Learning about QB position

On 1, a route tree is a standard set of routes within an offensive system.

To go into more detail, let's take a simple play I ran in high school and is still a staple of offenses today.

This is a 4 verticals concept:



The playcalling scheme for passing we used under Rozell at Trussville was fairly simple. In this instance, this play was simply known as "544."

That 544 tells you all you would need to know. Passing plays were 3 digit numbers as their most basic.

The 5 at the beginning tells you the QB's drop and the resulting pass pro scheme for the offensive line. A 5 indicates a 5 step drop for the QB. The alternative would be a 3, meaning the play was a 3 step drop, which changes the pass pro for the offensive line with the expectation that the ball will be out quicker.

The 44 tells you the routes being run. The first digit is the outside receivers and the second is the inside receivers. On our route tree, the 4 was a basic fly route.

So a 544 boils down to "5 step drop, inside and outside receivers running fly routes." Simple, right?

Now what happens when the play call was "507?" On our route tree, a 0 was a hitch route while a 7 was a corner route.

Well now you get a basic smash concept, a foundational play against zone coverages.



This is a quick and dirty example, Pop Warner level really, but a good starting point. Our playcalls were never that simple unless we were in hurry-up.

When you made a throw, was it a dart to your guy, or did you lead him away from defender?

Maybe a jump ball for your big guys?

It seems the best make small adjustments during the play on both ends of a pass; route adjustment by receiver, location of ball/arc/bullet .

When did the game slow down for you?
We’re you instinctive or did you sort of learn it over time?

It looks to me like the best process information very quickly, at each level it probably has to be processed faster as recognition of coverage patterns must be a real advantage.

Question:

Out of the gun, a 5 step drop is based off line of scrimmage or where snap is received?

I never played QB.

On 3, yes. Throwing them open is a thing. Back shoulder throws are a good example of this.

quote:

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When did your QBs sort of understand the different velocities and locations to throw the ball on different routes?

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Brandon Cox was the QB my sophomore year and that guy was D1 ready entering his junior season. I only ever caught catches from him in practice but to say every throw was damn near perfect would be an understatement.

We switched to a wing-T when Riddle came in and were much more run heavy and rotated QBs heavily trying to find the guy that could run that offense effectively. Still made the playoffs every year but we definitely took a step back offensively.

The hashes in college change the passing game some.

How long of a pass is a 10 yard out to the field?

Same route to the boundary?

That field throw looks like 35 yards to me.

I doubt I could throw a 35 yard pass tomorrow.

Are the receivers over there just occupying a defender for the most part?

I know they can move “over” which takes time and requires a good offensive line, but over routes really seem to work.

quote:

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One of our posters, “blue dragon” told me “you didn’t play the position.”

“No such thing as throwing them open.”

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I missed that

quote:

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Describe how to throw a receiver open. I don't believe you understand the concept. Because you've never played the position.

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This was why I’m trying to learn about the QB position.

It’s a quote from Blue dragon who may be Tom Brady as far as I can tell.

I just figure we’ve had Daniel Cobb in here, maybe we have some other guys who have starts at QB in SEC that can share their experience with us as far as how it all works.

Received. It's a rhythm thing, really. 3 step drops are your typical quick hitter, timing plays where the ball is meant to be out quickly, 5 step drops are for your deeper passing concepts that need more time to develop.