5-Step passes



Our 5-step game is our base passing game, and what we go to the most. It also has been versatile because we incorporate other actions into the same framework, half-roll and play action, which keeps the learning curve of the offense low, and gives us more looks.

We try to be simple in all that we do, and as such we essentially have 6 concepts that we run from the 5-step, a couple tags that don't really change too much, and that's it. We go with that. We do little tweaks here and there as necessary, usually just to get it to go in a formation we've not used before, but we install the entire 5-step game over about 5 practices during two-a-days and then essentially repeat that process over until the start of the season.

I had the honor of hearing Norm Chow talk, and he said "I'd be lying if I said we knew what the defense was going to call or even was just in on a given play, so we just try to take a piece of the field and attack it and work with that." This is something we try to do as well, and has proven effective.

When we went through the restructuring of our offense a few seasons ago, this was the area we looked at in specific. We had a lot of goals, diversification and simplication, etc etc. But in the end we came up with this, which is largely a composite of us as a staff and influences from successful coaches. There is nothing revolutionary here, but it is our system and has worked extremely well for us, and our players have enjoyed it and found it simple. We communicated a lot during this process with our players, and many of them have proven to be the best teachers. On that note, communication has been the big key for our offense, and every time we come back from the sideline, those that are not on defense, and at halftime, etc, we try to find out what they think they can get.

In building the offense, we went with three precepts:
1. The outside receivers must be a 3 way threat running down the field on both straight ahead and if they stem. (corner, dig and post for example, or go curl and out)
2. All 5 receivers must be seen by the defense as vertical threats
3. We will control the ball with the pass, get rid of it quickly off of 5 step drops and look for first downs.

Anyway, here is our offense, it is taught with simple FS#1-3 rules and BS#1-2. The players do need understanding of the plays and where they are on the field, but we don't run anything in games that we have not run in practice. We have a few simple tags that are specific to plays, and other than that if we want a player to run a route, we tell which player and which route. (e.g. X-Post) If we have a 4th receiver going to the same side, such a trips formation with the protection and check releasing back to that side or some kind of play action to the strong side, the 4th receiver to a given side will have the same route responsibility as FS#3. We will usually tag one or the other receivers, either by protection call or specific tag, to stay in and block, or run a different route as we do not want players running into each other or clogging zones, but instead of making them memorize complicated rules, we will tell them with the playcall.

A side note about the O, is that our goal is to get rid of the ball quickly, we only have one 7-step drop, and the ball can even be released sooner. Our Qbs also must be mindful of who the quick receivers are on a given play that can get the ball off of 5-quick steps, or he must also be able to throw the ball away.

On here I will show the plays from different formations, I don't show them from ones that make sense, like if I show it from doubles it is essentially the same as Doubles but with the tight end split out, or a double slot, and even if the tight end is in Red blocking there you can imagine it with Green, I wanted to show some of the more "advanced" I guess is the word, but not really anything special or difficult, but these are the types of looks we'll put in from week to week and practice to show something new.

And as a final note on that, we always try to protect the QB first, we don't run protections with many free releasers if the QB is not protected, I.E. 6 man protections versus 7 man fronts. We'd rather check then release than get our QB in too much trouble.

Curl/Flat:

Curl/Flat is a mirrored route similar to our 3-step game, so there is not a front side or back side, just 1, 2 and 3 from either side.

  • #1: Curl route. 12-14 yards downfield. Attack loose defenders' outside shoulder, sell deep and break quickly. Versus squat or press man coverage, inside release and get inside leverage. Get the defense on your outside hip, sell deep and break, and keep him outside. In both cases come back to QB, and simply try to find the Quarterback's eyes. You will naturally find an open lane for him to throw you the ball. It is as simple as looking through a window.
  • #2: Run a flat route. Versus man break outside release and break upfield slightly. You want to reach a depth of 2-3 yards deep when you reach the numbers.
  • #3: Sit Route. Find an open hole over the middle and sit. If in backfield 5-6 yards, if coming from an outside receiver position 6-8 yards.
  • QB: Pick your side pre-snap. If there is a post call on a player, see if you think he will be a viable option. At the snap keep your head downfield on the first 3-steps, and try to get a "peek" if the post will come open for six points. If so finish drop and deliver it quickly. If not, on the last two steps look for the curl, try to look through the window on your hitch up steps and deliver the football. If the passing lane is not there, shift your weight and look for the flat quickly. We also teach the Qbs to "look off" the curl to the flat to draw the defense up before hitting the curl. If the flat is not there look for your dump off over the middle.

  • Tag: "Wheels" (Pro Rt 251 BOB Wheels) call tells the players running flat routes to turn them into flat and go, or wheel routes. Run the flat, look over your outside shoulder and then wheel up the sideline outside the Curl. The QB will now try to get the wheel first and then come down to the curl route.

    Corner/Smash:

    Also a mirrored route.

  • #1: Smash route. Run a 5-step hitch, but quicken steps and only reach a depth of about 4 yards, and then turn back to QB. Pause a moment and look for the ball quickly by the QB in trouble. Now you have full freedom to move at your depth of 4-5 yards. Move away from coverage, inside or out, or run inside away from man to man. "grass rule" (Grass rule is what we use shorthand for finding the open space in your immediate area. He isn't allowed to run all over the field, but within his little area, not getting any deeper to interfere with the corner, or shallower, he has a lot of freedom.)
  • #2: Corner. Release upfield, escape underneath coverage, and look for a safety sitting on the hashmark to make your move against. If there is none just run vertically. Jab for the post at 10 and then break for the corner. The QB will "throw you open", in other words he will throw it to the open grass and you must go and get it.
  • #3: Sit route, see above.
  • QB: Look for side pre-snap. On first 3-steps look down the field, and see safety reaction. Look for a safety not getting outside quickly(if there is a post route call think about glancing outside to draw them out to hit the guy up the middle.) On the last 2 steps of your drop look to your side, glance at the smash route to pull up the coverage, then look for the corner on your last step and hitch step. Deliver the ball to the open space if he is open. This is not a lob pass, it will be caught from 21-26 yards downfield, with some zip, and never try to lob it over a retreating player. If the corner is covered come down to the smash, remembering the rule of not throwing to the player, throwing away from the defenders, and then looking for the dump off over the middle.

    Mesh Route:

    One of our most productive routes, and an absolute favorite in the red zone. It is our slight adjustment on the BYU/Kentucky/Texas Tech version. Has been a staple of our offense and has worked versus a lot of different coverages.

  • FS#1: Corner route. Inside stem for 5 yards, then push vertically to 10 yards, make an inside jab at 10 and then break for the corner, or the open grass. QB will throw you open. Inside or outside release versus press man, but make sure to push inside at 10 and then break out, break a bit flatter but run to the football.
  • FS#2: Crossing route at 6 yards. You are responsible for setting the depth of the mesh. Run through undercoverage covering running backs or other receivers(do not look at them, keep arms pumping and just go where you are going. Do not visibly reroute yourself.) Level off after you pass the center, and versus zones settle in the open spots, looking through the window to the QB. Versus man sprint away.
  • FS#3: Run a flat route, release quickly, you do not have to have a depth of 5 yards, but get no wider than the numbers. If you are check releasing get a good pre-snap look and cheat your split out.
  • BS#2: Run a flat route, see above.
  • BS#1: Run a crossing route. You will be at a depth of 5 yards, underneath the frontside crossing receiver. Cut your split in to 4-5 yards. Once you cross the center level off and versus zone, settle in the hole looking through the window, versus man accelerate away.
  • QB: Pre-snap keys are the corner route, and any post-tag on the play. Try to get a good key if you think the post route will be an option. Look downfield on your first step, but you can come off it quickly to begin looking at the corner. It is a High-low read exactly like the corner smash. If it is open throw him open to the grass. Also versus man to man think about this route if you have a mismatch and, obviously if he is going to get open. Give the receiver a chance on the deeper shot.

    Come down to the flat if he is not open, hit this quickly while he is still running away from the inside coverage for big yards. If the defense covers the corner and the flat and runs outside, which happens most of the time, (but we will obviously keep hitting the corners and the flats as long as they do not) come down to the mesh. The backside crosser should be open in the hole left by the players to cover the corner and the flat, and if not simply scan from one meshing receiver to the other, to finally your outlet in the opposite flat, shifting your weight and vision.

  • Tag: We will give this play a "whips" tag. The two crossing receivers (FS#2 and BS#1) will begin exactly as before, but once they reach a depth of 5-6 yards that will stop, pivot and whip back out to the same side they came from. They will accelerate versus man and settle versus zone. This essentially is the same read for the QB, as his eyes end up going to the same place. This has been exactly as both simply a change up, especially versus man to man, as well as an effective option versus teams trying to pattern read or wall off our crossing routes.

    Speed-Out/Middle read:


    A great bread and butter play which with a small tag becomes often our weapon of choice to attack downfield. This play has a slightly longer learning curve, but it makes us a better offense and the skills learned with this play translate over.

  • FS#1: Speed out. 6 step speed out route, the 6th step is the last vertical step, on the 7th step begin rolling the cut to the outside. This is a speed/roll cut. The break should be at around 10 and roll to 12. Make sure to end up flat, parrallel to the LOS. Roll over the outside foot. At snap of ball attack the outside hip of the defender, sell deep and then roll your cut. Look for ball quickly, catch and get upfield. We do not convert this route, and if you end up running it versus a rolled up or press corner just run it the best you can at 10 yards and if the ball happens to be thrown(it should not) it is your job to go and get it.
  • FS#2: Middle Read Route: This is a very productive route, but it is a conversion route, although a simple one, so we must spend time teaching the receivers their keys when running this. The key with conversions routes, is to pick one, and run it full speed. You can never think "oh no" and try to run the other route after starting the first. It will result in interceptions. We always say full-speed mistakes are better than a half-assed anything.

    The player will release. If they are split out, and not lined up as a tight end, they will stem the route inside for 5 yards and then push vertical. They must escape the undercoverage, and get downfield. Do not waste time. Their keys are the middle. We simply look for "middle open" or "middle closed" with the thought process being, "will I get open down the deep middle?" The presence of a deep middle safety sitting there is a strong indication that they will not. At 10 yards they will speed/roll cut their break either for the post, or parrallel to the LOS across the field at 12 yards. If they run a square in, they will look for the window to the QB, and will settle in the hole versus zone, or accelerate versus man. This is usually hit somewhere right down the middle of the field.

  • FS#3: Short Hook: As a running back they will check release and run a short hook route at 5-6 yards over the offensive tackles, and will then turn back to the QB. They have some freedom to slide, but it is much more limited than on other dump off routes. If they are a tight end or outside receiver they will come off the ball hard, but will chop their feet to give the illusion of selling deep, and will still hook at 5-6 yards over or just outside where the tackles line up.
  • BS#2: See FS#3
  • BS#1: See FS#1
  • QB: Get a good pre-snap look and decide which direction you want to go. Look for matchup/leverage. At snap look downfield on the first step he looks directly downfield. Then, begin looking for the speed out. You have to decide in a hurry if the ball is going to go to the speed out. If there is any kind of tight coverage, etc, he is not getting the ball. We took away his conversion routes so the QB could come off of him more quickly to the inside receivers, and did not have to hesitate to throw the speed out when he felt it was there because he was afraid the receiver would run some other route.

    The QB decides if he is throwing it to the speed out. If he does, as soon as he hits the 5th step of his 5 step drop(a quicker 5, but still 3 big and 2 small) and will release the ball without taking a hitch step. We often will let the QB throw this into the boundary to make it an easier throw.

    If the QB decides he is not going to throw to the speed out, he will finish his drop looking downfield for the middle read. When he hitches the middle-read should be showing whether he is running the post or the square in, and he should see it developing. If the receiver is breaking open, he will deliver the football to the open grass for the receiver either running away from man or in some kind of zone void. If the receiver is not open he will come down to his two short hooks and dump the ball off.

    This play ends up going to the backs a good percentage of the time, which is not a problem.

  • Tag: We commonly make a "Takeoffs" tag. (I.E. Pro Rt 254 BOB Takeoffs) which tells FS#1 and BS#1 to run "Go" routes. The receivers will take normal splits and attack the outside shoulder of the defenders. At 10-12 they will make a move(but not if the defender is already trailing or versus just air) and get overtop of the defender, making sure to leave 5 yards towards the sideline. If the defender is playing hard-outside leverage, we won't swim inside of him, but will burst vertically inside him and get back overtop. Versus press man make escape move at line and then burst vertically.

    Read does not change for QB, still outside to in, but he can look at the outside longer. Take a normal, but still quick 5 step drop and hitch step and get rid of the ball. Ball should be delivered with low/medium arc and be caught at 35-40 yards downfield.

    Dig:

    A great route for us, versus single safety teams this and curl are our go to plays, and they work great in combination, but this has been solid versus a lot of defenses. We use this play % wise with play action(Gator) more than any other pass in our system.

  • FS#1: Stem-Post. Stem inside at a 45 degree angle to 5 yards, burst to 10-12 and then break for the post. Get more upfield than across the field. If you know you are going to be covered, try to influence two deep defenders. If the ball is thrown to you go up and get it at its highest point.
  • FS#2: Wheel route/flat and go. Run a flat, look over outside shoulder and then wheel it up the sideline.
  • FS#3: Short Hook. See above.
  • BS#2: Short Hook, see above.
  • BS#1: Dig route. Stem inside at a 45 degree angle to a depth of 5 yards. Burst vertically. Escape undercoverage. at a depth of 13-15 yards roll/speed cut your square-in cut and burst out of your break across the field. Look for a window versus zone, accelerate versus man, but expect the ball out of your cut regardless of the coverage.
  • QB: 5-7 quick step drop, with a hitch step. A unique drop, if the ball is going to the peek or to #1 wheel it is out of 5 steps, but if those progressions are not there the QB will finish his drop to 7 steps(5 in gun) and look for the dig). Get a good pre-snap look at the post, and look at him on the first three steps of your drop. If he is there finish your drop quickly and let it go. If not come over to the wheel route, look for him up the sideline. If the defense has been sucked in deliver the ball to him on the sideline. We do not usually end up throwing the wheel, but versus certain defenders or defenses they do get caught on this. If it is not there, finish your 7-step drop and hitch up while you look for the dig. As you finish the last 2 of the 7 look at the short hooks to pull up the defense off the dig. AS you hitch up look at the dig route. Deliver the ball out of the break to the dig. Throw through a window, do not try to drop it over linebackers, throw between them. If they are dropping to cover the dig, come down and get it to the short hooks, do not hold on to the ball waiting for things to open up.

    Flood:

    A great play that has been versatile for years, rare that this play does not produce an open receiver, and is a great way to get the backs involved when we tag the backs.

  • FS#1: Run a go route. See above.
  • FS#2: Run a readout. Outside release and run to 10-12 years, and roll the cut on the out. Find the open grass. Run away from man and find a hole versus zone, either in the first window or the second. This can look like different routes, it can look like a kind of outside breaking curl, or a true out, it depends where the best "Grass" is.
  • FS#3: Run a flat route. Cheat your split out and get outside. Get to a depth of 2-3 yards and get no wider than the outside part of the numbers. You must get out quickly to clear the way for the readout.
  • BS#2: Run a flat, see above.
  • BS#1: Run a stem-curl. Stem inside at 45 degrees to 5 yards, and then burst upfield. The break for this route is between 16-18 yards. Curl and find the open window, it might be inside or outside, you have a lot of freedom to move around.
  • QB: Get a pre-snap look at the Go route, and help determine of that will be there. On the first step of your drop look downfield, on the next 3 look for the go. If that is going to be there, quickly finish your drop, hitch up and deliver it with low/medium arc from 35-40 yards downfield. Your primary read is the readout. Finish your drop while you look at him. Look for the grass area, and throw it in the window. If he is covered shift your weight and come down to the flat route. If that does not produce an open receiver, you will step up in the pocket and look backside for the stem-curl. This route comes open very well for a solid 15-18 yard gain very often, and has been very key for us, especially versus man to man. If the stem-curl is also covered, you have an outlet receiver in the opposite flat.

  • Tag: We often will tag one of the backs, usually FS#3, to an "angle" route, which begins like a flat route, but when the back reaches the line of scrimmage or just beyond, he plants his foot and angles inside. This is a great adjustment versus man to man first, and then several coverages, and is how we will primarily run this play versus two safety(cover 2) teams.

    That is our five step game. The key with it is we can put them in a lot of looks, it just all depends on our creativity with formations etc. They were all designed to function with our primary formations, Pro(flanker, tight end, split end splitbacks), Doubles(flanker and tight end right, split end and slot left, single back) and Doubles Open(double slot formation) However, with the simple rules are applicable to a number of formations, maybe with minor adjusments, all of which can be practiced and repetitioned, which is the key to all of these things.