USA Football
esc

How to incorporate short option routes into your passing game

By Bobby Peters | Posted 11/30/2017

Photo via Boston Herald

When implementing a pass concept, it’s important to give your quarterback an answer against every coverage or blitz. This can be done in a variety of ways. Using true progression reads, option routes or half-field quick-game concepts are great ways to accomplish this.

The play diagramed below can be used successfully against a variety of coverages.

Football pass play diagram

The option route runs from the No. 2 receiver (in this case, the running back out of the backfield) to the weak side of the formation. The play is meant to isolate a weak-side linebacker, as the receiver will run his route based on how the linebacker plays him. The corner route is shown from a reduced split, but can be a fade route from a normal split. This route is meant to be the outlet for the quarterback if the cornerback traps the running back.

RELATED CONTENT: How Scott Frost evolved Chip Kelly's offense at Central Florida

Due to the timing of this play, the option route is considered to be a part of the backside read. The option route will break once the quarterback resets his feet from the slot-fade concept. If the QB decides to go to the option route, he’s taught to read the corner on the side of the option (left in this case). If executed properly, the running back will likely win against his man, so the quarterback must make the cornerback wrong in case he helps.

The videos below show the New Orleans Saints taking advantage of the 1-on-1 matchup against two high safeties.

This concept works great against two safeties over the top, in Cover 2 man under two-deep, or Cover 4. When the defense plays with two safeties, the quarterback should peek at the middle linebacker and make sure the stick route to No. 3 is covered. Then he'll key the option route on the back side.

If they get burned enough, defenses will combat this route by playing with a single high safety, and bracket the option route with a flat and hook defender. This makes it important to select a good concept on the other side of the field. If the defense chooses to bracket the option route with two defenders, you must have ways to attack 1-on-1 coverage to the other side of the field.

On the front side, this play utilizes the slot-fade concept, which has spread like wildfire through all levels of football. At its core, the concept is designed to create a 1-on-1 matchup for the slot receiver. The hitch route is used as a check down if help comes from the corner. This play is also a great blitz beater that will stress the defense vertically early in the play.

The offense will get this 1-on-1 matchup with the slot fade against single high safety. Typically, a slower linebacker or safety will get matched up with the vertical route, where the offense can game plan their speediest receiver to line up.

This is also a great route for large-framed tight ends and receivers. They won’t have to win with speed, because they’ll have the leverage on a smaller defender high and to the outside. This is a throw that can be drilled in practice, and proves to be a relatively safe throw. It’s no different than a fade route in the red zone. In this video, you can see how effective size can be when the throw is accurate. 

 Teams can still hit the option route against single high coverage. If both inside hook defenders drift to the strong side of the formation, the option route still has a 1-on-1 matchup. This video shows the option route open against a Cover 3.

Many pass concepts can’t hold up against defenses that drop eight players into coverage. There are simply no holes to throw the ball, and the defense can effectively bracket three receivers.

One common rush-three, drop-eight scheme is the Tampa 2. This is like the traditional Cover 2, but with the middle linebacker running the deep middle zone. He is then replaced by a dropping D-lineman.

This concept still holds up against this Tampa 2 scheme. The video below shows an example. The option route still gets a 1-on-1 matchup.

 The slot fade concept isn't the only one that can be used with the option route. One interesting variation is a curl-flat concept that gets the slot receiver to the opposite seam. This video shows the route concept. 

The defense plays with two high safeties, and the middle linebacker ran with the seam, so the correct read is to throw the option route. Wide receiver Michael Thomas (13) runs the weak-side option route to the two-receiver side (left of formation).

The Saints use this concept to get their best playmakers the ball, Thomas and Alvin Kamara. It’s a great whole-field concept that can beat any coverage or blitz, and can be adapted to fit any offensive system.

TagsBlog Coach Offense Passing Game
Share