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Sprint Out! One of the keys for a successful sprint out passing game is protecting the backside of your quarterback.by: Matt Franzen, Head Coach and Offensive Line Coach and Grant MollringOffensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach, Doane College © More from this issue We divide our passing game into three different categories – 3-step, 5-step, and roll-out. As we operate from the shotgun formation about 90% of the time, we’ve made obvious footwork adjustments from the traditional quarterback drops that are used when working under center. This is our roll-out package, including our blocking scheme, quarterback mechanics and reads, and the route combinations that we use within this scheme. Diagram 1.
By chasing a rusher a full gap removed, a run-through lane will naturally open and create a crack in the frontside protection. Also, the linemen should work to keep their shoulders square. Any turn of the shoulders will also open a run-through lane. As a general rule, once the playside lineman engages a defender, he must stay on him. Releasing after contact will confuse the running back. The center, guard, and tackle should have no more than an arm’s length between them, allowing nothing to split the wall. Anything rushing the D gap from the back side will have to run deep enough so they won’t be able to chase down the quarterback. Any stunt crossing the tackle’s face will be picked up by the line. Any defensive lineman or blitz in the C gap is the RB’s responsibility. If a blitz comes wide (D gap), the RB may recognize this pre-snap. He should adjust his path to block the D gap blitz, if there is no C gap threat. If a wide blitz comes post-snap, the RB will attack inside-out and widen the LB, giving the QB an opportunity to step inside the rush and deliver the ball. If rushers come in both the C and D gaps, the RB should block the most dangerous rusher and the QB needs to release the ball quickly to the flat receiver. Like all teams that use a sprint out passing game, the most important teaching point for the QB is to make sure the ball is thrown as he is running downhill and his momentum can “chase the ball”. We stress that the ball is “pushed back” enough so that his front shoulder becomes aimed at the target. Throws that have been made across the body or where momentum carries the passer laterally have a significantly higher chance of being incomplete. We use the following three concepts in our sprint out game with excellent efficiency (Diagrams 2, 3, and 4).
Our backside receivers in all three concepts generally run a “slow filter” route vertical and across the formation, attempting to occupy any two-deep safety, but not getting so far as to work into any primary read windows. The QB will throw the corner route against the press or hard corner. If the corner bails, the QB throws immediately to our best receiver on the settle route. If the corner has made the read muddy, the QB will work to the out-sit receiver behind the force player. Diagram 3 – This particular concept has been our “go-to” route for several years within our sprint out package. It has become very difficult for defenses to defend because of flow and our ability to clear into specific windows. Our #1 receiver will be the primary target and it is imperative that he is successful with an outside release and push to 8-10 yards. Once he gains enough depth, he will break a square in route and sit, reading the flat defender as to how far in to go before he sits down. The # 2 receiver will run a corner route to clear and hold the safety over the top. The #3 receiver becomes our secondary read as he immediately works to the flat. If the flat defender runs with #2, the “In-Sit” by # 1 will pop open if he can keep the corner leveraged behind him. We have thrown the ball to the #3 most often against edge pressure as the QB unloads the football to the defensive weakness against the blitz, which is most likely the flat. A specific coaching point for #3 is that he must stay under the corner and continue to the sideline, no matter the coverage, as he has a tendency to sit down vs. cover 2. This will put two receivers in the open window, so #3 must sacrifice himself against that particular coverage. We can also adjust the route by #1 to make sure that he has the ability to work to the first down marker on critical third down conversion attempts. Diagram 4 – The comeback concept has been especially useful in our sprint out package as it is not a traditional flood concept that most teams use. We like this concept using a TE in a 3x1 set and really push our WRs vertical as far as they can. The outside receiver or #1 has a rule to push to 20 yards depth and to come back to the sideline at a 45-degree angle. We tell our QB that against any bail corner, this route should be completed as the WR is going out of bounds at 16 yards. The #2 receiver runs a post route to hold the safety, but we have also used a corner route in specific game plan adjustments. Our TE uses a reverse pivot technique where he will mimic blocking down for two-three steps and then reverse out and slowly work to the flat. If he gets in a big hurry, he will drag any potential defender with him to the sideline, covering up our comeback window. It’s important for him to be patient and to hold any edge defender on his route, opening up the outside window. Again, any backside receivers will have a “slow-filter” technique in this concept. |
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