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AFM Magazine


Coach to Coach – The Check With Me Passing Series

by: Bryon Hamilton
Head Coach, Foothill High School, Palo Cedro (CA)
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There are three passing concepts from our “Check With Me” passing series that have been very successful for me and my quarterbacks. These plays are called by our QBs from the line of scrimmage and they are very effective in attacking coverage schemes.

Here are three Check With Me passing concepts:

1. Check Quick

This “check with me” quick pass concept allows the quarterback to call a specific route combination based primarily on the pre-snap coverage read. This concept is executed form one of our 2 x 2 formations and our empties formation. The quick game routes are designed to have a four-step break point (approximately five yards) by the receivers and a one-step drop for the quarterback (three steps from under center). We want to get the ball out of the quarterbacks hand in less than 1.5 seconds and we want to throw the ball on the break point (fourth step) of the receiver’s route. The progression of the play starts with the QB scanning the field from left to right. Once he has identified what play he wants to call, he will audible the selection via the cadence to our receivers and back.

Our normal cadence consists of a three number sequence that we repeat twice. On most plays these numbers are not “live” and mean absolutely nothing. However, when the play is a designated “check with me”, the players know that the numbers are live and they will indicate which play and thus which route combination we are running. In this play concept, we number the players from the outside in with the outside receivers being labeled as #1 and the inside receiver being #2. This is the same for both sides. The back is labeled as #5. (We reserve the #3 for a specific play tag which I will describe later).

When the QB audibles the play, he will start the cadence with the number that signifies the primary receiver. #1 would indicate the outside receivers and #2 would indicate the inside receivers. The second number is a dummy number and does not indicate anything. The third number is the route that the primary receivers will run. As an example: cadence: “102..102..set hit”. In this call the outside receivers are tagged as the primary receivers (#1) and the route is our 2 route (our slant from our route tree). Therefore, in this call all outside receivers would run a four-step slant and the inside receivers would run their complementary route to the slant (receivers memorize the simple complementary routes in the quick game) which in our scheme is a bubble route. In another example, if the QB wanted a  four-step out route by the #2 receivers, he would call a “201”. The cadence would be “201..201..set hit”.  This would indicate that the #2 receivers would run a one route and the outside receivers would run their complementary route (a vertical). If the QB wants all the receivers to run the same route he would then start the cadence with the #3 as the #3 is the number that alerts all receivers that they are running the same or mirrored routes. A “301” call would indicate that both the inside and the outside receivers would run a five-yard out. We also run this series with some motion and with a HB draw option as well.

2. Check 3

This concept is another in our Check With Me passing series. The play is designed to allow our QB to utilize a pre-snap read of the defense and take advantage of the  designated scheme and pressure that the defense may bring. In this play, we number the receivers from left to right with the furthest receiver from the QB (from his left side) being #1 and the remaining three receivers as #2,#3,#4 with the  back being #5.

The play is called at the line of scrimmage in the same way as the check quick series with the first number indicating which receiver is going to run the  primary three route (Our three route is a 10-yard out) and which receivers will run complementary routes. Unlike the quick series however, the third number of the cadence is dead with the second number always being a 0 or 3 (If the second number is a 3, then the back and the QB will execute a quick play-action mesh. If it is a 0, then the play will not include the play-action).
As an example: “201…201… set hit” would tag the #2 receiver  as the primary 3 route and the remaining receivers  would use the on-and off-side rules described here. “231…231..set hit” would be the exact same play with a play-action mesh between the back the QB.

In the Check 3 play, we teach the receivers the simple concept of primary side (on) and back side (off) rules.

- The primary side rules are the tagged receiver runs the 10-yard out and the remaining receiver on that side runs a vertical seam route breaking away from a single safety and splitting a two-high look.

- The backside rules are the closest receiver to the QB runs a under route in which he attacks flat at the heels of the nearest defensive lineman and then gains depth to three or four yards at the frontside guard. He will settle in any open space between the guard and the hook curl zone and will continue across versus man coverage. This receiver must replace any vacating LB and be ready for the ball quickly versus inside pressure. The furthest receiver on the back side will run a vertical route breaking away from a single high defender or executing a deep crossing route versus any two-high look. 
   
The Check 3 concept is designed for a three-step drop (from the gun) and is often  coupled with a hitch step prior to the release. The QB reads are simple as we are trying to attack any one-on one-matchup that we feel is in our favor versus man coverage. Versus zone coverage, we will read the levels of the zone drops and will attack with the under route and the deep seam or crossing route. The QB will read and throw off the defenders depth. This concept has a blitz beater route built into it with the under route and we will throw often versus any inside pressure brought by the defense.

In our Check 3 concept, we also have the option to get the ball to the back by starting the cadence with a #5. The play we choose for the 5 call will be based on that week’s game plan. We often designate the #5 call as a slip screen or draw to the back. The offensive line has to be alert to any 5 call by the QB as it will change their pass protection to a screen or draw assignment.

3. Bandit Series

The final Check With Me concept is our “Bandit” series. Again, this series is called from the line of scrimmage and its success relies on the ability of the QB to read the defense and make great choices.

This play is always run from a 3 x 1 formation. We can either line up in this formation or motion to it. (Often motion will “tip” the coverage and pressure calls by the defense. If this is the case, we will motion to a 3 x 1 at various times throughout  the game). This concept is designed to get our best receiver or matchup in a route that defeats whatever coverage is called by the defense. It also is designed to attack the defense on the three- receiver side if too many defenders are designated to the single receiver side.

The “Bandit” is always the receiver that is aligned or ends up as the single receiver. His route will be determined by the QB and will be called by the first number in the cadence. If the QB wants the receiver to run a curl/settle route, he will start the cadence with a number 4 (our curl route from our passing tree). If he wants a go route on the numbers, he would start the cadence with the number 9. This allows the QB to call any route that is on our tree for the bandit receiver to run. The remaining three receivers will run a predetermined route combination. If we call Bandit Flood then they will execute our flood route. If we call Bandit Whip, then the three receivers will run our whip concept. We can tag any three-receiver route concept into a bandit call. In this series, we usually have the HB run a swing route to the single receiver side. This will stretch the flat defender and will neutralize edge pressure from the bandit side. This is important as we slide our protection away from the bandit. The QB drop will be determined by the call that the QB will make.

I hope these strategies are helpful in your preparation for the 2013 season. Feel free to contact me with any questions and that these concepts are shown in detail in the DVD “The Quick Passing Game: A Check With Me System Made Easy” available at AFMvideos.com.

 






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