In my previous post, I shared a few variations of some split back run plays. In this article I’m going to share how you can develop the split back with some pass concepts as well. These are just a few concepts within our drop back pass series and all of these are going to be off of play action.
Split Backs in the Pass Game
Double Post
The double post concept is a favorite of mine because it’s another way to stretch the defense vertically by running 4 vertical routes. In this look we are also putting three of those vertical routes to one half of the field. In this pre-snap look the defense is showing a MOFO look which indicates that the FS and the CB are the only two defenders to that side who are deep vertical zone defenders.
Our 3 vertical routes should win every time against their 2 vertical deep zone defenders. I typically use the basketball analogy of 3 on 2 fast break with my QB to help him visualize the space that we are trying to attack and to simplify it in terms of throwing it to where they’re not.
| X | Reduce your split. If ball is in the middle of the field then align 1 yard outside the hash. Run a burst corner with the first stem attacking 45 degrees inside for 4 steps, then vertical for 4 steps, then break out on the corner. |
| A | Inside post breaking at ~8 yards. The goal is to cut the face off the near safety in a MOFO look and attack the middle of the field |
| Z | 7 step post over the top of the near safety. |
| H | Power read play action and protect outside the BSG pulling with help on the C |
| T | Wheel route. If ball is in middle of the field then work top of the numbers to bottom of the numbers. If corner attaches to post then get eyes back and ready for the ball |
| Q | Take one shuffle and extend the ball out as if running power read. Eyes are on near safety at the snap of the ball. Defender keys are the near safety on double post, and then the CB. Progression is inside post, outside post, wheel. Alert the Burst Corner if the CB is pressed and safety has inside leverage on the X. |
| OL | Think power read to the right. Front side of the OL will post step into their back side gap and protect. LT will step hinge to first help with B gap then hinge for C gap. BSG will pull and set up to protect in the C gap which will be the DE in the example above. |
Flood
I like running flood because sometimes defenses may jump into a 1 high safety look against split backs and try to add 7th man to the box for run fits. If the defense goes into a single high coverage then flood is a great concept as it layers the defense’s zone coverages with a deep route, intermediate route, and a flat route.
| X | Reduce split slightly. Run 7 step post |
| A | Sail route. Break at 10 yards and get to 12. This is a route that uses a speed cut. Bring speed into the break, roll over on your outside foot/hip and get to 12 yards. |
| Z | Go route, get your best release off the LOS. |
| H | Power read play action and protect outside the BSG pulling with help on the C |
| T | Run an arrow route at 1-3 yards. |
| Q | Take one shuffle and extend the ball out as if running power read. Eyes are on CB at the snap of the ball. If CB is on top of the Go route then get eyes to OLB who is playing the curl flat. If Sail has outside leverage on the OLB then throw the sail. If the OLB carries the sail, then throw the ball into the flat to the RB. |
| OL | Think power read to the right. Front side of the OL will post step into their back side gap and protect. LT will step hinge to first help with B gap then hinge for C gap. BSG will pull and set up to protect in the C gap which will be the DE in the example above. |
Snag
Snag is a great concept because it can beat multiple coverages. The way we run our snag concept is a little different than what you probably see from other coaches, but we feel this creates the best timing within the progression and makes for more open windows to throw into.
| X | Reduce split slightly. Run 7 step post |
| A | Corner route. break at 8 yards. |
| Z | Can be a two stem route. Must be patient in the route to let the “A” clear out with the corner route. First stem is for about 6 yards, then break in and get to 8 yards. Get a good pre-snap read on OLB and ILB alignment to determine where the soft spot might be in the zone. When breaking inside, eyes are on ILB. If he works outside then slide inside and settle. If he sits inside then settle immediately and work away from coverage. |
| H | Power read play action and protect outside the BSG pulling with help on the C |
| T | Swing route. Get out and wide as fast as possible. Settle at the LOS |
| Q | Take one shuffle and extend the ball out as if running power read. Pre snap read alignment of safety and depth of corner to accelerate post-snap read on open space for the corner. Eyes are on CB (MOFC) at the snap of the ball. If CB is on top of the corner route then progress to the snag route. Last option is the swing route as a check down if the snag is covered. |
| OL | Think power read to the right. Front side of the OL will post step into their back side gap and protect. LT will step hinge to first help with B gap then hinge for C gap. BSG will pull and set up to protect in the C gap which will be the DE in the example above. |
Go Switch (Comebacks)
Go switch is another favorite concept of mine which is why it’s in the split back package as well. In this 4 vertical concept, the “A” has to understand that he is ultimately sacrificing his route in order to get the RB open out of the backfield. That means that he needs to run right at the safety and inside to occupy his deep zone responsibility
The RB is going to run his vertical up the seam and should get his head back for the ball as soon as he clears the 2nd level defender. If the safety attaches to “A”, then the ball should be out on the RB at around ~15 yards. This is not intended to be a deep ball thrown over his shoulder.
The outside verticals are a pre-snap alert for the QB, which means if he likes the matchup he can throw it. The outside verticals can also have the option to be comebacks which would break at 14 back to 12.
| X | Run a Go route. If it’s called for a comeback then run a Go and break at 14 back to 12 on the outside. |
| A | Inside release and attack the inside of the near safety. |
| Z | Run a Go route. If it’s called for a comeback then run a Go and break at 14 back to 12 on the outside. |
| H | Power read play action and protect outside the BSG pulling with help on the C |
| T | Vertical and get into the seam as quick as possible. Clear the OLB and get head back for the ball right away. |
| Q | Take one shuffle and extend the ball out as if running power read. Read the near safety while play action. If he attaches to the “A” then pick up the RB on the seam. If seam is not there look to throw the comeback if called. Alert outside Go’s if CB’s are down or pressed. |
| OL | Think power read to the right. Front side of the OL will post step into their back side gap and protect. LT will step hinge to first help with B gap then hinge for C gap. BSG will pull and set up to protect in the C gap which will be the DE in the example above. |
Smash
This is a great smash concept down in the red zone near the boundary. It works well with a compressed stack position so the Z can quickly get on the safety with his post route and occupy him. The “A”‘s quick out will put a high – low on the CB with the RB running a corner route out of the backfield. The X on the single side will be an alert Go based on the matchup and depth from the CB.
| X | Run a Go route. |
| A | Quick out at 5 yards |
| Z | Post route at the safety. |
| H | Power read play action and protect outside the BSG pulling with help on the C |
| T | Release up the seam and get vertical, break at ~8 yards on the corner route. |
| Q | Take one shuffle and extend the ball out as if running power read. Pre-snap read of Safety’s alignment and CB’s depth will help accelerate decision making on the corner route. Read the CB at the snap of the ball. If he pedals and is on top of the corner route, then throw the quick out. If he stays down on the out, then throw the corner. |
| OL | Think power read to the right. Front side of the OL will post step into their back side gap and protect. LG will step hinge to first help with B gap then hinge for C gap. BSG will pull and set up to protect in the C gap which will be the DE in the example above. |
Post Cross
This Post-Cross concept, also known as the Yankee concept, is another great pass concept that can be used out of split backs. This comes from a compressed alignment with the WR’s in order to put immediate stress on the safety that will be in conflict.
The Z will run a 7 step post over the top of the safety. The A will run the cross which will be under the OLB, over the ILB and across at 18 yards down field. The X will run a dig behind the cross which opens up nicely as the 3rd read in the progression. The X can take an outside release from this alignment in order for the cross to develop and to allow the middle of the field to open up. This is to ensure that the X doesn’t arrive too early on the Dig route.
The T will run an arrow route as a last read or hot read in the progression. This arrow route is intended to widen the near LB to open up the throwing window for the cross behind and may even hold down the Corner, depending on the defensive coverage.
| X | Outside release on the first stem of the dig route. break in at 10 yards and get to 12 then get flat down the line looking to sit in an open window. |
| A | Under the OLB and over the ILB getting across at 18 yards. Look for the ball as you clear the 2nd level defenders. |
| Z | 7 step big post over the safety. |
| H | Power read play action and protect outside the BSG pulling with help on the C |
| T | Arrow route at 1-3 yards out of the backfield. |
| Q | Take one shuffle and extend the ball out as if running power read. Read the near safety while play action. If he pedals and stays on top of the Post, then look for the cross underneath. If the LB carries depth under the cross, then reset the feet and throw the dig route coming behind it. |
| OL | Think power read to the right. Front side of the OL will post step into their back side gap and protect. LT will step hinge to first help with B gap then hinge for C gap. BSG will pull and set up to protect in the C gap which will be the DE in the example above. |
Split Backs in the Pass Game
These are some universal concepts that can easily be applied to a split back package. These concepts are tough to defend because the alignment varies with reduced splits and compressed sets. This can be difficult to defend because of the vertical stress that safeties will feel immediately after the ball is snapped. The concepts above also give you options to attack multiple coverages whether it’s MOFO or MOFC looks.
With these pass concepts paired with the run schemes out of split backs, you can easily specialize in 20 personnel with a near complete playbook that will put the defense on their heels.