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AFM Magazine


Think Quick! If executed correctly, the quick passing game can be effective, regardless of the down and distance situation.

by: Kris Cinkovich
Offensive Coordinator and Offensive Line Coach University of Idaho
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The University of Idaho’s quick passing game was first developed by Head Coach Dennis Erickson when he coached the Vandals. Now, Paul Petrino has refined the quick passing game after working on it with his brother, Bobby, when both coached at Louisville.

Our goals with the quick passing game are to get the ball out of our QB’s hands quickly and produce explosive plays with short passes.  This demands a system that is detailed, disciplined, and practiced every day at full speed.

We feel confident using the quick passing game at any down and distance situation, even third and medium and third and long. We expect that the precision of the throw and catch will allow the receivers to run after the catch, what we call “Bull Yards.” We also believe the high number of practice repetitions the quick passing game gets allows us to execute in a wide spectrum of game situations.

NAIA Hall of Fame coach Bob Petrino, Sr. has a saying we strongly believe in and preach to our players and our staff:  “Execution is created by constant repetition which establishes sound habit formation that creates a conditioned reflex to any given situation.”

Each quick game concept is called so that there is a 1-high and 2- high answer built in for the QB. To maximize efficiency in the quick game, your quarterback must be decisive, accurate, and have the ability to release the ball quickly. Your wide receivers must have great get off speed, catch the ball wherever it is thrown and run after making the catch with courage and toughness. Your tight ends have to be quick to their routes, able to catch the ball in tight coverage, and be strong enough to break tackles.

Here are the responsibilities of each offensive position in our quick game attack:

QB: 
- 2-step drop in shotgun, a 3-step drop from under center.
- Pre-snap and post-snap, look to determine 1-high coverage, 2-high coverage or cover 0.
- If you have a hitch, take it.

WR:
- Disciplined stance and start, with a great get off every snap.
- Identify man-on, first man inside, and near safety for coverage clues.
- Must create BULL yards (run after catch)
to be successful.

RB: 

- Must step up and confront protection responsibility when it triggers pride in getting RIBS on D-Linemen; that is, the running back must chip in his pass protection. The RB, when his protection key does not come on a blitz, moves up and hits the D-Lineman in the ribs. If the RB is successful, he may slow down the pass rush as the game goes on.

- If no responsibility, triggers stay on same level as offensive line when providing help.

O-LINE:
- Must set tight to the line of scrimmage, hands up and firm.
- Understand the slide side and man side of the protection scheme.
- Anticipate jumpers and drive block them to the ground.

Here are the routes and diagrams of six common concepts in our quick game that are matched together:


Diagram 1A: Hitch/Option

Our quick passing game is based on throwing the 5-step hitch (Diagram 1A). The wide receiver must have a great get off, sell the vertical route, quickly tuck the ball, make a tight turn, and fight to get maximum BULL yards.


Diagram 1B: Hitch/Option

When the hitch route is pressed, it converts to an option route (Diagram 1B). The wide receiver “must win on the fade for a touchdown.” The inside complement route to the hitch is the seam hitch. The seam becomes a hitch when the flat defender buzzes to the flat.

A concept often used on the opposite side of the hitch is the 6-yard option route. This is run by the inside receiver. He can “win in/out, or over the top.” The #1 WR runs a protection go route.

Diagram 2A: Slant/Arrow


Diagram 2B: Slant/Arrow

   


In the slant/arrow call, the #1 receiver runs a 3-step slant (with no conversions). Out of the break his aiming point is the outside shoulder of the near safety (Diagram 2A).

The #2 receiver/tight end (TE) runs the arrow route to a point 3 yards past the line of scrimmage on the sideline. He should look for the ball on his second step.

This concept can also be called with slants by both wide receivers on the same side (Diagram 2B). In this case, the QB will key the man over the #2 receiver.





Diagram 3: Hitch/Hook



On the hitch/hook call, the #1 receiver to both sides runs the 5-step hitch as shown (Diagram 3). The #2 receiver/TE runs the 6-yard hook. He can “hook in, hook out, or break out” depending on LB leverage.


Diagram 4: Hitch/Out

On the hitch/out play, the WRs to the hitch call execute the hitch/seam hitch concept (Diagram 4). The out call gives the #2 receiver/TE a 6-yard out route. The #1 receiver has a protection fade route. If working the 6-yard out half of the field, the QB will “hold the safety and key the corner.”



Diagram 5: Oklahoma/X-Z Individual Calls

The Oklahoma/X-Z individual calls are used from 3 x 1 formations (Diagram 5). The individual call can be a hitch, halt (a locked 6-yard hitch), slant, sluggo (slant and go), or hugo (hitch and go).

The Oklahoma concept is as follows – the #1 receiver has a protection fade route, the #2 receiver has a 6-yard out (arrow route if attached to the formation), and the #3 receiver/TE has the 6-yard hook route.

In this situation, the QB takes the individual route whenever it is available to him and the matchup is favorable.


Diagram 6: Green (6 yard Out/Shallow Cross)

The ‘Green’ play is also a 3 x 1 concept. The concept to the three WR side has the #1 receiver on a protection fade route, the #2 receiver has a protection seam route, and the #3 receiver has a 6-yard out (Diagram 6). 

The receiver/TE on the single receiver side has a shallow cross route with an urgency to get past the ball and the Mike linebacker. The QB then keys the man over #2 back, down to the shallow cross.


We believe that mixing half field concepts together give us the ability to beat basic coverage shells, including cover 2 and cover 3.


About the Author: Kris Cinkovich is a 1984 graduate of Carroll College where he was an offensive lineman. He earned his Mater’s Degree from the University of Central Washington. Cinkovich coached at Las Vegas High School and later, in the college level, at both UNLV (2004-2009) and the University of Arkansas (2010-2012).This will be his second season as Assistant Head Coach, Offensive Coordinator and Offensive Line Coach at Idaho.

Members of the Idaho offensive coaching staff contributed to this article. They include Running Backs Coach Jason Shumaker, Tight Ends Coach Al Pupunu, Quarterbacks Coach Bryce Erickson, Wide Receivers Coach Charlie Molnar and Graduate Assistants Mark Slack and Nick Gilbert.






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