Crossing up the secondary.

Since football players and coaches love the passing game, they can get caught up with formations, named or numbered patterns, and option routes against the various defenses.

Coaches must try to keep things simple (the KISS principle). Through trial and error, we have come up with a crossing pattern in our three-step quick passing game offense. A lot of people refer to it as spaghetti routes.

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As you can see in the diagrams, we use the common X, Y, and Z terminology for the receivers and A for the tailback coming out of the backfield. The trips formation is formed by the A (back), X (split end), and Z (flanker).

The rule for the Z receiver is never to line up more than five yards outside the hashmark. This will give him plenty of room to run the fade route. We want the A and Z receivers to line up about 10 yards apart, with the X splitting the difference.

Because of the crossing action between the receivers, we use the number 88 as the called route. Trips right or left is the formation. The next call will consist of two letters. Example A-X (Diag. 1).

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The two named receivers will execute the crossing pattern, a quick out and a slant in, while the third receiver (Z) runs the fade or go route.

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The quarterback and receivers will read the secondary coverage--man or zone. The releases and angles of the break are a little different for each. The break or cut man vs man will be sharper with a possible shake fake. The up receiver will cut first and the second receiver will cut under, causing the defenders to hesitate in their coverage.

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The progression of the series is 88 A-Z (Diag. 2) and 88 X-Z (Diag. 3). We like to use the A-Z vs man because we get the fade route from the middle receiver position. And because the Z receiver is not lined up too far outside, we get more of a head-up defender on him. This gives us the edge on the release to get inside and make the cut on the slant route.

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Against defenses that like to blitz inside LBs, we like the X-Z call. Even though the A receiver has a go route, he will check to an inside release or quick slant. This will also create more space for the Z receiver, who is running a flat quick inside slant underneath the quick out by the X receiver.

Again, because X is on the LOS, he will break his route first to the outside flat with Z cutting inside off X's ship.

The quarterback's read for any of the calls is inside out. He will use a pre-snap read to anticipate the cuts and the space in the passing lane.

The flexibility of this play gives the QB a chance to audible the call or make the call at the LOS during the pre-snap read.

For example, Trips Right 88 Check is the call from the bench. At the LOS, the QB signals or calls out A-Z. The two receivers will execute cross patterns, leaving the X to run the fade route.

Finally, we came up with the 88 drill for Wednesday's conditioning. We call eight reps to the right and eight to the left. Each receiver has a ball thrown to him by a QB. This helps our two-minute offense.

To add a little deception, we mix in motion from the backfield or double set (Diag. 4.)

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BY MIKE HARVILLE

Asst. Head Coach

Brantley County High School

Nahunta, GA