Pass Situation Passing will cover the following down and distance categories:
- 2nd and 10 +
- 3rd and 3-5
- 3rd and 6-12
- 3rd and 13+

The thing to note here is that while 3rd Downs are obviously important, they are not necessarily a measure of offensive success (Turnovers, Explosive Plays, Scoring Zone TD %, and 1st Down efficiency are all more tangible metrics of a dominant offense).  This is because the difference between the BEST 3rd Down team and the WORST 3rd Down team is often negligible -- NO ONE is good on 3RD and 12+.  Where an offense can make a difference is in the 3rd and short/3rd and meduim categories.  This article is about some simple ideas for making the most of these opportunites.  Again, from the first article, our mythical defense is a Cover 2/4 team... 

In 2nd and 10+, the main objective is to get HALF THE DISTANCE to the first down; this way, the offense would be back on schedule with a manageable 3rd Down. This is, of course, nothing new.  What I would like to offer are some ideas for making the defense play a bit more conservatively than one would think in 2nd and Long from a reaction standpoint.

Many teams dedicated zone teams will revert to their base defense in this situation, or use this as an opportunity to come after the QB via zone blitz.  I see the latter as a great opportunity for the offense on 2nd Down because contrary to popular belief, fire zones are intended to make the ball come out fast (not sacking the QB); since the goal is half the yardage; this could be achieved with proper anticipation and planning.

One example of a call to consider would be something like this:

Using the NUMBERS Advantage Principle, we are able to take 2 very basic patterns, and apply them to attack the defense called.  If they roll to a single high coverage (including zone blitz), the QB will work the single receiver side.  Picture the big play presented as the defense sends a field zone blitz, with B and W rotating to the deep and short holes to the field, and the DE covering the back -- an explosive play to Z!

If the defense elects to play 2 high, we work the multiple receiver side combination, which should feature an easy completion to Y if Mike carries with the H. One should also notice the personnel on the field; on 2nd down, the presence of a TE/ H-back body, could help keep a defense in 4-down base personnel, rather than substituting a 3 down defense.

The popularity of "packaged" calls can also fit nicely in this situation.  Though not a dropback pass, the action below can will tie in to SCORING ZONE PASS applications: 

With the underlying theme being one of simplicity for the offense, a Day 1 Installation pass will serve a number of strategic situations.  Here, if the Cover 4 defense will have F "cross key" to the Y's vertical release, there is another potential shot to Z.  If not, the Z can be put on a "5" (Comeback) and use the Drag as the advantage route (BADGE = Advantage Drag)

STANDARDIZING COVERAGE is a key factor in 3rd and 6-12, as this is the down and distance where coverage variability will be the greatest.  As an offensive coach, the challenge is to create pictures for the passer that are easy to interpret; while many do not think of 2 TE/ H-Back types on the field, a defensive coordinator concerned with personnel match ups would be hard pressed to answer the below with anything but a base defense:

If a base defense is called, the stacked receivers on the right will almost assuredly present some type of BANJO coverage, even if some type of 2 Man is called.  Even if the defense did subsitute DBs to go DIME, you will likely still get a good matchup with Mike on B.  Remember, Mike is often the last guy substituted. The 3 on 2 on the stack can leave a lot of room for the M to cover one of the offense's best athletes.

While Stack/ Bunch is often thought of as a man to man principle, our teams have come to use it to PREDICT a zone defense - teams will often check to a BANJO or zone principle to avoid getting rubbed off. As a result, we can get softer zone throws than we would against standard width formations.

The formation above does three things:
1. It gives a EMPTY look, while still having a 6 man protection (More on EMPTY in the Scoring Zone)
2. The formation system allows to get a bunch alignment AWAY from the TE, so the S and W can both be attacked (Strong LB from standard Bunch)
3. No new assignments for the offense!

Another thought in regard standardizing coverage is to use the RAM principle once again, throwing opposite the drop of the MLB:

Throwing opposite the MLB's drop provides great possibilities vs. Cover 4, and has been a staple 3rd 7-8 call for years.   

As the yardage needed for the first down gets into the 10 or more range, ZONE BLITZ must be a part of the offensive plan.  Naturally, 7 man protections are desireable from certain personnel groups; the ability for the QB (or OC in the booth) to make protection checks is of the utmost importance.  Once again, the use of no huddle tempo can be an effective weapon.  Picture the possibilities with 4 VERTICALS because the QB is able to re-direct his blockers...

Losing the underneath crosser to protection has been a concern; this concern gave birth to the REPLACE variation.  In doing so, the passer has a full compliment of receivers, and gains a RAC possibility versus ZONE BLITZ.  In the diagram below, a protection check is made, giving the OL the four down and M linebacker; the RB has the OLBs.  This accounts for the "4 to a side" problem of zone blitz.  Once again, without having to throw "hot,"  the defense is vulnerable in the seams.

For the next several posts, we'll take a look at game planning; more succinctly, I will talk about my experience, and how I learned to assemble a game plan; the mythical defense will be a standard 4-3 defense that bases out of 2-high safety coverages, and but will go to 3 down, and zone blitz on third downs, and bring pressure packages in the scoring zone.

The first REAL exposure I had to the coaching aspect of game planning came from my college coaches (Head Coach John Mackovic, OC/QB Coach Gene Dahlquist, WR Coach Cleve Bryant). Coach Mackovic was an assistant coach for Tom Landry, and much of the organizational philosophy derived from there.  Each down and distance category in the open field was scrutinized, as well as field position considerations.  The open field categories were
- RUN SITUATION RUNS AND PASSES
- PASS SITUATION RUNS AND PASSES 
- DECEPTIVES   

Run Situations consisted of 1st and ten, and 2nd and 6 or less, Pass Situations were 2nd and 7 or more, and 3rd and 3 or more (there are further divisions by distance to gain).

Field Position categories involved the SCORING ZONE and BACKED UP offense.

For this initial post, I'll write a bit in regard to the thought process used in regard to RUN SITUATION PASSES. As one breaks down an opponent's base defense, there are two main thoughtsin assembling patterns:
- QUICK RHYTHM, high percentage throws to stay "on schedule"
- EXPLOSIVE pass plays designed to create chunks of yardage

Both pure dropback and play action will be considered for both categories; one of the main tenets of "RUN SIT" passes is to take advantage of conflicting run/pass responsibilties that support defenders are given.  While almost every offense I've seen runs some sort of NAKED or BOOT (Diagram 1), we've also a lot of success with the ZONE PASS (Diagram 2).  Popularized by Peyton Manning's Colts teams, it features not only the ability to get vertical shots with the look of the outzide zone, but it adapts to multple personnel groups as well...  

Also, notice that with the use of nakeds or POWER PASS as a means to threaten edge defenders, the PURE SPRINTOUT is not mentioned as a necessity; recent developments with the spread offense have negated the need for sprintout passes. 

The key to this multiplicity is two-fold: First, in the protection scheme (Diagram3), which allows for a backside TE/ FB/ H-back to be on the line, or off the line towards the fake. 

The second key is is the use of TEMPO in a no-huddle setting.  The COLTS, when operating out of their normal 1 back, 1 TE, 3 WR environment, always ran the ZONE PASS (218 in their vernacular) as a package; any 7th rusher called for an audible to a quick pass such as this example (Diagram 4): 

The use of TEMPOS can make this a relatively easy process; the players only need to practice vs. certain looks this way, and the coach controls it all.

With the mindset of quick rhythm dropback passing, passes should represent the basics of a pass system: multi-purpose patterns that feature high-percentage completions vs. zone with built-in ADVANTAGE PRINCIPLES to attack overcomensation by the defense:

Diagram 5 uses the first advantage principle to punish a man-to-man defense, combined with the most basic concept and outlets:

Diagram 6 blends the 4 VERTICAL pattern with a draw fake.  No assignments change for the OL; the RB is responsible for the fake.  Almost 2 decades ago, BOB SHIPLEY (Brownwood TX Head Coach and father of Jordan and Jaxon) taught me the most effective coaching point:  the running back, as he sets to fake, begins yelling "DRAW! DRAW! DRAW!" the defense usually doesnt recognize the voice, but will slow to look for the draw. The passer gets a bigger hole for the advantage route on this pass. 

Passes using the RAM Advantage principle should be a part of the RUN SIT as well as the PASS SIT attack versus a defense that bases out of 2 high coverage categories.  To keep a defense standardized, a pass from 1RB/2 TE personnel is shown:

Passes using the NUMBERS principle can help versus control a Cover 4 scheme that cross-keys the Backside Safety on #3.  In the diagram below, the QB would treat such an instance as "single high" -- and go to the singled up receiver. If the B Safety stays on or outside the hash, he has a high percentage play to the 3 receivers.

Using just a handful of combinations, we are able to mix and match formations and protections to get easy completions and explosive plays versus the defenses seen in this situation.  The added tempos, shifting, and motion (the window dressing) can give each pattern 2 or 3 different looks for the defense.  It then becomes very practicable to have 12 passes ready in this category, since it really only consists of 3-4 patterns, which as we will see in the coming posts, carry over to different strategic situations.