Installing the Quick Passing Game

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The full text of “Installing the Quick Passing Game” by Gene Suhr, from the Vol 2 — Spring 2024 issue.

This article will cover the Quick Out - Hitch - Slant - Fade/Out - Double Out - Double Hitch - Double Slant, with extensions added to each. The double moves add to the complexity of the routes and defending them. The diagrams will be drawn from the Gun with 10 personnel for simplicity. When I began coaching, I was a heavy run play caller. I ran the ball until down and distance dictated having to throw the ball. We spent most of the offensive practice running the ball and spent little time on passing.

So when the time came to pass we were poorly prepared and were living on a hope and a prayer. Soon I realized that we had to throw the ball on first down mixing the run with the pass. I wasn't at a program that could line up and knock people off the ball so we had to find another way. I knew we had to have some type of efficient passing game to be successful against the opponents we were facing. I decided the a quick passing game could be beneficial to what we needed to do.

So after visiting with programs who had strong passing games we put together a quick game that was simple and easy to teach. I started by developing our Qb's, I would take the best athlete and teach him to pass the ball correctly and accurately. I brought the athletes in before school in the morning and I taught then the correct way to pass the ball. We started from the knees with heavy balls to strengthen the passing arm and emphasized proper form and release.

We went three days a week for 3 months before adding a receiver. Each Qb had to throw the ball a designated distance to move to their feet and work their lower platform. This article covers the quick game, so if you are interested in the drills we did with the Qb's, please feel free to contact my email. We started with some simple concepts, the quick out, hitch, slant & fade/out. We worked the timing of the routes with receivers. I used a verbal count to get a clock in the Qb's head for the quick release.

From the training the Qb's received in the off season they became accurate and efficient at throwing these quick routes. We had our Qb's and receivers taught coverages and the weaknesses of each. Over the summer we got as many reps as we could to increase the efficiency. Year after year we were a balanced offense with a mixture of running and passing the ball. I strongly feel this was an equalizer for us against the competition we face. Many times we would throw a short pass and it would turn into a big play.

As we became very confortable with our quick game we added RPO's to them. You have to be willing to invest some time in quick game concepts. By commiting to the quick game you will realize that it's easier to complete passes, establish tempo, and sustain drives that lead to touchdowns. In this article you will be shown some simple concepts that will lead to more completions, first downs, and touchdowns.

One season we had tow thousand yard rushers and two thousand yards receivers averageing over 460 yards of offense a game. When I became an OC on the college level I brought the quick game with me. Our offenses year in and year out was at the top in the state. As you review this article and have any questions, feel free to contact me at gsuhr1221@hotmail.com. I will try to answer your questions.

Note: If 3 Rec. on one side the 2 outside run called route and inside #3 will run seam read. Also- We use both Slide protection and Big on Big depending on personel. Quick Out -- 10 Personnel-- Outside rec.--- With outside foot back, run a roll your 4th step over 3, look for ball and continue on out route without slowing down. Receiver should reach depth of approximately 7 yards. Convert route if the corner sits. AMF - Adios My Friend! Inside rec.--- Take an outside release and push vertical.

Settle if flat defender crosses your face. If safety is over you, sit down and find grass. If no one over you continue vertical. Stem leverage vs man coverage. Qb-- Pre-snap read coverage, pick the side with the biggerst cushion or weakest DB. Catch snap and Stick your back foot, Grab, Stab, and Throw. Read the flat defender. I count 1 -2 -3 once the Qb gets snap and the ball must be gone by 3.

Note: Inside rec. move splits in and run a roll over 4. Covert vs 2 deep. with the breaker on the call side. We don't run double outs from tow outside rec. we will run the Fade/Out with the two outs from the two inside receivers. Quick Double Out -- 10 Personnel Outside Rec.-- Run roll over 4 step out. Convert if corner sits or cover 2. Attack the technique of the defender over you on your release. AMF Rule! Inside Rec.-- Tighten split a little and run a roll over 4 and look for the ball.

Verse 2 deep convert to vertical with the call side receiver running the breaker into middle of field. Qb- Pre-snap read, pick best leverage, cushion or weakest defender. Grab, Stab and Throw. Read flat defender.

Note: If 3 on one side the two outside rec. will run the Hitch route. The third receiver will run the Seam Read route. Quick Hitch--- 10 Personnel Outside Rec.-- With outside foot back run a 5 step Hitch route, sticking your outside foot and working back to the Qb. If the corner sits, convert to Vertical (AMF). Inside Rec.-- Run a stretch Seam Read. If flat defender crosses your face sit down and find grass. If Safety is over top, break down and find open grass. If 2 deep coverage work vertical down hash.

If on call side break off into the middle of the field. Qb-- Grab-Staband Throw. Pick best side biggest cushion, weakest DB. Verse 2 deep read outside in. Otherwise read the flat defender and throw to open receiver. 1 - 2 - 3 Throw.

Quick Double Hitch-- 10 Personnel Outside Rec.-- Outside foot back run a 5 step Hitch. If corner sits convert tovertical. Inside Rec.-- With outside foot back run a 5 step Hitch, sliding to open area. Against 2 deep convert to vertical with call side running the breaker route. Qb- Grab- Stab & Throw- Read the flat defender. Against 2 deep, read outsdie in. Pick best side for pass direction.

Note: If there are three receivers aligned on one side the two outside receivers will run slants and the third receiver will run a flat route. From 3x1 the inside receiver will run a 1 step slant. Quick Slant -- 10 Personnel Outside Rec.-- Run a 3 step slant down inside, looking to settle in open window. Run vs Man coverage, attacking the leverage of the defender. No conversion Inside Rec.-- Run a Flat route working flat down the LOS working towards the sideline.

Vs 2 deep-- out - side receiver run slant to MOF and the inside receiver runs a Wheel route on call side. Vs Man run flat slant attacking leverage. Qb-- From Gun-- Grab-Stab-&- Throw, reading the reaction of the flat defender. Pick best side for cush - ion, leverage and weakest defender. No route conversion.

Note: If there are three receivers aligned on one side the outside rec. runs 3 step slant and the second rec. run a 1 step slant working on the ILber. The third rec. runs a flat route. Quick Double Slant-- 10 Personnel Outside Rec.-- Run a 3 step slant working to open window vs zone and continue to run a flat slant vs man. Attack leverage of defender vs man Inside Rec.-- Run a 1 step slant working to space between flat defender and ILber. Qb-- From Gun Grab-Stab & Throw. Read flat defenders reaction.

Quick Fade/Out-- 10 Personnel Outside Rec.-- Must outside release vertical outside the numbers leaving space to outside to dump the pass into. Win deep! Inside Rec.-- Run a 5 yard out, attacking the leverage of the defender near you. Qb-- From Gun Grab-Stab- & Throw. Check vertical route to the 5 yard out. Note: If there are three receivers on one side, the outisde rec. run vertical, the second receiver runs the MOF and the third rec. will run the 5 yard out. Against 2 deep call side run breaker.

Quick Stick-- 10 Personnel Outside Rec.-- Run a 4 step rollover out route. Convert to vertical vs 2 deep. Run Fade from 3x1 formation. Inside Rec.-- Attack defender Straight downfield for about 5 yards and stick your outside foot into ground before turning back to Qb. Be ready to make the catch. From 3x1 the second rec. will run the Stick and the third rec. will run a flat route to bottom of numbers. Qb.-- From Gun, Grab- Stab-& Throw. Read reaction from Flat defender. Against 2 deep, read corner to flat defender.

Call side If three receivers to one side the outside rec. will run vertical at bottom of num - bers, the second receiver will run the Stick route and the third receiver will run flat route. No conver - sion vs 2 deep coverage.

Double Move-- Quick Out & Up Outside Rec.-- Run a 4 step rollover out, looking back to Qb and turning route up vertical. Show hands on out and leave room on sideline for pass. Inside Rec.-- Run a 10 yard out, working away from leverage. Qb-- On snap, Grab - Stab- & shoulder fake pass action, taking 2 steps and resetting feet for out and up to the 10 yard out. Against 2 high Note: safety read corner to near Lber.

With three receivers on one side the second rec. will run the 10 yard out and the third reec. will run vertical down MOF.