Developing a Passing Attack that Fits Your Plans and Players

by: Charlie Stubbs
Former Offensive Coordinator, University of Louisville
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Throughout my twenty-nine years in the profession, I have had the opportunity to coach at both the collegiate and high school levels. During that time, I have had the pleasure of working with various coaching staffs that have helped me formulate my philosophies on dealing with the passing game. At the same time, I have had many athletes with various ranges in athletic abilities. Therefore, I have had to adapt each year to the specific situation.

When you are developing a passing attack, it is important to build a system that fits your athletes’ abilities and to get your best 11 players on the field! Remember: A Style Of Your Own!

Evaluate Your Personnel
It is important to evaluate all of your offensive positions, not just the quarterback. This will enable you to blend their strengths together to get 11 players executing as an offensive unit.

Offensive Linemen: Assess their overall ability so that you can determine which pass protection schemes you will use (3 or 5 step, drop, sprint play action, etc.)

Running Backs/Tight Ends: These positions are the easiest to get open in a passing game. Be sure to thoroughly evaluate them to get the most out of their talent.

Wide Receivers: Evaluate their overall athletic ability (quickness, speed, agility, catching ability, etc). Figure out how to utilize your receivers’ strengths. Design routes and patterns that feature your receivers’ capabilities.

Evaluating Your Quarterback
Deciding on your team’s quarterback is one of the most critical decisions you have to make. There are many inherent qualities I look for in a QB that must be present for him to be successful in our system.

Qualifications Desired: (Not In Any Order)
Athletic Ability
His passing abilities must be paramount. More specifically, he must be accurate and throw n time. As a runner, he has to possess escapability; that is, the ability to avoid the pass rush. He should be a playmaker with the ability to make the big play.

Leadership and Confidence
The quarterback must be consistent in all areas (drills, meetings, academics, etc.). He has to be a coach/motivator on the field and lead by example. He must ever, ever lose confidence in his abilities; he always believes in the system.

Poise
Your quarterback needs to think clearly and have composure. He must be thick skinned (be able to handle criticism).

Intelligence
He has to have the ability to learn the complete offense (football sense); understand defenses—their strengths and weaknesses; make correct decisions mentally and physically; and be a student of the game. You can’t overestimate the need for game study and preparation.

Quick Hands and Feet
Your quarterback must have the ability to execute all QB movements to be a complete player. He needs to be both smooth and efficient without a lot of wasted movement.

Your Quarterbacks Must - 1. Always give a great effort!
2. Be coachable - listen!
3. Stay positive in all situations!

Fundamentals Are Key
In order for your players to perform at a much higher level, it is crucial that they have been taught the proper fundamentals. Fundamentals are the key to success. Many coaches are so excited about implementing their innovative schemes that they put them in place before working on fundamentals. You will not be successful doing this! Each position coach should develop a list of drills that will be utilized when coaching his position.

Protect The Quarterback
When I was a young 29-year old offensive coordinator at Oregon State during the late 80s, I thought that the offense revolved mainly around the QB and other skilled positions. Was I wrong. The game starts upfront at the line of scrimmage. Over the years a motto that I have to come to believe is:

When You Control The LOS - You Control The Ball! When You Control The Ball - You Control The Score!
There are many methods of protecting the QB. A coach must again select the type(s) that best fit his personnel. A few important points to consider:

1. Practice your protections according to what you stress. This will aid you in game planning. (Example: 5-step (40%); 3-step (20%); play action (15%); others (25%) screens, spring out, etc.).

2. Reminder: Defenses can always bring at least one extra defender that you have the ability to block. Be prepared for ‘hot’ throws or sight adjustments.

3. You must have a variety of launch points that make you not as predictable.

Complementary Route, Drops (Set-Up) For the Quarterback
When you are designing your pass patterns, it is important that the QB drops (set-up) and the individual routes complement each other.

This will allow the offense to flow and ensure that the ball is delivered on time.

Aids To Passing Game
It is important to have as much balance in your offense as possible. That’s why a solid running game is important. Defenses must respect your teams’ running game. With regard to protections, don't limit yourself to one or two types. Defenses are smart and will find a way to get to your QB if you always use the same schemes and launch point.

Try throwing on first down. On many occasions, throwing on first down will give you the most basic or predictable defensive coverages to attack. You should also utilize screens and draws. This will slow down an aggressive pass rush. You should also keep down and distance reasonable. A good offense must stay out of long-yardage situations.

The Winning Edge
As your passing attack begins to evolve, it is important to challenge your athletes to take it to a higher level. A good motto to team your players is:

"Perfection Is Our Goal, But Excellence Will Be Tolerated! Light Up The Scoreboard!"
The following are areas to focus on that will give your team a winning edge and make a difference in your passing game:

1. Utilize multiple formations, motions, shifts (disguises).
2. Utilize the gun formation.
3. Throw to the backs.
4. Give your QB simple reads and progressions.
5. Attack zone coverages vertically and horizontally.
6. Attack man coverages with crossing routes. Look for mismatches.
7. Prepare for the blitz. Know the hot principles and sight adjustments.
8. Perform a scramble drill. The game is not perfect. Develop a plan for route adjustments when the QB is forced out of the pocket.

In closing, it is important to recognize that there are numerous philosophies of offensive football, especially dealing with the passing game. My purpose for writing this article is to stimulate thought as to how you should implement your passing attack to develop A Style Of Your Own.

It is important to be reminded that every defense has a weakness - as a coach you must find and exploit it! We as coaches must always be reminded that in order to be successful, it's not what we know but:

1. What our players know.
2. What you have time to practice (repetitions are the key!)
3. What you can execute!

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