Passing Game Concepts

What is a concept?

 In football language a concept is running the

same play as many different ways as you
can think of.
 For Example: How many ways can we run
Curl Flat?
Why do we teach concepts?

 1. It allows us to  5. Protections are

maximize reps in consistent.
practice
 2.It is simple for our
players but causes
problems for defenses
 3. It allows skill players
to improve quickly
 4. Simplifies the game
for the QB.
How do we teach our concepts?

1. Movement Key ( based on coverage)

2. Dual Concept ( 1 or 2 high beater)
3. Single concept (not based on coverage)
Single Concept

 We apply this sequence 1. Gift ( pre snap)

to each concept. 2. Protect (pre snap)
 Every play has the 3. Action (1)
following: 4. Reaction (2)
5. Check Down (3)
Concepts

 1. 3 step or 90  7. boots/nakeds
 2. Spacing/ Snag/ Bucs  8. Play-Action,Sprint-
 3. curl/flat out: Flood, Snag,mesh.
 4. smash
 5. 4 verticals
 6. shallow/cross
How do we teach it
1. Throwing the football takes
twice as much time to
become proficient at it. You
must be patient and stay the
course.
2. Throwing the football is
about spacing and timing.
 Phases
1. Individual routes
2. Routes on Air/ Passing
station
3. Skelly
4. Team
5. After a summer of throwing
thousands of reps in 7 on 7
we do much more team
pass when we start practice.
It is different when you have
a rush.
3 Step-90/ 91/ 92 / Snag/ Bucs

 Important coaching points:  4. When we are in gun we

 1. We never throw the 3 step tell Qb catch-cock and
game enough! throw.
 2. We make it part of our run  5. When never throw the 3
game step enough!
 3. If you are under center
use a scout team center to
snap to QB during
individual. It forces Qb to get
ball set. It helps with the
timing
Spacing
 What is spacing?
 In a nut shell it is a shorter
curl flat
 Z runs a mini-curl- 5 yards
and stem the post to 7.
 TE runs a corner
 FB runs an arrow no deeper
than 1 yard. (important)
 X runs a quick out
 QB progression
1. Pre-snap-If the quick out
(Gift) is open take it every
time.
2. If not you will work strong
side.
3. The thought process is mini-
curl arrow
4. We only throw the corner
when we tell him to look at it.
You are kidding yourself if
you think he can go
corner,mini curl, arrow.
Coaching points

 1. You cannot go from

FS
the quick out to the C
SS C

mini-curl. It must be a W
T
M
N T
S
E

pre-snap read.
 2. QB must take a Big
three drop. 1-2-3-Hitch
if throwing string side.
FS
 3. Z must body up in C
SS C

front of corner. Show X

W
T
M
N T
S
E

numbers to QB. FB
Z
Spacing star

 Spacing Star
 Everything remains the
same except sit rout is
coming from the C
FS SS
C

opposite side. W M S
T N T E
X Y
TB Z
QB
FB
Snag

1. Great because you

can run it against any
coverage FS SS
C
C
2. Inside receivers run a W M S
T N
win route. Must chase X
T E
Y
Z
the inside arm pit of QB
FB
the defender.
TB
3. X and Z run snag
routes.
Coaching Points

1. The win route is the

most important part of
play. Inside receiver
must take off inside
arm pit.
2. Vs. press man
coverage X and Z
make corner turn his
hips ( 5 to 7 yards).
“make it happen”
Curl /Flat

1. We are trying to create

a triangle when
running this. We want
a curl, a arrow or
pirouette, and a check
down or sit.
2. We run our curl 14
yards. At 12 yards we
stem the post to 14
yards.
Coaching points:

You can run an arrow

14 yards
C C12
1. FS

or pirouette W M S SS
2. Pirouette really gives X
E N T E
Y
the curl defender Z

trouble. They can’t TB FB

stand it! C
14 yards
C
FS
3. QB progression is
Curl (Action)-Flat W M S SS
E T E
(Reaction)-Check X
N
Y
Z
down or Sit
TB FB
4. Spacing is essential!
Curl- Flat- Switch

1. Vs Cover 4 we like to
switch up Y and FB.
2. Why? Safety in cover C
FS SS
14 yards
C12

4 is reading #2. If 2
W M
goes flat safety jumps E N T
S
E
curl. X Y
Z

3. Switch up Y and FB. It TB FB

opens the curl window

Variations of Curl- Flat
14 yards
C C12 C
14 yards
C12
FS SS SS
FS

W M S W M S
E N T E E N T E
X X Y
Z TB Z

14 yards
C
C C12 C
FS SS SS
FS

W M S W M S
E N T E E N T E
X Y X
TB Z TB Z

FB
Smash

1. Smash is out corner and 1. QB will pre-snap the

under concept
2. It is good against all 2.
coverage's especially man.
3. Corner is run at 12 yards.
4. Under is a 2 step route. 3.
We then read inside
defender. If he sits I sit. If 4.
he opens hips and moves
we come on the banana.
coverage.
If cover three or Quarters
we tell QB Corner is off go
to under route now.
If cover 2 we high low
corner
If man we throw corner
now.
 FS SS

W M S C
C
T T E
N
Z