Spreading It Out

by: Keith Simons
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At Santa Rosa Junior Coillege our offensive philosophy is to spread people out with formations and to keep the pressure on with a no huddle attack. We want to spread the ball around to our four WR’s and RB and throw the ball short to people who can score.

We also believe in keeping it simple. We only run a few plays but expect our players to execute to perfection. By keeping our play list short, it allows us to utilize our practice time to prepare for any defensive look we may see from our opponent.

We want our players to enter each game with a great feel of confidence in our system and their ability to move the ball and score points. We have finished #1 in the nation in passing yardage and TD passes the last two years and four of the last six seasons. In 2003 and 2004 our QB’s combined to throw 89 TD passes and as an offense we averaged just under 40 points per game.

62 Doubles


Diagram 1. 62 vs. Zone Coverage

One of our best routes is the curl game that we call 62 (four WR’s with an RB in the backfield). We can run this play out of two other formations (trips and empty) and have the same route rules for the WR’s and the same reads and progressions for the QB. Sixty-two also has man / zone adjustments and built-in blitz beaters. For time and space purposes I will only cover 62 out of Doubles (See Diagram l).

X and Y – Have a curl route at twelve yards depth. They must sell the vertical stem to all the cover defenders in the perimeter. At the top of the stem X and Y must turn their heads and eyes inside and see what the slot defender is doing. The curl “window” is based on the slot defenders drop (See Diagrams 2A and 2B).


Diagram 2A

A and Z –They have out routes at six yards depth. They must burst outside vs. all coverage looks. Both slot WR’s must get their head around and expect the ball.

F – Has pass protection responsibilities first and then runs a check down at four yards depth. If F’s man blitzes he will not get out on the route (your QB must know when F can and can not get out on his route). F’s checkdown is a “hold” route on the LB’s in the box and is also the QB’s outlet. When F gets to depth he will sit and anchor (expect the ball).

QB – He will pick the side that gives him the best opportunity to throw and complete the out route. On the snap the QB will key: OUT to CURL to CHECKDOWN.


Diagram 2B




Diagram 3. 62 vs. Man Coverage

(Note: coach can tag curl route to the QB – key curl to checkdown). QB footwork: In the gun = G.S.T. (grab, stab and throw) – if the out is not there he may have to shuffle back and wait for the curl. Under center = quick three step drop (See Diagram 3).

X and Y –Have dig routes at 12 yards depth. At the top of their stem they must stick the toe and burst away inside. X and Y must expect the ball out of their break.

A and Z –Have out routes at six yards depth just like they run vs. zone coverage.

F – Pass protection to checkdown.

QB – He will pick the side that gives him the best opportunity to throw and complete the out route. On the snap the QB will key. OUT to DIG to CHECKDOWN. (Note: coach can tag dig route to the QB – key dig to checkdown). The out route is used as a built-in blitz beater.

Practice drills for 62:

In practice we like to drill our skill guys with specific technique work designed to emulate game situations. We will work the WR’s, RB’s and QB’s on separate drills that pertain to their 62 assignments. For this article I will discuss our group drill that we do, not just for 62 but for all of our pass game. This is the best drill we do with our skill guys. We call it “Routes on Cans.”

Drill set up: 1. Set up in a base formation (Doubles).

2. Place stand up dummies or garbage cans in the position they would be in to simulate zone drops (two deep zone or three deep zone – vs. a double set).


Diagram 4. Routes on Cans

3. Set them up in the depth they would be at the end of their drops (See Diagram 4). We will adjust the dummies to represent whichever zone coverage looks we are going to see from our opponent that week.

4. Even though the entire secondary and LB’s are represented by dummies or cans in the drill, we will only work half line or one side of the field. (This allows the WR coach to really zero in on his players assignments).

5. Halfway through the drill, flip the WR’s to the other side.

6. Three QB’s will drop in unison with one QB going through the cadence.

7. We will run three groups of WR’s and RB’s through vs. a particular coverage and then move the dummies or cans to another zone coverage. The QB’s will rotate clockwise for three reps.


Diagram 5A


Diagram 5B

8. QB to the right will throw the out route on three steps, the middle QB will key the out on three steps then shuffle and throw the curl and the QB to the left will key the out on three steps, shuffle and key the curl and then set and throw the checkdown (See Diagrams 5A and 5B).

Coaching points:

• The cans or dummies are defenders. The WR’s can not sit behind or next to them.

• The QB’s can not throw over a can or dummy. Teach them to throw when a WR has settled in an open area.

• Move the slot defenders to different drops so the curl WR has to adjust his window.

• The RB and WR’s must use great technique on stance and get off stems of their routes.

• The QB’s must execute the proper footwork according to type of throw.

• Move the ball from middle of field to both hash marks (This gives the WR’s practice on proper alignment based on where the ball is).

• After the catch make sure the WR’s and RB’s tuck the ball away and practice getting upfield. Stress quick pivot after the catch and burst away.

• If done correctly, the QB’s should release the ball at three different times based on read progression.

Why this is our best drill:

1. All of the WR’s, RB’s and QB’s get a high number of reps in a short time frame.

2. All of the WR’s and RB’s get to catch a ball on every rep.

3. Your QB gets work on his read progression and drop technique.

Over the years the 62 route and the “Routes on Cans” drill have been extremely successful for us. These are easy concepts to install in any program and at any level.

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