3-Step Passing Game
Blinn College\'s ball control passing
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It is my pleasure to share with you the cornerstone of our offense
at Blinn College which is our 3-step passing series. This series
has been the foundation of our offense and helped us be very successful
as an offensive unit. During the past two seasons we have completed
73% of our 3-step passes and averaged 12.2 yards per completion
using this series.
At Blinn College we operate primarily from the shotgun and employ the no huddle
from spread formations. Our objectives as an offense are to develop a ball control
passing game and eliminate mental mistakes. The 3-step game we use has helped
us accomplish these goals. Some of the reasons we like to run the spread no huddle
offense are:
•
To better utilize our skilled athletes.
•
Take pressure off the offensive line.
•
Neutralize a dominant front seven.
•
Difficult for the defense to simulate in practice.
•
Difficult for the defense to disguise coverage.
•
Easy to read the blitz.
•
Spreads the defense out.
•
Creates mismatches.
The spread no huddle attack has helped us put up some great offensive numbers
including a scoring average of nearly 53 points per game. Also, this past year
we set new conference records for total offense (558 per game), total points
(476), and passing yards (3,096). Our Quarterback Dane King led the NJCAA in
passing yards and total offense, receiver Rashod Turner led the NJCAA with 64
catches for 1045 yards and 11 touchdowns, and running back Derrick Ross finished
third in the NJCAA with 1,487 yards.
Our 3-step passing game consists of 10 routes. We like to run certain routes
against different coverages, and these are the routes that we check to versus
the blitz. We primarily use slide protection when running these routes when we
have six available blockers, and use man protection when using five blockers.
Timing is very important when throwing each of these routes. We work on each
of these routes daily, perfecting our timing of the throw, and steps of our receivers.
We feel that it is very important to get as many repetitions as possible each
day to become proficient at these routes. We start each practice with routes
on air to perfect these routes. Also, each day we do 10-minute 1/2 skeleton drills
vs. our defense running our 3 step routes and then a 20-minute full pass skeleton
drill vs. our defense. We always go #1 offense versus #1 defense when doing each
of these drills because we feel we can get better repetitions because of the
level of competition. We also work these routes for 5 minutes daily vs. bump
man-to-man coverage.
The following diagrams are each of our routes with the assignment of the quarterback,
running back, and our 4 wide receivers.
If you have any questions about any of these route or how we run our no huddle
offense, feel free to call us at Blinn College and we would be glad to answer
any questions that you might have. Best of luck in the coming season.
Diagram 1. Turn |
Position |
Assignment: Turn |
QB |
5 STEP QUICK STEP. BEST LOOK SIDE. |
X |
TURN AT 10 YDS. |
A |
TURN AT 10 YDS. |
Y |
TURN AT 10 YDS. |
Z |
TURN AT 10 YDS. |
B |
BLOCK PROTECTION |
|
Diagram 2. Inside Rec. Fade |
Position |
Assignment: Turn |
QB |
QB 3-STEP - READ THE CORNER. LOOKING
TO THROW THE FADE VS. MAN PRESS. IF THE CORNER BAILS,
THEN CHECK IT DOWN TO X. |
X |
RUN LIKE THE OUTSIDE SCREEN. COME DOWN
L.O.S. AND SETTLE. |
A |
FADE |
Y |
FADE |
Z |
RUN LIKE AN OUTSIDE SCREEN. COME DOWN
L.O.S. AND SETTLE. |
B |
BLOCK PROTECTION |
|
Diagram 3. Smash |
Position |
Assignment: Turn |
QB |
3-STEP - READ THE CORNER. |
X |
RELEASE AT 45 DEGREES AND SIT AT 4 YDS. |
A |
CORNER BREAK AT 10-12 YDS. |
Y |
CORNER BREAK AT 10-12 YDS. |
Z |
RELEASE AT 45 DEGREES AND SIT AT 4 YDS. |
B |
BLOCK PROTECTION |
|
Diagram 4. Sluggo |
Position |
Assignment: Turn |
QB |
3-STEP - LOOKING TO THROW THE
SLUGGO. IF THE CORNER AND SAFETY SIT ON IT, LOOK FOR
THE BUBBLE. THE BUBBLE MAY TURN UP THE SIDELINE. |
X |
SLANT AND GO. BREAK AT 6, TAKE 3 STEPS
ON THE SLANT, THEN BURST VERTICAL |
A |
BUBBLE |
Y |
BUBBLE |
Z |
SLANT AND GO. BREAK AT 6, TAKE 3 STEPS
ON THE SLANT, THEN BURST VERTICAL. |
B |
BLOCK PROTECTION |
|
Diagram 5. Hitch |
Position |
Assignment: Turn |
QB |
3-STEP - READ SOFTEST CORNER
TO SHORTEST THROW. ALSO BE ALERT TO OUTSIDE BACKER OR
ALLEY PLAYER THAT CAN JUMP IN THE THROWING LANE VS. ANY
ROTATION IN SECONDARY WORK OPPOSITE THE ROTATION. |
X |
HITCH AT 6 - PUSH OUTSIDE SHOULDER OF
DB - CONVERT TO A FADE VS. PRESSURE. |
A |
INSIDE SEAM - THROTTLE DOWN IN THE HOLE
AFTER 1ST BACKER. |
Y |
INSIDE SEAM - THROTTLE DOWN IN THE HOLE
AFTER 1ST BACKER. |
Z |
HITCH AT 6 YDS - PUSH OUTSIDE SHOULDER
OF DB CONVERT TO A FADE VS. PRESS. |
B |
BLOCK PROTECTION |
|
Diagram 6. Out |
Position |
Assignment: Turn |
QB |
5-STEP FIRM - READ SOFTEST CORNER
TO SHORTEST THROW. ALSO BE ALERT TO OUTSIDE BACKER OR
ALLEY PLAYER THAT CAN JUMP IN THE THROWING LANE VS. ANY
ROTATION IN SECONDARY WORK OPPOSITE THE ROTATION. |
X |
SPEED CUT OUT AT 10 ROLLING TO 12. |
A |
INSIDE SEAM. THROTTLE DOWN IN THE HOLE
AFTER 1ST BACKER. |
Y |
INSIDE SEAM. THROTTLE DOWN IN THE HOLE
AFTER 1ST BACKER. |
Z |
SPEED CUT OUT AT 10 ROLLING TO 12. |
B |
BLOCK PROTECTION |
|
Diagram 7. Slant |
Position |
Assignment: Turn |
QB |
3-STEP - THROW BEST LOOK SIDE. READ
THE OUTSIDE BACKER. BE ALERT TO ANY ALLEY PLAYER THAT
CAN JUMP THE SLANT. |
X |
SLANT AT 6 YDS. |
A |
BUBBLE |
Y |
BUBBLE |
Z |
SLANT AT 6 YDS. |
B |
BLOCK PROTECTION |
|
Diagram 8. Vertical |
Position |
Assignment: Turn |
QB |
3-STEP - VS. 2 SAFETIES READ 1/2
FIELD SAFETY VS. 1 SAFETY READ HIM AND LOOK FOR ONE OF
THE INSIDE VERTICALS. |
X |
VERTICAL - FASTEST RELEASE. |
A |
VERTICAL - FASTEST RELEASE AND GET 2 YDS.
OUTSIDE OF THE HASH |
Y |
VERTICAL - FASTEST RELEASE AND GET 2 YDS.
OUTSIDE OF THE HASH |
Z |
VERTICAL - FASTEST RELEASE. |
B |
BLOCK PROTECTION |
|
Diagram 9. Out |
Position |
Assignment: Turn |
QB |
3-STEP - READ THE OUTSIDE BACKER.
LOOK FOR THE INSIDE RECEIVER WITH THE BEST LEVERAGE. |
X |
VERTICAL MUST TAKE AN OUTSIDE RELEASE. |
A |
SPEED CUT OUT AT 4 ROLLING TO 6 YDS. |
Y |
SPEED CUT OUT AT 4 ROLLING TO 6 YDS. |
Z |
VERTICAL - MUST TAKE AN OUTSIDE RELEASE. |
B |
BLOCK PROTECTION |
|
Diagram 10. All Slant |
Position |
Assignment: Turn |
QB |
3-STEP - READ THE OUTSIDE BACKER.
YOU ARE LOOKING FOR THE INSIDE SLANT. IF THE BACKER COLLAPSES
IT, THEN LOOK OUTSIDE. |
X |
SLANT AT 6 YDS. |
A |
SLANT - GET INSIDE THE BACKER AND THEN
GET BACK VERTICAL. |
Y |
SLANT - GET INSIDE THE BACKER AND THEN
GET BACK VERTICAL. |
Z |
SLANT AT 6 YDS. |
B |
BLOCK PROTECTION |
|
About the author
Scott Maxfield
This fall Scott Maxfield begins his third season as Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator
at Blinn College. The Buccaneer offense ranked #l nationally in total team
offense, passing offense, and scoring offense. Coach Maxfield previously coached
at Pearl River Community College and Northwest Mississippi Community College.
You can reach him at smaxfield@blinn.edu