Introduction

Every offense is looking for an all-purpose package to incorporate into the offense. Any play series that provides multiple resources for your offense is a package worth looking in to. Sprint-out passing is an extremely valuable component to offensive production. This article will detail the value of carrying a sprint-out series, base sprint-out concepts, variations and complimentary plays.

RELATED CONTENT: The Gap Run System

Why Sprint-Out? 

A sprint-out package can be one of the most critical components to any offense. The reason I have chosen this package to detail is because I believe any offense can incorporate this series into an pre-existing system and benefit from it. This sprint-out package facilitates an offense in a number of different ways:

• Multiple personnel groups
• Multiple formations
• Easy to shift & motion to
• Flexible to personnel
• Fits any down & distance
• Useful in any field zone
• Excellent against pressure
• Changes launch point of QB by moving the pocket
• Excellent against zone or man coverage
• Efficient form of passing
• Outstanding in the red zone

 

Base Sprint-Out Package

This sprint-out series is a “Day 1” install and is carried throughout the season. This series can be carried into every game plan.  The base sprint-out package has a couple of staples that never change:

• Call-side is a two-man “smash” concept (dictated by call)
• Backside is a single receiver running a “pig” route
• Protection is always protected with a seven-man “gap/waterfall” protection

 

This base sprint-out series is a two-play series that are both smash concepts. I define smash as a two-man route combination: one route occupies the flat and the other route is a corner route. I differentiate the two concepts by communicating which player is occupying the flat. This is communicated by the name of the play. Essentially, I am telling the “outside” or “inside” receiver on the call-side who needs to end up in the flat. If you are the receiver not in the flat, they must run the corner route.

Outside Sprint-Out

Outside sprint-out is the foundation install. This tells the outside receiver to occupy the flat and the inside receiver to run the corner route.

COACHING POINTS - ROUTES

• Outside Receiver: Pivot Route – align 4 yards on top of the numbers. Push vertical for 8 yards, hitch and pause for a one-count, expand towards sideline at a negative angle.
  • If on QB’s non-dominant arm: cut splits by 4yards.
• Inside Receiver: Corner Route – ability alignment (make sure to leave reception area). Push vertical for 10-15 yards, break off inside foot and run to open grass.
  • If on QB’s non-dominant arm: cut alignment by 4 yards.
• Back-Side Receiver: Pig Route – This is a post or dig based on the coverage.  Angle sprint to MOF towards goal post. If you can continue running and be open, do so. If you cannot continue running and be open, At 12-15 yards, snap the route off and work across the field at a negative angle, tempo running to open grass.

 

COACHING POINTS - QB

• Dominant hand movement: Open for depth, attack for width and then attack LOS once outside of the tackle box. Read concept front-to-back and bottom-to-top. Always throw the flat route if available. If flat route is covered, progress to the corner. If entire call-side is covered, progress to the back-side pig route. If all are covered, run beyond LOS.
• Non-dominant hand movement: Open flat and immediately attack for width. Once outside of the tackle box, square hips and shoulders to the LOS. Read concept front-to-back and bottom-to-top. Always throw the flat route if available. If flat route is covered, progress to the corner. If entire call-side is covered, progress to the back-side pig route. If all are covered, run.

Inside Sprint-Out

Inside sprint-out is the complimentary play to the outside sprint-out. This tells the inside receiver to occupy the flat and the outside receiver to run a rub-corner route.

COACHING POINTS - ROUTES

• Outside Receiver: Rub Corner – align 4 yards on top of the numbers. Angle immediately for the defender aligned over the inside receiver. Push angle to that defender’s toes, then push vertical to 10-15 yards, break off inside foot and run to open grass.
  • If on QB’s non-dominant arm: cut alignment by 4 yards.
• Inside Receiver: Out Route – ability alignment (make sure to leave reception area). Push vertical to first defender over-to-inside you (at least 6 yards), break off inside foot and run to sideline at a negative angle.
  • If on QB’s non-dominant arm: cut alignment by 4 yards.
• Back-Side Receiver: Pig Route – this is a post or dig based on the coverage.  Angle sprint to MOF towards goal post. If you can continue running and be open, do so. If you cannot continue running and be open. At 12-15 yards, snap the route off and work across the field at a negative angle, tempo running to open grass.

 

COACHING POINTS - OTHER

• All coaching points pertaining to protection and the QB are identical to the aforementioned concept.

Variations

There are some excellent complimentary plays to the base pass concepts. These variations take advantage of defenses’ willingness to attempt to overplay the base concepts.

Variation No. 1 is the corner-post off one of the original concepts. All routes are the same except to communicate to the receiver running the corner (could be the inside or outside receiver) to oversell the corner route to get the defender to overplay the route. Once the defender commits, the receiver sticks their outside foot and breaks to the post on a “tall” angle. The only adjustment needed is the backside pig route. Any time a corner route is tagged to run the corner-post, the pig automatically runs the dig in an effort to stay clear of the designed reception area.

Variation No. 2 is a delay/hide off of the outside concept. Run from a heavier formation, this communicates that skill player in the C-gap will insert himself into the protection until the linebackers overplay the movement of the pocket. Once the inside linebackers begin to vacate their areas, the receiver slips across the formation for width, while slightly gaining depth. The pig needs to cut their split and get across the formation as quickly as possible.

Protection

COACHING POINTS

• PST: Backside gap. Lateral step with inside foot, 6-inch vertical step with outside foot.
• PSG: Backside gap. Lateral step with inside foot, 6-inch vertical step with outside foot.
• C: Backside gap. Open step with inside foot, adjust to threat.
• BSG: Backside gap. Take two vertical sets. Adjust to threat.
• BST: Backside gap. Take four vertical sets. Adjust to threat.
• First Man (Y or F): Block outside leg of C-gap defender. Make contact on the LOS.
• RB: Inverted dual-read. Block outside leg of D-gap defender. Make contact on the LOS. Check flat defender to scraping Linebacker.

 

Conclusion

These sprint-out concepts are low-maintenance, efficient ways to move the ball down the field. These concepts are all-purpose and easily adjustable to any personnel, formation and situation. Included are excellent complimentary plays that give these concepts the variation needed to keep defenses honest while adding to the effectiveness of the base plays. Changing the launch point of the QB is critical to deterring pressures and can overcome a gamut of protection issues