Simplifying Passing Concepts

Concept Passing

In a recent article by Chris Brown on Grantland he talks about the evolution of the passing game in the NFL and how it can be traced back to 3 main systems. These include Bill Walsh's West Coast offense, the Air Coryell offense, and the Erhardt-Perkins offense. I would like to elaborate on how I teach passing concepts for High School football which would fall under the Erhardt-Perkins method of concept passing.  The idea is based on making it easy for kids to understand routes based on where they are in the formation.  Our concepts will be taught using a Playside #1, #2, and #3 with a Backside #1 and #2 as well.  Once the concept is taught a player should be able to plug himself into any position in a formation and understand what route he has to run.  I will focus today's talk on 2x2, 3x1, and 2x1 formations that we use in our offense.

CONCEPT #1-CURL/SPOT/FLAT
Playside #1-10 Yard Curl
Playside #2-6 Yard Spot
Playside #3-Arrow,Bubble,Swing(Depends on where #3 comes from)
Backside #1-10 Yard Post

Backside #2-6 Yard Spot

The above diagram has the Curl/Flat concept being run to the right out of a 2x2 formation.  We will use a half slide protection scheme with the oline, with the playside being man and the center turning with the backside in a zone protection concept.

The above diagram has the Curl/Flat concept being run from a 2 Back set with a play action fake off the zeer play I described in an earlier post.  Now #3 is the fullback who runs an arrow route instead of the swing route run by the TB in the 2x2 set.

The above diagram is the Curl/Flat concept being run in a 3x1 formation with TB becoming part of the zone side protection to help vs. a 4 man pressure weak.  If you were playing a 2 High 7 man front team you could just as easily release the TB weak or use him for play action and then release him after his blitz check responsibilities.  He could also stay in and help in protection if the other team has a potent pass rush.

As you can see from the diagrams it is very simple for us to run the curl/flat concept from any formation with minimal changes.  These concepts will be called in single words with protection/direction added which allows us to operate from our standard up tempo, no huddle procedure.

CONCEPT #2-3 MAN SCAT

Playside #1-6 Yard Snag

Playside #2-10 Yard Corner

Playside #3-Arrow,Swing,Bubble

Backside #1-10 Yard Post

Backside #2-6 Yard Spot

The above diagram is our Snag, Corner, Flat concept being run out of a 2x2 set.  Any time we are in a 2x2 set the TB will short motion playside from the Pistol helping us gain leverage in the flat.  You would be surprised at how many OLB'S fly out with the TB motion opening up the Snag route. Again this will be half slide protection with the playside being man and the center turning backside to create the zone side.

The above diagram is the 3 Man Scat from a 2 Back set with play action off the zeer play.  Again notice the fullback as the #3 so he runs the arrow route to get leverage in the flat.  VS. 8 man fronts we can put the TB weak with the zone side if there is a tendency to bring 4 from a side.  

**WE ARE NOT A SIGHT ADJUST TEAM SO BACKSIDE PRESSURE MUST BE ACCOUNTED FOR**

The above diagram is the 3 Man Scat from a 3x1 set.  Notice the bubble being run by #3 as the flat route.  Our QB'S throw the bubble a little better than the immediate arrow in 3x1 so we choose to run bubble.  The TB is part of weak side protection here but could easily be given another assignment if 4 from a side was not an issue.