Coach -

In the NFL in 2023 the median average for a quarterback under pressure was 36.7%. Daniel Jones of the NY Giants had it toughest with a 45.8% pressure rate.  This at the highest level of the game where pass protection is a premium, drafted for, and highly practiced and developed. The main takeaway is that while we all want a clean pocket, the QB is going to be in the situation often where the pocket is not clean.

Mike Tyson famously said, “Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face,” however it is not the full quote. The part, “Then, like a rat, they stop in fear and freeze”, often gets left out.

When I watch young quarterbacks in the pocket, that’s the critical error they make when pressure becomes a factor.  Instead of having a movement plan to react to what’s coming at them, they pull their eyes down, lose their status as a passer, at times freeze, and ultimately things fall apart.

A Necessary Component

In watching practices throughout the summer, I can say this is an underemphasized aspect of the passing game. Whether it’s movement in the pocket, or escaping the pocket completely, the quarterback needs to be comfortable in working in this chaotic environment.

It can’t be replicated in a 7 on 7, though I do see a lot of creative things being done that simulate the space getting tighter or creating distractions. Let’s start with something foundational as a passing game component, the escape.

Good operating systems include it as part of the progression.  It’s the 4th “R” in Dub Maddox’s R4 System. In “Release.” In Dan Gonzalez’s A.C.T.S System, it’s the “S” or “Scramble.”  Regardless of what you call it, it serves your QB and passing game well to include this component.

A Natural Escape Route

If you look at any protection, there is a natural gap for the quarterback to escape, and being able to move up in the pocket is critical. This should be worked weekly to engrain in the quarterback how he should leave the pocket.  Of course there will be reactions as he does that, but it gives him a place to start as to where and when to get out of the pocket.

For me as an offensive coordinator and quarterback coach, an important component of the passing game was the quarterback escape plan.  I wanted a place where the quarterback would begin his escape from the pocket when things began to break down and when he reached the end of his progression and options and the ball was still in his hands.  

In fact, it was one of the first things I was tasked with as I began my first college coaching position in 2009.  Our quarterback was talented, but he would lose big yardage when things broke down, or when he still had the ball after progressing through his reads.  Installing an escape plan allowed us to eliminate those losses and resulted in him gaining about 60 yards per game with his legs and being much more effective in calmly reacting to pressure and getting the ball out.

The way our protection worked, most of the time with our man side-slide side protection, we would begin our escape with the thought of getting to the man-side B-Gap.

Take a look at your own protection.  Where is that natural place for the Qb to escape?

Understanding the QB Escape Plan

The first type of release is always reactive to where the pressure came from, but ideally it is stepping up into the pocket rather than running outside the pocket, but we have to be prepared for all scenarios.

The next type was our “no pressure escape plan” which married up to natural lanes in our protection.  As mentioned, our main protection was a slide to one-side with the tackle manned up. The natural escape lane became to the man side b-gap.  That is where his first move was when he went through his entire progression with his eyes and his feet.   

It would lead to rushing yards for the quarterback, and for those who are good runners, it can become a weapon.

Getting Comfortable Being Uncomfortable

As I stated earlier, you have to put the QB in a chaotic environment.  It’s a balance of keeping them safe in practice and training movement patterns.  Here is insight from three coaches on how they approach this. 

TFirst Jake Peetz, Passing Game Coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks shares a drill and game examples  about moving up in the pocket:

Next, Mike Yurcich, Former OC at Penn State shares his philosophy on how they train this in practice including doing it in live team pass:

Ian Shoemaker, OC at  Grand Valley State University gives his QB’s six positive things that the QB can do in order to react to pressure:

We all want the clean pocket with a well-calibrated passing game.  The defense is, of course, doing everything they can to create chaos and stress. Having and training escape plans and reactions will give your quarterback the presence to better react and execute on game day.

Have a great week and good luck!

Coach Grabowski

P.S. If you are looking for any type of solution for quarterback play, we’ve had plenty of clinics addressing many topics.  You can find those here.