The below is an excerpt from the new book by passing guru and friend of Smart Football, Dan Gonzalez, titled Recoded and Reloaded: An Updated Structure for a Complete Passing Game at Any Level, which expands and builds on his earlier book, Concept Passing. You can find the book on Amazon and CreateSpace.
For all the talk in football about “systems” — the Air Raid system, the West Coast Offense, the Run and Shoot, a Pro-Style System — there is very little discussion of how does one go about building an effective system, and what makes a system effective. There are a few cliches that everyone throws around when discussing systems, that each seem to contradict each other: they have to “have answers” while being “simple”; they have to be “easy to learn and communicate” but be “flexible” enough to account for “multiplicity”; and they have to be “cutting edge” and “new” but still rely on “sound football principles.” This isn’t to say all of this can’t be accomplished — I believe they can — but it’s clearly not easy. I put a significant amount of thought into this as I wanted to rework my existing passing system.
I began by trying to simplify the existing system. But, while simplifying a structure to accommodate beginning learners is relatively easy, as all you may need to do is simply be a matter of stripping away layers from a complex organization, you might be left with something very incomplete. You might be “simple” but not have “sufficient answers.”
Because of my coaching background, a system overhaul required not only accommodating the most basic in features; the ability of the scheme to “grow” into a complete pattern system is a non-negotiable as well. So what makes a pattern system complete? As a fledgling coach, the great Homer Smith’s influence on how I conceptualized the passing game could not be overemphasized. His willingness to correspond, send me game and drill footage, and converse with me crystallized my vision of what I wanted in my system. The first page of my quarterback manual reiterates what he imparted to me, namely the characteristics I’ve outlined below. It’s my belief that any well designed passing system must have all of these traits.
- (1) It gives receivers the opportunity to defeat tight man coverage. This is more than simply having one or two “pick” plays (Figure 2-1) that a team uses. It encompasses development of release and separation techniques on individual routes, and the emphasis of accuracy and timing on the part of the passer, and having viable options that can separate from man coverage on every pass play.
- (2) Prevents conflict between receivers. Figure 2-2 shows an example of receivers whose pass routes “bleed” into one another. In other words, the routes are so close in proximity that two defenders can cover three offensive people.
Our stretches are designed to isolate a specific defender, and make sure there is enough space so that one defender cannot cover two receivers (Figure 2-3).
- (3) Have a defined timing. Our dropback passes typically operate in the same rhythm. For example, in Figure 2-4, the QB will take the shotgun snap, drop back three steps and:
- Throw the inside curl route out of the plant, or
- Hitch and throw to the curl or flat based on the movement of S, or
- Hitch and scan to backside routes, or
- Escape the rush and run for as much yardage as possible.
This way, the QB will keep rhythm with his hitch steps; the routes will also be timed to come open as the passer’s eyes move to them.
- (4) Stretch the defense vertically and horizontally. Even when our primary goal is a short, controlled completion, our offensive unit will be given the opportunity to make plays down the field when the defense presents it. In the image below, though the concept is the stretch on the flat defender (S), the QB will have awareness of the advantage route being run by the Y receiver. Should the corner try to close down to help the S, the defense would be vulnerable to the flag route.
- (5) Keep the QB out of interception danger. Because of the physiological fact that our eyes “jump” or “fix” on objects rather than scan as a movie camera does, certain relationships between receivers and the movement of the QB’s eyes are better than others. One team I was associated with once threw 24 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. Two interceptions were the result of deflections; six came relationships like the one below (Figure 2-6):
The illustration above shows a progression where the B is first and the Y is second. As the MLB takes the B, the quarterback prepares to throw to the Y. Because Y’s route is headed in the same direction as the passer’s eyes, and his eyes start behind the “IN” route, the QB never sees the WLB, who has settled in his pass drop and moves with the quarterback. We will sequence routes in relation to the quarterback’s eyes so that the QB will start out in front of “IN” routes and swing into them (Figure 2-7) so that as the passer moves his feet and works to them, the passer will see “color” in front of his intended receiver.
- (6) Deny pattern reading by the defense. This is done at several levels. First, receivers are afforded the opportunity in this system to have threats built off of similar route “stems,” as shown in Figure 2-8.
Second, Figure 2-9 illustrates how we can accompany a short route (a flat route, for example) with threats coming from multiple directions. In other words, a defense cannot simply see a flat route and assume a curl route from the outside, as some defenses will.
Third, we will deny bracketing defenders the chance to help their teammates by attacking them with threats of their own (Figure 2-10).
- (7) Keep receivers from free pass defenders. An overriding principle in our passing game, skill position players will drill every day in defeating both man and zone coverage (Figure 2-11).
The diagram above illustrates one of these drills, in which a backside receiver will defeat the drop of the linebacker and provide a clean throw for the passer.
- (8) Have a principle of route conversion. The days of checking plays pre snap are going by the wayside; if the offense is truly to dictate to the defense, it must have the ability to “convert” certain routes versus the coverage they see. The diagram below (Figure 2-12) features the “Four Verticals” pattern called in anticipation of a 3-deep zone defense. Though the defense appears to be Cover 3, it is actually “2 Robber” made popular by Virginia Tech.
In the event that the L corner collapses on the seam, allowing the F to cheat to the field, the A receiver must have the ability to adjust his route accordingly. The blue lines illustrate the normal four vertical pattern; the red lines indicate the adjustments to the coverage, with the dotted lines representing throwing options for the QB. The pattern is still able to hit the weakness of the pass defense.
- (9) Adjust to condensed field areas. Certain patterns go away as the offense gets closer to the goal line. A good pattern system must have the flexibility to attack in these confined spaces, with the same rhythm as when in the open field.
- (10) Have the ability to isolate certain parts of a pass defense. Not only will we release the maximum number of receivers whenever possible, but we have an effective means to get the ball to any area of the field as well. Our Advantage Principles help ensure we are directing the QB to the thinnest part of the coverage (Figure 2-13), ensuring that the Concept portion of the read will have the proper isolation.
In the figure above, the Advantage Principle is “RAM,” in which the quarterback will select his stretch concept based on the drop of the M linebacker. Here, the M drops to the right, isolating the W in a 2 on 1 disadvantage.
- (11) Allow for quick throws when the defense is outflanked. This is becoming more and more common in football, with quick screens being attached to running plays (Figure 2-14).
The inside run is dependent on the defense deploying with the three receivers on the right. If they do not, the quick screen is thrown.
- (12) Accommodate delays and screens. While most offenses have integrated the screen game in their offense, many do not feature delays as part of their normal repertoire. Our emphasis on getting to the last man in the progression, or “Third Fix,” is what sets us apart from most. Also, our combination of traditional quick game ideas with traditional drop-back patterns (Figure 2-15) helps keep us ahead of defenses from the standpoint of attacking the full field.
- (13) Have set reading concepts. Our whole method of attack will be based on set concepts. A “concept” is different from just “a play,” as a concept is defined as “an idea of something formed by mentally combining all its characteristics or particulars.” With just 3 generalized ways of looking at pass patterns, the seemingly infinite combinations of pass routes can be distilled into common sense, learnable chunks.
- (14) Have organized scramble rules. The explosive plays created when the QB is able to extend the timeline of a pass play can undoubtedly change a game, and even a season. Having organized rules will help us find order amongst the chaos of a quarterback scramble.
- (15) Have the ability to adjust to multiple formations. Over the years, the use of multiple formations has been a hallmark of our offense. As formations change, the burden should be on the defense, not the offense. Figure 2-16 illustrates a pattern structure commonly known as “Stick” from a balanced, four wide receiver grouping.
As the pattern is fitted to a “trips” formation (Figure 2-17), or with the addition of an H Back (Figure 2-18), or even 2 backs in the backfield (Figure 2-19), there is no change for the picture the QB gets. Moreover, there is no change for any rules for any skill players or offensive linemen.
With these parameters set, we will now go about putting the system together that will meet all these criteria.
To read the rest of Dan Gonzalez’s Recoded and Reloaded: An Updated Structure for a Complete Passing Game at Any Level, you can find it on Amazon and CreateSpace.