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Tiger Attack

Doane College uses the 3-step game to take advantage of soft coverage and keep defenses off balance
Quarterbacks Coach, Doane College
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If you liked this article, here are three others just like it:

1) Play Action for the Big Play, Sept. 2001
2) Packaging Your Passing Game, May 2001
3) Attacking the Red Zone, Aug. 2000

The Doane College offense has had a lot of success since the early 90’s. Doane has made the NAIA National Playoffs in 1993, 1997 and 1999. We have had several players participate in arena football, European leagues, NFL and CFL. The offense is based on an inside/outside zone running attack, and our passing game is based off the five-step, play action pass and three-step. Our three-step game over the years has been very successful and tends to jump start our offense. We have a simple concept when it comes to our three-step game.

Stance

We have our quarterback start with a staggered stance. The quarterback’s feet are shoulder length apart, with the left foot being farther back than the right foot (right-handed quarterback). The toe of the left foot usually is in line with the heel of the right foot. We feel the staggered stance benefits our quarterbacks in the running game, allowing them to gain extra depth on their drop by helping them push away from the line of scrimmage. It is important that the quarterback is in an athletic stance and feels comfortable.

Drops

The philosophy of our three-step game is throwing on rhythm. We do not hitch into our throw, since that would bring the quarterback right back into pressure and allow the defense back a better jump on the ball. The quarterback starts by taking a big step back and two gather steps to get his feet underneath him. Out of shotgun, the quarterback will take a quick three-step drop or a catch and throw for the slant route.

Routes

We have a simple concept in routes to our three-step game. Our outside wide receivers (X and Z) run mirrored routes. The inside receivers (H and Y) also run mirrored routes, but are compliments to the outside receivers route. On 560, both the X and Z receiver run six-yard hitch routes and the inside receivers (H and Y), run four-yard turn routes (Diagram 1). With 561, both X and Z run 4-6 yard speed outs and our inside receivers (H and Y) run 4-yard turn routes (Diagram 2). On 562, the inside receivers (H and Y) run seam routes, while the outside receivers run slant routes (Diagram 3).


Diagram 1.

Diagram 2.

Diagram 3.


Diagram 4.

The outside wide receivers on 560 and 561 will adjust to a fade route if they face a tough corner or cover 2. The inside receivers will stay on their routes regardless of the coverage (Diagram 4). The outside receivers on 562 will run a one-step slant and the quarterback will take a one-step drop. The wide receivers one-step slant and the quarterback’s one-step drop allows us to be able to hit the slant route quicker. On 562, the receivers will stay on their slant route, or what we call a “locked route”, regardless of the coverage.

Reads

Our reads are based off “best look side”. To the quarterback, this means softest corner, shortest or safest throw. It is very important for our quarterbacks, or any, to get a pre-snap read of the coverage and defense. We don’t discourage our quarterbacks to throw to the side of the strong safety or slot area defender, but we preach to them about being careful the slot area defender doesn’t get under the route (into the throwing lane). With the basic 560, 561 and 562, we have the quarterbacks check outside receiver to inside receiver.

Related Videos
American Football Monthly now offers a full line of coaching videos. So, if you enjoyed this clinic article, here are a few videos that you may find interesting:

FV-01306B Play Action Passing
(Woodley & Quartaro)

FV-01333 The Marshall Offensive System (5 Tapes)
FV-00883B Pass Protection & Quick Game (Norvell)


To find these videos and many others, view our online catalog at www.AFMVideos.com.

Drills

One of the first drills we teach our quarterbacks is taking their first step into a three-step drop. We do this by having them do their drop on a line. The QB and snapper line up on a line. The QB then takes the snap and reaches straight back with his right foot (right-handed QB). The first step needs to gain depth and be straight back, while pushing off the left foot. The QB does not throw the ball. Purpose: allows the QB to develop consistency in the first step of his drop and not over-rotate or drift and avoid false stepping with left foot (right-handed QB).

Next, we have the quarterbacks do their full three-step drop on a line. The QB and snapper line up on a line. The QB then takes the snap and takes his full three-step drop on the line. By dropping on a line, the QB and coach can determine if the QB is opening up straight back or drifting in his drop. When the QB hits his third step, he simulates the throw. Make sure the QB does three step right and left. Purpose: allows the QB to develop consistency in his three-step drop and building confidence in not hitching.

After working with them on their drops, we move into throwing on rhythm. The QB and snapper line up on a line. The QB then takes the snap and takes his full three-step drop on the line. When the QB hits his third step, he throws the ball without hitching to a stationary target. Make sure the QB does three-step right and left. Purpose: to incorporate the first step, the full three-step drop and throwing without hitching into the throw. Once the quarterbacks feel comfortable throwing without hitching, we progress into read and recognition drills.

For this part of the drill, the coach involves the different routes of the three-step game vs. coverages. Using only half of the field the three-step routes are run against the skelly personnel or SAD (slot area defender) to that side of the field. Purpose: getting the QB comfortable and into the habit of making the proper reads and progressions.

Some important things to remember when doing these three-step drills: 1) Do drops on a line whenever possible; 2) Don’t Hitch; 3) Get QB into the habit of taking pre-snap reads of the coverage; 4) Explain reason and importance of each drill when doing them.

Conclusion

The three-step passing game is vital for our offense attack, so it is usually the first offensive passing package we put into spring and fall camps. We continue to work on this package through the season, mainly spending time on it during pre-practice or during specialties. It is good to implement the three-step throws in pre-practice, since you are not only reviewing the routes, but also allowing the quarterbacks and receivers to warm up.

We also feel that our three-step game will allow the quarterback to get into rhythm early in a game and build confidence. Most importantly, we feel that the three-step game takes advantage of soft coverage. When the three-step game is utilized with the rest of the offensive attack, it will keep defenses off balance.


About the author: Chris Snyder

Coach Snyder enters his third season with the Tigers this year (2002-03) as the quarterback’s coach. A two-year starter as Doane’s quarterback and member of the 1999 Tiger playoff team, Snyder concluded his college career with a season in Vienna, Austria, quarterbacking and coaching the Baden Bruins. Snyder graduated from Doane with a bachelor’s degree in mass communication and sociology.

He hails from Phoenix, where he earned 1995 State Player of the Year honors. Snyder is currently taking graduate classes at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.





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