742
seburton@henrico.k12.va.us
Our Offense:
• Shotgun – Spread – 1 Back, 4 WR.
• Philosophy: Create space for athletes.
• Goal = Balance.
– Yardage Distribution in 2005 (Season Totals):
• 10 Yards more Passing than Rushing!
• Run 55% (in 2005) – Zone, Sweep, Traps, Option
• Pass 45% (in 2005)
– 60% of our passing yards came from 3 Step and quick game
(Screens, 3 Step, and Uncovered).
– 40% of our passing yards came from Concepts (Dropback,
Sprint Out, Play Action, or Boot)
• Concepts play an important part of our offense, but must be
considered within the total scheme of the offense.
What are “Concepts” and why do
we use them?
• Concepts are route combinations, not plays. You can run the same
concept four times in a row and the same kid could run four different
routes from four different spots in the formation.
• Simple to learn. All players must know is where in the “count” they
are. Each concept we have fits into one of three categories.
• Makes things easier for your QB. Categorizes concepts into three
groupings for him to memorize.
• Allows you to use motions, shifts, multiple formations, launch points,
protections, etc… without changing the “concept” of the play.
• Designed to multiply the looks you give the defense without
confusing your kids. Become difficult to defend and nearly
impossible to scout.
• Can be employed regardless of what offensive scheme you use.
• Creates a psychological advantage for your kids. Sell them on
concepts and your team has an edge.
– Example from camp
Types of Concepts we use:
• “Mirrored” or 2 Man concepts: Both sides of the formation run the
same routes. (“Cardinal”).
• “Flood” or 3 Man concepts: 3 Receivers run the called concept.
Backside runs curl. (“Cluster”).
• “NFL” or 4 Man concepts. Number across the formation either left
to right or right to left. (“Miami” / “Dolphins”).
• Protection notes:
– Our concepts all involve 6 man protection with TB involved in a
check release.
– Each concept grouping has a different check release rule for our
TB that our QB must also know.
– Our concepts can all be run from dropback, sprint-out, play
action, or boot protections.
“Mirrored” (2 Man) Concepts:
• 4 receivers in the route.
• Divide the formation into two halves with each side running the
same route combination.
• QB picks a side before the snap. Works this side only.
• In all mirrored concepts, TB check releases over the ball for
checkdown.
• QB has one defender to read after the snap. This defender tells him
where to throw the ball.
• QB’s progression:
– 1. Down and Distance and spot of the ball (Hash or middle). **
– 2. # in the box and location of safeties. **
– 3. Identify Hot defender. **
– 4. Pick a side to work. **
– 5. Identify which defender to beat. (Either C/F, CB, or FS).
Mirrored (2 Man) Concepts:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Cardinal (Curl/Flat).
Double Cardinal (All Curl).
Inlaw (Dig/Seam) and Outlaw (Vert/Out).
Vegas (4 Verticals).
Rock (Smash)
Comeback (Comeback/Seam)
CARDINAL
(Curl / Flat)
FS
C
C
B
SS
B
B
E
Notes on Cardinal:
QB:
1. # in the Box, Coverage, and Hot.
2. Pick a side based on C/F defender
3. TB over ball for checkdown
N
T
E
WR’s:
1. #1 = Curl, # 2 = Flat
2. #1 = Find Hole based on coverage (Dig vs Man)
3. # 2 = Convert to “Ice” vs Man coverage
Cardinal
Click to play video
Zone Cardinal
Click to play video
DOUBLE CARDINAL
FS
C
C
B
SS
B
B
E
Notes on Double Cardinal:
QB:
1. # in the Box, Coverage, and Hot.
2. Pick a side based on C/F defender
3. TB over ball for checkdown
N
T
E
WR’s:
1. #1 = Curl, # 2 = Curl
2. #1 = Find Hole based on coverage (Dig vs Man)
3. # 2 = Find Hole based on coverage (Corner vs Man)
INLAW
Dig / Vertical
FS
C
C
B
SS
B
B
E
Notes on Inlaw:
QB:
1. # in the Box, Coverage, and Hot.
2. Pick a side based on C/F defender
3. TB over ball for checkdown
N
T
E
WR’s:
1. #1 = Curl, # 2 = Vertical
2. #1 = Find Hole based on coverage between C/F and H/C
3. # 2 = Landmark = outside edge of hash.
OUTLAW
Vertical / Out
FS
C
C
B
SS
B
B
E
Notes on Outlaw:
QB:
1. # in the Box, Coverage, and Hot.
2. Pick a side based on C/F defender
3. TB over ball for checkdown
4. Read Corner to C/F defender.
N
T
E
WR’s:
1. #1 = Curl, # 2 = Vertical
2. #1 = Find Hole based on coverage between C/F and H/C
3. # 2 = Landmark = outside edge of hash.
Outlaw
Click to play video
VEGAS
4 VERTICALS
FS
C
C
B
SS
B
B
E
Notes on Vegas:
QB:
1. # in the Box, Coverage, and Hot.
2. Pick a side based on C/F defender
3. TB over ball for checkdown
4. Read Corner to C/F defender.
N
T
E
WR’s:
1. #1 = Vertical, # 2 = Vertical
2. #1 = Landmark = middle to bottom of #’s.
3. # 2 = Landmark = outside edge of hash.
4. # 2 – Listen for “2” or “3” call vs two safeties.
Vegas
Click to play video
ROCK
Hitch / Corner
FS
C
C
B
SS
B
B
E
Notes on Rock:
QB:
1. # in the Box, Coverage, and Hot.
2. Pick a side based on C/F defender
3. TB over ball for checkdown
4. Read Corner to C/F defender.
N
T
E
WR’s:
1. #1 = Hitch, # 2 = Corner
2. # 2 = Find hole 18-22 yards deep. Flatten out for QB.
Rock
Click to play video
COMEBACK
1. Comeback
2. Vertical
FS
C
C
B
SS
B
B
E
Notes on Comeback:
QB:
1. # in the Box, Coverage, and Hot.
2. Pick a side based on C/F defender
3. TB over ball for checkdown
4. Read C/F defender.
N
T
E
WR’s:
1. #1 = Hard upfield for 15 yards, sell Vertical. Come back to 12.
2. # 2 = Vertical. Landmark = Outside edge of hash.
Comeback
Click to play video
Flood (3 Man) Concepts:
• 4 receivers in the route. 3 to the front side, 1 to the back side.
• Front side “count” starts from the outside with # 1 and continues
towards the ball for # 2 and # 3.
• QB picks a side pre-snap based on where the C/F defender on the
backside is aligned. He works only this side.
• In all Flood concepts, backside WR always runs curl.
• In all Flood concepts, TB aligns on and protects the backside
TB check releases to a swing. Center protects the front side.
• QB has 1 or 2 defenders to read after the snap. This tells him where
to throw the ball.
• QB’s progression:
– 1. Down and Distance and spot of the ball (Hash or middle). **
– 2. # in the box and location of safeties. **
– 3. Identify Hot defender. **
– 4. Pick a side to work. **
– 5. Identify which defender to beat. (FS, C/F, CB, or ILB).
Flood (3 Man Concepts):
•
•
•
•
Cluster (QB read CB to the “mesh point.”)
Gator (QB read FS to the ILB).
Pickle (QB read CB)
Springer (QB read CB to C/F)
CLUSTER
Hitch/ Corner / Flat
FS
C
C
B
E
Notes on Cluster:
QB:
1. # in the Box, Coverage, and Hot.
2. Pick a side based on backside C/F defender
3. TB swing release to backside
4. Read C/F on backside / CB to “mesh” on frontside
B
B
N
T
SS
E
WR’s:
1. #1 = Hitch (1 yard outside # 2).
2. #2 = Corner. Flatten out for QB.
3. # 2 = Flat
Cluster
Click to play video
GATOR
Post / Dig / Checkdown
FS
C
C
B
E
Notes on Gator
QB:
1. # in the Box, Coverage, and Hot.
2. Pick a side based on backside C/F defender
3. TB swing release to backside
4. Read C/F on backside / FS to ILB on front side.
B
B
N
T
SS
E
WR’s:
1. #1 = Post
2. #2 = Dig. Find hole between C/F and H/C.
3. # 2 = Checkdown. 4 yards over original LOS.
Gator
Click to play video
PICKLE
1. Slant
2. Slant Corner
3. Quick Flat
FS
C
C
B
E
Notes on Pickle
QB:
1. # in the Box, Coverage, and Hot.
2. Pick a side based on backside C/F defender
3. TB swing release to backside
4. Read C/F on backside / CB on front side.
B
B
N
T
SS
E
WR’s:
1. #1 = 1 Step Slant. Go under defender over #2.
2. #2 = Slant. On 4th step, angle to for 12 yards.
3. # 2 = 1 Step Flat.
Pickle
Click to play video
Pickle
Click to play video
Pickle
Click to play video
SPRINGER
1. Vert
2. 10 Yard Out
3. Indigo
FS
C
C
SS
B
E
Notes on Springer:
QB:
1. # in the Box, Coverage, and Hot.
2. Pick a side based on backside C/F defender
3. TB swing release to backside
4. Read C/F on backside / CB to C/F on front side.
B
B
N
T
E
WR’s:
1. #1 = Vertical. Landmark = top to middle of #’s.
2. #2 = 10 yard out.
3. # 2 = Indigo
Springer
Click to play video
NFL (4 Man) Concepts:
• 4 Receivers in the route. Count starts either from the left (“Miami”)
or the right (“Dolphins”)
• TB has no check release. He always stays in.
“NFL” = Never Freakin’ Leave!
• QB always reads FS first then ILB away from call.
• QB’s progression:
– 1. Down and Distance and spot of the ball (Hash or middle). **
– 2. # in the box and location of safeties. **
– 3. Identify Hot defender. **
– 4. Pick a side to work. **
– 5. Identify which defender to beat. (FS to ILB).
NFL (4 Man) Concepts:
•
•
•
•
Read like a book. Miami = Left / Dolphins = Right
Miami / Dolphins
Dallas / Cowboys
Baltimore / Ravens (from Empty)
MIAMI
1. Under 2. Post
3. Flat
4. Dig
FS
C
C
B
SS
B
B
E
Notes on Miami: Count Starts from the Left.
QB:
1. # in the Box, Coverage, and Hot.
2. QB reads FS to ILB away from the call
3. TB does not release.
N
T
E
WR’s:
1. #1 = Under. No deeper than 4.
2. #2 = Post
3. # 2 = Flat
4. # 4 = Dig
Miami
Click to play video
Dolphins
1. Under 2. Post
3. Flat
4. Dig
FS
C
C
B
SS
B
E
Notes on Dolphins: Count Starts from the Right.
QB:
1. # in the Box, Coverage, and Hot.
2. QB reads FS to ILB away from the call
3. TB does not release.
T
B
N
E
WR’s:
1. #1 = Under. No deeper than 4.
2. #2 = Post
3. # 2 = Flat
4. # 4 = Dig
DALLAS
1. Curl 2.Under
3. Rub 4. Post
FS
C
C
B
SS
B
B
E
Notes on Dallas: Count Starts from the Left.
QB:
1. # in the Box, Coverage, and Hot.
2. QB reads FS to ILB away from the call
3. TB does not release.
N
T
E
WR’s:
1. #1 = Curl. Find hole in coverage between C/F and H/C
2. #2 = Under. No deeper than 4.
3. # 2 = Rub. 1 yard deeper than the under.
4. # 4 = Post
COWBOYS
1. Curl 2. Under
3. Rub 4. Post
FS
C
C
B
SS
B
E
Notes on Cowboys: Count Starts from the Right.
QB:
1. # in the Box, Coverage, and Hot.
2. QB reads FS to ILB away from the call
3. TB does not release.
T
B
N
E
WR’s:
1. #1 = Curl. Find hole in coverage between C/F and H/C
2. #2 = Under. No deeper than 4.
3. # 2 = Rub. 1 yard deeper than the under.
4. # 4 = Post
BALTIMORE
1. Go 2. Under 3. Rub
4. Post 5. Post
FS
C
C
B
SS
B
B
E
Notes on Baltimore: Count Starts from the Left.
QB:
1. # in the Box, Coverage, and Hot.
2. QB reads FS to ILB away from the call
3. TB does not release.
N
T
E
WR’s:
1. #1 = Go. Landmark = Top to middle of #’s.
2. #2 = Under. No deeper than 4
3. # 2 = Rub. 1 yard deeper than the under.
4. # 4 = Post. Must outside stem to get defenders back turned.
5. # 5 = Post. Must outside stem to get defenders back turned.
RAVENS
1. Go 2. Under 3. Rub
4. Post 5. Post
FS
C
C
B
SS
B
E
Notes on Baltimore: Count Starts from the Left.
QB:
1. # in the Box, Coverage, and Hot.
2. QB reads FS to ILB away from the call
3. TB does not release.
T
B
N
E
WR’s:
1. #1 = Go. Landmark = Top to middle of #’s.
2. #2 = Under. No deeper than 4
3. # 2 = Rub. 1 yard deeper than the under.
4. # 4 = Post. Must outside stem to get defenders back turned.
5. # 5 = Post. Must outside stem to get defenders back turned.
Teaching the Concepts:
• QB’s: Group concepts by category for simplicity. What is each
concept attempting to accomplish?
• WR’s: Must learn the entire concept!
– 4 lines (Spread). Rotate through the lines, running the same
concept. Run from multiple spots on the field (middle and hash).
Identify Hot each time. Landmarks don’t change even what spot
of ball does.
– Change the formation, add motions and/or shifts. When first
learning, repeat the route combinations out loud. Always identify
Hot.
• Great Warm-Up: Skelly Warm-Up.
– Pick two concepts. Run each concept four times from four
different formations (& motions). Always identify Hot. 8 Plays
total in a 5 minute warm-up!
Additional Notes on Concepts:
• “Tag” words can create even more possibilities.
– Examples:
• “Fire”
• “Ice”
• “Hurricane”