The Sprint-out Passing Game | 3 Pass Plays

The Sprint-out Passing Game is great for smaller and/or more athletic quarterbacks. These concepts force the defense to defend the entire width of the field while also having to defend the QB as a running threat. The Sprint-out Passing Concept is a great way to get your QB on the move if you struggle blocking upfront. These concepts will tire out larger defensive linemen and force the defense to play on the move. These concepts will give your QB easily reads and most of these throws are safe and have a high competition rate. In my opinion, every team should have some sort of sprint-out concept in their playbook. We’ll take a look of our favorite Sprint-out Passing Concepts from the I-formation and from the Spread- 3×1.

I-Formation Sprint-out Passing Game

 Tight-end Corner (Corner, Drag, Comeback)

This play utilizes a 3 receiver passing concept off of play-action. The two running backs (fullback and tailback) will execute a run fake (fake power) and then they will block for the QB.

Quarterback’s Progression (Q): 1. Tight-end on the Corner Route, 2. The Z on the comeback, 3. The X on the deep drag. 4. Run the ball. If the QB sees a lot of green just have him take off and run. We always want to take the easy yardage (unless it’s a long down and distance) and avoid having to execute the throw and catch.

Right Guard: Step play-side, block head up defender, if not reach, aiming point is the outside number of the defender.

Right Tackle: Step play-side, block head up defender, if not reach, aiming point is the outside number of the defender.

Left Guard: Step play-side, block head up defender, if not reach, aiming point is the outside number of the defender.

Left Tackle: Step play-side, block head up defender, if not reach, aiming point is the outside number of the defender.

Center: Step play-side, then reach. If he has a head up defender he is to block him.

Tight-end (Y): Corner route. 10 yards and then break to the corner.

Z: 10 yard Comeback. This isn’t a hitch, the receivers needs to break his route back and comeback towards the QB and sideline. Come back to the Q and catch the football.

X: Deep drag. The depth varies- the drag should be just above the linebackers drop depth. So right behind the linebackers. The X needs to continue his route across the field- out run the defender!

F: Fake lead blocking, plug up any interior pressure. Look to plug up C-gap through B-gap. Always looks to secure C-gap first.

T: Fake Power.

Related Content: Shallow Cross Passing Concept 

Utilizing the Backside Receiver ( I Formation TE Corner with X Option) 

Many times after you beat the defense with the TE Corner, the Comeback, or with the Q run the defense will overflow to the front side of the concept. This means you will have backside route options open. The passing block for the offensive line and backfield remain the same.

Middle of the Field Open- X Post (safety flowing over top to the front side) 

X: The backside receiver (X) will read this on the run. If the safety plays over the top, the receiver will break up the field on the post. Many times after you hit the defense with the TE corner route, the Safety will fly over the top of the Corner route, leaving the backside post wide open. The first time we run this we tell our X to run the drag regardless of what the safety does. If we see the safety flying out of the middle of the field then we’ll tell him to read.

Middle of the Field Closed- X will run his Drag (safety playing deep middle)

X: The backside receiver (X) will read this on the run. If the X sees the middle safety back pedal into his middle 3rd, he then runs a drag. If there are two high safeties, then the X will read the Sprint-out side safety and make the same read.

Sprint-out 3×1 Flood

Coaching Points 

• Teach your QB how to throw on the run with the Flash Fire Drill .
• Make sure your QB goes through his pass progressions and when in doubt he can run the ball.
• Make sure your QB squares up to his target and throws while running downhill (throwing on the run).
• These concepts are best executed to the wide side of the field. This will allow the receiver routes to open up and it will stretch the defense horizontally and vertically.
• Offensive line blocking stays the same on all the plays.