Coach ,

In the RPO world, you will hear many coaches say “RPO is our quick game.” It’s true that many of the routes thrown are from what you would find in a quick game menu, but there still is a place for pure quick game within an offense.

13x state champion Offensive Coordinator Andrew Coverdale, now at St. Xavier HS (OH) wrote several detailed books on the quick passing game, and what he wrote in the introduction to Volume 1 of his series still holds true today,

“As defenses place more and more emphasis on speed rushers, disguised coverages, and attacking, pressure-based concepts, the need for an adaptable, thoroughly taught and dependable quick passing game will continue to grow.”

What he listed as the benefits of the quick passing game also hold true today:

• Provides consistency and efficiency
• Creates balance
• Forces defenses to defend the entire field
• Limits the impact of devastating rushers
• Decreases the effectiveness of stunts
• Provides a means of moving the chains while protecting the ball
• Consistently gets the ball into the hands of playmakers
• Applicable to any system
• Useful in numerous game situations
• Provides tools for beating the blitz and combats zone blitz
• Can be implemented at all levels of your program

With huge benefits and decreased risk as compared to further downfield throws, it makes sense to evaluate how an enhanced quick game (separate from RPO) can make your offense more effective in attacking defenses.

Heading into his fourth year as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Albany, Joe Davis, has coached quarterbacks continuously since 2003 at the Division III, II and FCS levels and he's left each place significantly better than he found it.

In this video he talks about setting your quarterbacks up for success and specifically mentions quick game as a way to boost confidence and get drives going. (Click images for videos)

The Hitch is probably the first route that comes to mind when you think about quick game. In this video Washington State Co-OC/QB Coach Craig Stutzmann illustrates how the hitch is a tool for their offense to beat one of the most used coverages on every level, Quarters:

As mentioned, Coach Coverdale believes that quick game forces a defense to defend the entire field. In this video he talks about an area that he feels DC’s are not held accountable enough for defending, the boundary. He shares their “Pocket-Out” concept:

Another coach who has won his fair share of state championships is Coach Scott Surratt. He has won 6 state titles in 12 years at Carthage HS (TX). Coach shares their slant concept in this video:

Once you get the slant going, then Sluggo immediately can create a big play out of the ball control quick game. Iowa State Passing Game Coordinator Nate Scheelhaase illustrates Sluggo in this video:

A coach who made a living on simple yet effective concepts is retired Charleston head coach Tony DeMeo. He believes the hitch can be an offense in itself as he gives an overview of in this video:

For those not comfortable with a QB having to pick a side with no option to go to if the defense takes it away post snap, the Quick Game paired with Naked provides the quarterback, especially good runner, the opportunity to keep the play alive and move the chains when he doesn’t like the look to the quick side. Here is Coach DeMeo explaining his “Hitch-Boot” concept: 

The best thing about installing quick-naked is that it is very low investment. Both components that are paired together-the quick game and naked-are usually a part of most offenses. There is no new learning for players, and the read for the quarterback is very simple. 

The other benefit is that this preserves an option for the quarterback if the quick game is not there. In a mirrored quick game concept, a QB has the side he has decided to go to pre-snap and that’s it. The other side is not available if the pre-snap side is not there.

Don’t underestimate the value of quick game in your attack in 2021.  Think about the simple things you can do within every formation to utilize this effective mode of moving the chains.

Always be growing!

Coach Grabowski