Vertical Game - Notes and Clips

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Just wanted to take some time and address the vertical game concept that has become one of the most effective concepts for spread teams.  Vertical game can be successful against a variety of defensive coverages if installed and executed properly. Here are my notes and some of the better videos I could find showing the concept in action.

The most important thing the qb must understand on vertical game is reading safeties and finding grass.  Finding grass during his pre-snap read is critical, you want him to recognize the area on the field that he feels he has the best chance of completing the pass based on defensive alignment and where he is at on the field.  He must always recognize the number of high safeties during his pre-snap reads.

 The main idea of this concept is to put one of the safeties in a 2 on 1 coverage situation.   

In a single high safety look, the grass you should be looking to utilize is down the middle of the field as the qb uses his eyes to move the safety opposite of the inside vertical he intends to throw. 

Against a two high safety look, first the qb must pick a side (determined by grass, alignment, playmakers, and best matchup).  Once the qb has picked a side during his pre snap reads, his goal is to force that safety into the 2 on 1 mismatch.  If the safety hangs in the middle of the field, there should be a nice window to complete the ball to the outside receiver.  If safety bails to the outside, hit the receiver running the inside vertical. 

Vertical game out of a 2x2 offensive formation – it is important to coach your inside receivers that if they get contact from the float defender, to always run through contact through the outside shoulder pad of the defender.  Never go inside the float defender on vertical game because it decreasing the intended spacing elements of the play.  Against 2 safeties, inside wr’s can bend their vertical route inside to grass.  They are only allowed to bend a vertical route against 2 safeties and they cannot bend the route until they are at least 12 yards past the line of scrimmage and clear of any float defender contact.  Never allowed to bend against 1 safety. 

To be extremely good at throwing vertical game, the QB must learn to be great at looking off safeties and become excellent at anticipating open wr’s. Being able to anticipate the openness and destination of a wr is a huge advantage in throwing vertical game. Repetition  is critical in developing timing and understanding of the vertical game concept. 

Make sure your QB understands the importance of finding his back on the check down route if nothing is open downfield.  Hitting check downs of 4 verts is extremely effective.  The running back should be coached to find the biggest piece of grass behind the defensive line and settle. 

Vertical game out of a 3x1 offensive formation – The inside receiver out of the trips formation (Y) - should always go under the Sam LB, and over the Mike LB (same idea as Y-cross).

The middle receiver in the trips formation (H) - against 1 high safety, stay vertical, 2 high safeties = bend.

QB’s reads do not change.  He is still looking for grass on pre-snap and then manipulating the 2on1 matchup he chooses based on his pre-snap reads.  (Go-Go-Check down will always be his progression on vertical game).  Against press coverage, qb has discretion to shorten his drop in order to get the ball out faster.

Here are a few tags I like off vertical game –

97 Double Sail – Out of a 2x2 set, outside receivers will run vertical, slot receivers running 10 to 12 yard sail routes (out routes).  The QB picks a side based on pre-snap alignment, grass, leverage, and playmakers.  His reads will be Go-Sail-Check down.

97 Go-Back – Out of a 2x2 set, outside receivers will run 12 to 15 yard comeback routes.  Adjust the route according to your qb’s arm strength.  Inside receivers run verticals.  QB picks a side and reads inside vertical to comeback.  The ball should be thrown to the outside shoulder on the comeback route. 

Building Your QB’s Confidence Early in the Game

Getting your quarterback into the flow of the game can sometimes be a challenging task.  During my playing career I was fortunate to have an offensive coordinator who understood the concept of allowing a qb to build his confidence and get into a rhythm during the first few possessions of a game.  As a play caller, it is our responsibility to limit negative effects that can be brought on by initial excitement, nervousness, and the mental strain of defensive recognition that often takes place for a qb early in a game.  I recently read some notes from one of Coach Tony Franklin’s clinics and one of the points he made was to abstain from calling a 90’s (3 step drop) type play until at least 15 to 20 plays deep into the game.  This means that the majority of your plays calls early on should be a combination of runs, screens, and quick game.  The benefits of this strategy; offensive rhythm, qb confidence, and forcing the defense to react to completions and cover from sideline to sideline.  As your quarterback makes these easy completions, his confidence grows and the game slows down for him mentally.  I know as a player, regardless of whether we scored early or not, it was always nice to be on the sideline thinking “ok, I’m settled in, I’ve completed 7 or 8 passes already, now let’s take some shots at these guys”.  This strategy also provides the qb time to gain understanding of the opponent’s defense without having to make more complex down field decisions.  He has time to recognize fronts, defensive back alignment, key players, and available grass for him to utilize later in the game.  Below are some concepts that incorporate this strategy for building your quarterbacks confidence early in a game.

 Fast Screens ,Bubbles, and RB Swing Screens – I love fast screens, bubbles to the WR’s and swings to the RB’s early in a game because not only does it build your qb’s confidence but it also builds the confidence of the receivers and backs.  Getting several of your key players catches early on gets them into the flow of the game. Your qb is getting completions and for the most part staying protected from those blitzing linebackers that are looking to rip somebodies head off during the first series or two of the game.  Establishing these screens force the defense to defend horizontally and will eventually cause those float defenders to widen and defend further and further away from the box, creating a more favorable match up for your run game.

Quick Game – Quick game is always a safe and effective way to get your players into the flow of a game.  Early in the game, my thinking is to run the quick game concepts that I feel my team is best at.  Personally, my favorites are; stick, hitch game, slant-bubble, and snag.  But like I said, it has to be the concepts that the players run best and you feel most comfortable with calling.  The plays I mentioned provide your qb with simple read progressions that allow him to get the ball out quickly.  The qb will be reading one single defender (flat defender), which keeps him from having to make more complex reads early in the game.  These quick game concepts also become very effective when you are able to establish the bubble screen.  With all of the plays I listed, the wider the flat defender, the better the window is to complete routes such as stick, slant, hitches, and the snag route.  My thinking early in a game is to stretch the defense horizontally as much as possible.  When running slant bubble, I’m thinking throw the bubble until the defense adjusts to stop it.  When running snag, it’s the swing route all the way until the defense chooses to respect it.  By making the defense to widen, and defend closer to the line of scrimmage, throwing lanes open and down field opportunities begin to present themselves. 

** updated - It is also beneficial to take a couple "homerun" shots. Find the best matchup and take a shot on an outside go route. Simple read for qb, safe throw, and chance for a big play. Of my first 15 plays, at least 2 will be "homerun" shots. What I like for some early game homerun calls ; 97 (All Verticals), any Play Action with hi-lo progression, Screen&Go, and trick plays (come up with something creative and use it early in the game), Slant-Wheel,  and 95 X-Post (tell QB to see X). 

I also like slow screens to the backs, jailbreaks, and inside shovel.  All of these plays help control early aggressiveness from the defense and slow down the pass rush.  As far as running game goes, I believe you have to do what your best at.  If you’re a zone read team, then you know you must establish the inside zone early.  Personally, I like stretch, draw, and speed option.   Recently I have become very interested in the stick/draw concept, where the qb is reading the mike linebacker.  If the mike drops on the stick, qb hands the ball off on the draw, if the mike jumps on the run, throw the stick.  It’s a safe concept with a simple read.  If the qb doesn’t get a clear look at the mike, he should always hand off the draw. 

I’m not completely against throwing a couple 90’s calls in there during your first couple possessions.  But if I make a 90s call early, I’m most likely going to tell my quarterback to see one of the backs.  For example, on mesh, I would tell him to read straight from the corner to the back.  If he has the corner route based on pre-snap, then he has full discretion to throw it but if the read is cloudy, throw the swing and force the defense to react.  I also really like tagging angle routes to the backs early. Some of my favorite plays to tag angles on are vertical game and shallows. 

To summarize my pass game strategy early in a game, it would be this – establish the bubble and swing screens, get the qb comfortable making simple reads and allow him to get a feel for the defense, run the quick game concepts you feel you have perfected in practice, and get your best play makers involved early.  My best play maker is going to touch the ball 5 to 10 times on my first 15 to 20 plays.  Force the defense to defend sideline to sideline, force the defense to react to completions and tempo, and force the defense to defend my best athlete.