Simplifying your passing game through concepts
This post is a theory I have been kicking around for some time. Across football, particularly via the influence of innovators like Coach Coverdale (I just don't get to see enough film of his teams. He's probably the most cutting edge coach out there not coaching in Div I or the NFL--and probably more than most of them) and Norm Chow at USC, the 3-step game has been getting new attention and is expanding.
At USC Chow has adapted some interesting concepts, such as the Green Bay Packer 3-step bunch type route, with a shallow cross, quick hitch, and shoot route. Also, one that has been discussed is the "mini-curl".
My idea with this is to explore the idea of simplifying how we teach these plays and that, instead of having seperate 5-step and 3-step plays, we just have a single concept that can be run as a 5-step or 3-step play, with minor adjustments. In this post all I want to show is that some of the most common plays would translate over fairly easily, and from there it is obvious how many others might as well.
The big thing I think this would help is:
a) Less redundancy, more repetition - You would not have to completely reteach extremely similar concepts and waste time doing it, and instead could go over the nuances in probably 10 minutes, and then simply be able to repetition it out. The reads for the QB would be the same, adjustments for the WRs (minus hot concepts, etc). It would be simple.
b) A smarter framework - I think this is a big one also. It is one that is more streamlined, and lends itself better to understanding the game. The QB can learn to make his 5-step reads quicker and easier by making the same ones in 3-step with shorter throws and (theoretically) easier reads. This complementary nature should lend itself back and forth.
c) New ways to attack the D, without the extra practice time - Now you can have your same 2 or 3 concepts per defense/coverage etc, but can expand them out into 3-step and 5-step, etc. Your QB and receivers think it is the easiest thing in the world and wonder how you can keep throwing the same speed outs, slants, and curls, but the D is seeing 5-step and 3-step plays, similar beginning by the receivers and no way to predict where the ball is going or where (and very importantly) when the receiver is going to make his break. It can really hurt defenses where they try to squat at 5-6 or 10-12 yards where most of your breaks happen.
This could pretty easily be accomplished whether you use a numerical system, route tree, or named system. For example "Mesh" might be the bunch route. And you could just say mesh and the rest of the playcall tells you whether it is 5-step oe 3-step. If it is a number, "1" could be the curl for 5-step or 3-step. 61 could be the 3-step and 91 could be the 5-step. Hopefully that makes sense.
Here are some of the concepts:
This is based off the Chow "mini-curl". The reads for both are the same, the only difference is that the outside receivers kind of loop inside. They have to make sure to patter/drumroll at the end of the route. In many ways this attacks the same areas as the slant shoot, but it is a really easy throw with everyone pretty much facing the QB in a zone hole. It can be run from a bunch of formations, and Chow loves to run it from 1 back and no-back formations. If you run the 5-step curl (which probably 80% of you do) then this would be taught easily.
This is the simple West Coast style speed out. In most pro-versions of the WCO they run the combo for the speed out the same as above, which, as you can see, is a direct translation of the 5-step version. Very simply translation, the routes are simply shortened.
The bunch can be translated easily too. Here is the Coverdale/Robinson Mesh route that is so popular (and effective). The only difference in the 3-step is--and we have run this play--is the whip turns into a 1-step slant where that receiver is looking to accelerate vs. man or settle over #2s position vs zone, rather than looking to whip back out (simply not enough time in 3-step). One of the great things about this, is, just like the 5-step mesh, it also is a very good blitz beater.
Here is the Green Bay Packers concept, which Chow also runs. This also works well in contingent with mesh as a counter to it. Again, here, the play serves to not only give us something new, and very easy to throw where the throws are right in front of the QB, but also to help him gain a better feel for the route as we move on to the 5-step versions, as he has a lot of experience seeing those windows open quickly and throwing it.
Also, here I show a bit that you can tag this backside receiver to some kind of route or some kind of choice route. Most coaches prefer 3-step choice routes to 5-step ones, where the QB or Receiver make a pre-snap signal. This can be a very effective tool that is easily integrated with these concepts, to give them even more flexibility.
Not only can this be run from west coast plays or bunch plays, but it is also adaptable to the R&S. This play actually is one of the first where I have seen this concept applied. Here, everyone's assignments are the same, but their breaks halve; instead of the seam read at 10-12, they are 5-7. The shallow cross here, just like the Packers concept above, just goes "right now". They must get across the field quickly and can gain depth as they go.
Hope that gives you all some ideas. I think this concept can be developed and can result in a very simple, but very flexible system.
At USC Chow has adapted some interesting concepts, such as the Green Bay Packer 3-step bunch type route, with a shallow cross, quick hitch, and shoot route. Also, one that has been discussed is the "mini-curl".
My idea with this is to explore the idea of simplifying how we teach these plays and that, instead of having seperate 5-step and 3-step plays, we just have a single concept that can be run as a 5-step or 3-step play, with minor adjustments. In this post all I want to show is that some of the most common plays would translate over fairly easily, and from there it is obvious how many others might as well.
The big thing I think this would help is:
a) Less redundancy, more repetition - You would not have to completely reteach extremely similar concepts and waste time doing it, and instead could go over the nuances in probably 10 minutes, and then simply be able to repetition it out. The reads for the QB would be the same, adjustments for the WRs (minus hot concepts, etc). It would be simple.
b) A smarter framework - I think this is a big one also. It is one that is more streamlined, and lends itself better to understanding the game. The QB can learn to make his 5-step reads quicker and easier by making the same ones in 3-step with shorter throws and (theoretically) easier reads. This complementary nature should lend itself back and forth.
c) New ways to attack the D, without the extra practice time - Now you can have your same 2 or 3 concepts per defense/coverage etc, but can expand them out into 3-step and 5-step, etc. Your QB and receivers think it is the easiest thing in the world and wonder how you can keep throwing the same speed outs, slants, and curls, but the D is seeing 5-step and 3-step plays, similar beginning by the receivers and no way to predict where the ball is going or where (and very importantly) when the receiver is going to make his break. It can really hurt defenses where they try to squat at 5-6 or 10-12 yards where most of your breaks happen.
This could pretty easily be accomplished whether you use a numerical system, route tree, or named system. For example "Mesh" might be the bunch route. And you could just say mesh and the rest of the playcall tells you whether it is 5-step oe 3-step. If it is a number, "1" could be the curl for 5-step or 3-step. 61 could be the 3-step and 91 could be the 5-step. Hopefully that makes sense.
Here are some of the concepts:
This is based off the Chow "mini-curl". The reads for both are the same, the only difference is that the outside receivers kind of loop inside. They have to make sure to patter/drumroll at the end of the route. In many ways this attacks the same areas as the slant shoot, but it is a really easy throw with everyone pretty much facing the QB in a zone hole. It can be run from a bunch of formations, and Chow loves to run it from 1 back and no-back formations. If you run the 5-step curl (which probably 80% of you do) then this would be taught easily.
This is the simple West Coast style speed out. In most pro-versions of the WCO they run the combo for the speed out the same as above, which, as you can see, is a direct translation of the 5-step version. Very simply translation, the routes are simply shortened.
The bunch can be translated easily too. Here is the Coverdale/Robinson Mesh route that is so popular (and effective). The only difference in the 3-step is--and we have run this play--is the whip turns into a 1-step slant where that receiver is looking to accelerate vs. man or settle over #2s position vs zone, rather than looking to whip back out (simply not enough time in 3-step). One of the great things about this, is, just like the 5-step mesh, it also is a very good blitz beater.
Here is the Green Bay Packers concept, which Chow also runs. This also works well in contingent with mesh as a counter to it. Again, here, the play serves to not only give us something new, and very easy to throw where the throws are right in front of the QB, but also to help him gain a better feel for the route as we move on to the 5-step versions, as he has a lot of experience seeing those windows open quickly and throwing it.
Also, here I show a bit that you can tag this backside receiver to some kind of route or some kind of choice route. Most coaches prefer 3-step choice routes to 5-step ones, where the QB or Receiver make a pre-snap signal. This can be a very effective tool that is easily integrated with these concepts, to give them even more flexibility.
Not only can this be run from west coast plays or bunch plays, but it is also adaptable to the R&S. This play actually is one of the first where I have seen this concept applied. Here, everyone's assignments are the same, but their breaks halve; instead of the seam read at 10-12, they are 5-7. The shallow cross here, just like the Packers concept above, just goes "right now". They must get across the field quickly and can gain depth as they go.
Hope that gives you all some ideas. I think this concept can be developed and can result in a very simple, but very flexible system.
posted by Chris at
3/24/2004 01:25:00 PM
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