Quick Pass Offense: Protection

Quick Pass Offense: Protection

Over the years I struggled with proper pass pro for the quick pass offense. We had used the quick pass since the late 70s but pass pro was always a problem. We tried several different schemes and concepts. With the advent of the FREEZE, however, everything seemed to fit into place.

The first major ingredient for pass pro here is to have the QB deliver the ball on time. On time here means this: First step: seat the ball from the center; Second step: present the ball to the fullback; Third step: plant; Fourth step: step and throw to R’er. There is a rhythm to it. We should never really be sacked when the QB delivers the ball on time.

The ball has to be out of the QBs hand with step #4. He either is throwing it to a R’er or away to me on the sidelines. We do not want him to try on force the ball into coverage. There is no need to . . . unless it is the last play of the game and there are no other alternatives.

You always have a choice. Choose wisely. We never “have to” punt. We “choose to punt” to establish better field position. Waiting too long to throw the ball; forcing a ball into coverage and having it intercepted erases field position and opportunity.

One of the things I really have objected to over the years that has trickled down from the college level is the concept of “making plays.” When you concentrate on having players make plays, the concept of team flies out the window. And what happens to the team effort when the play maker gets hurt and leaves the game?

When the center snaps the ball, when the line blocks to protect the QB, when the receivers run their routes, when the QB delivers the ball on time, when the R’er adjust to the ball while it’s in the air, when the R’er catches the ball in his hands, holds on, and gets as many yards after the catch as possible, that’s Teamwork and Execution, a much better concept than making plays.

So the first step in QK Pass Pro is the QB delivering the ball on time. The next thing we want to have take place if Big on Big on the line. The majority of the time we are in a balanced formation and with a right handed QB, we want the SG to block the first big guy in level one on the LOS; the IOT to block the second big guy on the LOS; same for the WG and OOT on the left side of the formation. The vast majority of the time the defense is in some kind of even defense, usually a 4 man line.

The FB is to step a tad wider than normal for the midline. He is responsible for blocking the first inside LB’er to the right side of the formation, if blitzing. The center, then, is responsible for the first inside LB’er to the weakside of the formation, if he should be blitzing. If neither LB’er would be blitzing, the FB and C are to protect from the inside out. If you are following me here, that means that the first three defenders to either side of the ball are being blocked. That gives the QB the right amount of time to get the ball off on time. There are no provisions to block an outside #4 rusher. If one of those guys is coming (like a corner blitz), it is up to the QB to (1) get the ball off (2) throw it OB (3) beat that rusher on his own but not to take a sack. It is like blocking for an extra point. We will protect the inside with blocking. They can send more rushers to one side than we have blockers, but they cannot block the kick before it gets off with an outside rusher if our timing and execution are right on the inside.

Another note on pass blocking. This is a play action pass. To me that requires play action pass blocking. What that means for us is that the line will fire out and strike the opponent they are to be blocking. By firing out and striking the opponent, we should give a false read of run to the secondary as well as creating some separation between the line and the QB making passing the ball a bit easier. If it is a game of inches, these are some of the inches that count. After they strike the opponent, we want our linemen to recoil off that initial strike, and then strike again as the defender advances; followed by another recoil and final third strike.

I remember in my early years having an offense lineman tell me what I was asking “just couldn’t be done.” Since he was a defensive tackle, I told him to line up and get ready to rush a passer who was behind me in the drill. We snapped the ball, he rushed a bit, I blocked him in the manner I was instructing him, and as he was getting up off the ground, he said he thought he might be able to learn how to do it that way in the future.

We use this type of pass blocking for most of our pass pro. I really do not like this pass blocking you see with these spread offenses. Taking two steps back and absorbing the advance of the defender is not my idea of teaching the kids the aggressiveness needed to be successful at the high school level. In the schools that I taught at over the years, as well as most of you I’m sure, most of the linemen have to play defense as well. Teaching them that passive pass blocking runs counter to the aggressive nature you need to have as a defender. There’s a part of me that really thinks that part of the popularity of this spread offense is the lack of blocking skills being taught high school linemen.

On offense we want our line to get off on the snap as fast as possible and strike the opponent with as much force as he can muster. That gives us as great a chance for success as we can get. We also want our defenders to get off the ball ASAP and strike the opponent initially as well. We can increase our chances of success by teaching the line the same type of initial movement on both sides of the ball.

Blocking in this fashion, coupled with the fact that we are throwing the ball on time and not having to pass the ball deeper than 8-10 yards downfield, gives us a quick pass offense that is highly successful. We are passing the ball to make another first down. That is the way that we advance the ball, keep it out of their hands, and sooner or later, the Goal Line gets in your way and we score.

You win the game by making first downs. You do that by blocking better than the opponent, executing better than the opponent, holding on to the football better than the opponent. There are times you need to complete a 9 yard pass to keep the drive alive. We would use the quick pass offense to do just that.