Coach - 

One area where every team can have the opportunity to attack a defense with the passing game is with the quick game.

This is something that has been lost in the RPO-laden offensive world.  Of course, defenses have learned how to control the RPO game, and straight quick game calls can provide an advantage.

Coach Kaufmann digs into the topic for us today.

-Coach Grabowski

It’s a great way to get the ball to athletes in space with a high percentage throw. It also minimizes the need for an offensive line to hold up against pressure because the ball is out quickly.

The progressions are simple and effective, usually off of a single defender with simple rules.

Like any good offensive concept, you can dress up the quick game with a number of sets, widths, and personnel groups making it simple for you but complex for the defense.

Like the RPO, the quick game creates some great “open down” 1st & 10 and 2nd & 4-6 calls to move the ball down the field.

Today we explore the quick game with ideas shared in our clinics.

Elevate Your Production

Here is former Bears and Vikings QB Coach, Andrew Janocko explaining his beliefs and why developing a quick game in your offense can elevate your production and QB play.

Video: Why Quick Game

Confidence runs the world and anytime you can drive that in your players it’s a good thing. We talk about rhythm but that's just what it does it drives confidence. If we are completing everything regardless of yardage we are going to get into a zone of production. 

From another perspective think where your athletes are. At a lot of levels there is more trust in the athlete to have high YAC than there is downfield completion percentage. When we can accomplish the same thing with less pressure on the decision maker with the ball we increase our likelihood of success. 

As you deep dive into your offense this off season, and you begin to think about your addition of the quick game or to your already established quick game, you have to gain perspective on what you are looking to accomplish out of this addition. There can be a variety of strategies and reasons but, know what those are before your implementation. 

Out Flank the Defense

Some thought could be put into whether you want the QB or Coaching staff making changes or decisions. Based on leverage you can help yourself with checks/audibles in this case Coach Yurchich highlights the leverage of the Star and the recognition allows the QB to take advantage of it within their 3 step package.

Video: Outflanking the Defense

The three-step drop in football is all about timing, creating this seamless dance between the quarterback and the receivers. 

It's like orchestrating a symphony – hitting the right beats at the right time, utilizing that quick footwork to take full advantage of the leverage certain players have against the defense, and turning it into a strategic offensive masterpiece.

Adding Route Concepts into Your Quick Game

When the basis of your attack is developed and you have a credible plan you next move to how to accomplish it. Take inventory of the routes you already possess, have an understanding and build from there. Attach complementary schemes, build new ones with options and diversify your offense.  You can even aid yourself by creating a teaching progression as you develop this system of both new and complimentary plays.

Coach Jason Mohns of Arizona State speaks on how he builds the Snag concept off of their base stick concept.

Video: Snag

The snag route is a slick variation of the stick concept. It's all about playing with space – instead of the receiver eating up the short middle, the snag alters who is owning what space.

In this case we see the Z receiver tagged in Coach Mohns’ systems and it becomes the snag concept. Something to think about with this is to eliminate some verbiage they simply call the Z stick and it lets the Z know they are taking the stick.

I love this addition because more than being complementary you did a simple exchange. The route tree may be slightly different but, spacing and the many accompanying items are unchanged. 

On a slightly different addition you get the well known sluggo concept. This concept is great as it can be run out of various formations with minimal teaching and verbage alteration. But, more so than the snag concept it is easily read from the box and timing can be decided with high accuracy.

“And Go” with Sluggo

Learn as Nate Scheelhaase of Iowa State dives into how they incorporate the sluggo concept and build on their slants look.

Video: Sluggo

When you're crafting your offensive playbook, think of base routes and packages as the foundation of your game strategy. These fundamental elements provide a versatile canvas, allowing you to build intricate plays and surprise the defense with a dynamic mix of routes that keep them guessing.

Elevating from simple slants to sluggo adds a deceptive layer to the playbook, luring defenders with the familiar short route before unleashing a strategic deep route that can catch the opposing defense off guard.

Take everything into account and establish a series of plays that build off of eachother not just to store for the perfect situation but, to keep players guessing. Allow players to make plays sometimes that work better than anything drawn on paper. 

The final dive stems from a slightly different look. The speed out and other concepts are base additions. I like these in the sense that you can allow the quarterback to have the check if he otherwise doesn’t like the look. Allowing players to take ownership in the offense and increase their feel for the game can elevate your offense.

5 Yard Chunks

Mickey Fein of Harvard dives into tape here and speaks on the Crimson’s quick game in this clip.

Video: Quick Game

The quick out route in football is a rapid escape strategy for receivers, this involves recognition of off coverage from the QB and WR more than anything. 

View this as an extension of your run game more than anything and that 4-5 yard chunk that you're getting is as good as your IZ run play. 

This is additionally a great route to be paired with your pre-snap RPO’s and be dependent on the coverage and the box that you are receiving. As we talked about earlier rhythm and confidence this is a great way to get that started. 

As always,

Compete

Coach Kauffman

P.S. If you are looking for a deeper dive into your off season research on quick game, get all of these presentations and save here “Quick Game Research Bundle”