The "Quick" passing game: as an integral offensive package at the high school level; Part I--overview, philosophy, and theory.

In this first of a three part series on the "Quick" passing game, let me clearly identify the major reasons why I believe that this package should be a base component of any offense at the high school level.

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With respect to understanding the concept, the "Quick" game refers to any or all of our isolation (single receiver), combination (two or three receiver), and full pattern (four-to-five receiver) routes that can be executed with one, two, or three step "Drops," referred to as DBP 10, DBP 20, and/or DBP 30 in our terminology.

It should also be noted that this package represents only 1/5th of our total passing game, and excludes our shotgun, play-action, screen, and sprint-out series (refer to Fig. 1).

Why the "Quick" game? Following are 13 solid reasons why it has worked over the course of the last 16 seasons, and why it will work for you:

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* It maximizes the overall football talents, skills, athleticism, and ability levels of today's type athletes with respect to throwing, catching, and running with the football.

* It creates a "built-in" level of unpredictability for "situational" down & distance play-calling sequences, i.e. 1st and 10, 3rd and short, in the Green Zone (the +10 yard line to the goal line or end zone). "Red" means stop, therefore the "scoring" zone is never the Red Zone in our terminology.

* It provides an easy opportunity for your best players to make "big plays" in games, and throughout the season.

* It provides a "built-in" template for an effective two-minute offense, allowing your offense to score points at the end of the first half, at the end of a game, and/or "catch up" quicker when behind by a significant number of points at a critical juncture in a game.

* It can create what I think is a desirable, "quick-paced," "uptempo" style of play that leads to more points scored and more plays run per game and season.

* It discourages eight-and-nine-man fronts, while creating unwanted, unmanageable structural problems for your opponents' base defense(s).

* It is a talent equalizer if/when you are physically "overmatched" and unable to dominate the LOS.

* It will statistically enhance your overall offensive production with respect to passing yards, total yards, yards per reception, points scored, TD passes, yards/run after the catch ("YAC" or "RAC"), Green Zone efficiency, etc. (We have scored points on 76% of our possessions in the Green Zone over the past 16 seasons, and have scored on 65% of our "first possessions" to start games.)

* It creates favorable personnel mismatches, i.e., LB's on WR's and/or RB's "in space."

* It forces excessive and additional defensive "prep" (practice) time by your opponents.

* It requires very simple pass protection schemes, even for undersized offensive linemen.

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* It has "built-in" blitz controls by the RB's and WR's.

* It is player and fan friendly. Fun to watch and play. (We have averaged 12 different players with pass receptions and scoring points per season since we have gone to this package.)

From a philosophical or overview standpoint, the central theme is simple: You must make a legitimate commitment to throwing the football. "Lip service," and sub-100% effort and/or commitment will frustrate all of the coaches and players involved, thus creating unwanted, non-productive, and undesirable conditions and/or results.

My objective and goal has always been to use the "Quick" game as a tool to attain a minimum 60-65%/35-40% run-to-pass "mix" per game and season.

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Based on 16 years of using this system, there are seven keys to success with respect to implementing and installing the "Quick" game:

1. Keep it simple, because you will be dealing with 14-18 yr. old athletes.

2. Make it flexible. Be able to change instantly, a factor I refer to as the "chameleon mode."

3. Build in functionality as a "middle of the field" (MOF), Green Zone, and two-minute package.

4. It must be adaptable to what I refer to as the "Dirty Dozen" concept--a maximum of 12 total pass plays per game.

5. It must be player and coach-friendly, creating a "Comfort Zone" that is both challenging and fun for all involved.

6. There must be a "built-in" progression level throughout your competition levels. From freshmen to varsity.

7. All combination and full pattern routes must have maskability. That is, the ability to be camouflaged or "masked" by using multiple formations, multiple forms of motion, TE "Trades," multiple backfield sets, modes of initiating the play [i.e., shotgun], etc.

Additionally, in order to maximize productivity and insure program consistency at all levels, a "new" set of terminology must be learned by all coaches and players. Why? Because the "Quick" game will become a new language in itself with respect to defining the following components of any "new" offensive concept:

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* Identifying and naming defensive structure.

* Secondary coverage recognition and nomenclature.

* Formations.

* Backfield sets.

* Wide receiver alignments, sight adjustments, and route "landmarks", and "aiming points."

* Base routes (isolation, combination, and full-pattern).

* Protection schemes.

* An audible system, as it applies specifically for "Run to Pass" & "Pass to Pass" situations.

* Blitz control(s).

* QB read progressions, etc.

In order to maximize efficiency and effectiveness, the "Quick" game must also become an integral part of every phase of each practice, and actively incorporated into individual game plans for all down-and-distance situations.

It must be continually practiced, coached, and constantly "tweaked" in structured "7-on-7" activities vs. other teams or in scripted practice sessions. And, as with all of the different packages that comprise our total offense, a definite concept theory applies only to the "Quick" game.

Following are the 10 theories that are an integral part of the learning and teaching phase of this package:

* The sum of our combo and isolation routes must attack each of what we consider to be the three major "Passing Zones." Short: LOS to 7 yds., Medium: (8-17 yds.), and Deep: (18-23 yds.). In addition, you must attack the five "Sub-Zones." (Flat, Curl-Hook, Middle Seam, Corner, and Deep Seam.)

* Spread and constrict formations to take full advantage of the horizontal width of the field (horizontal stretch).

* Incorporate, and designate specific "landmarks" and rules for wide receiver alignments and route running.

* "Blow the top" off of the secondary coverage w/18-23 yd. Vertical routes that stretch the length of the field (3-5 times per game).

* Design combinations and full-pattern routes that do not allow routes to "bleed" and allow one defender to cover or defend two receivers.

* Correlate route depths with the QB's mode of executing the play. As follows:

MODEs   ROUTE DEPTHs        EXAMPLEs

DBP 10  at, or near L.O.S.  QUICK Fade, QUICK In
DBP 20  5-7 yds.            Slant, QUICK Seam, Fade
DBP 30  8-23 yds.           Out, Take Off, In

* Develop the attitude of discouraging interceptions in all practice drills and games. Interceptions are unacceptable at any time and will not be tolerated.

* Basic overall route philosophy: "Run" vs. man coverage(s) or "Settle" vs. zones.

* Design routes to involve all receivers, but get the ball into the hands of your best receiver as much, and as often as possible.

* Receivers are running backs after they catch the ball, therefore, the "RAC" (Run After Catch) and/or "YAC" (Yards After Contact) aspects of this package must become a focal point of your teaching and coaching. Most "big plays," pass receptions that gain 25 yds. or more, are the direct result of putting your players in position to use their natural and trained athleticism.

The "Quick" game is for everyone, and is not limited only to a selected faction of football programs and types of coaches in particular geographic areas with pass-oriented backgrounds and experience.

The implementation and installation process requires the same types of decision-making processes and administrative and organizational skills required when introducing any type of "new" offensive strategy into a system.

The major hurdle is fear of the unknown, and in buying ownership into the positive contributions and differences this package can provide your offense.

RELATED ARTICLE: THE "QUICK" GAME

* Seventeen Seasons of Productivity

* Overall Record: 125-57; 69% W-L percentage [182 Games]

* 1,706 TOTAL Completions

* 100 Completions per Season [Avg.]

* 23,407 TOTAL Passing Yds.

* 1,377 Passing Yds. per Season [Avg.]

* 236 TOTAL TD Passes

* 14 TD Passes per Season [Avg.]

* 13.7 Yds. per Pass Completion

* 129 Passing Yds. per Game [Avg.]

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NOTE: Since introducing this package in 1987, our Run-to-Pass "Mix" has been 67% run/33% pass, and this "system" has produced 16 QB's who have passed for more than 1,000 yards per season. Our only non-1,000 yd. passing season was in 1998, when two sophomore QB's combined for 988 passing yds.

BY RON GUAGENTI

Offensive Coordinator

Marian Catholic H.S.

Chicago Heights, IL