Found some old notes from Bill Walsh on the drop-back pass. Oldie but a goodie.Notes on the Dropback passing game in the West Coast Offense
From a 49ers coaches meeting:
(A) Three Step Drop
-Takes advantage of a bad defensive adjustment.
-Receivers = five steps.
1. Hitch and Quick Out:
- Adjust splits to break in or out.
- Don't lead receiver - throw at his hip.
- Throw outs to LEFT and ins to the RIGHT (from all drops).
- When throwing to the right, step towards the receiver on the 3rd step.
- 3 quick steps when throwing out. (WR 8 yrd split).
- Best place to throw quick out is from SLOT formation. (to SE).
- 3 big steps when throwing hitch. Throw to middle of the receiver. When receiver catches the ball, he pivots to the sideline and runs to goalline. (WR 12 yrd split).
2. Slant: 
[Ed. Note: QB reads the flat defender -- if he retreats for the slant throw the flat/shoot route; if he takes the shoot throw the slant in the window]
- Slant pass is a big chunk play.
- 12 yrd split - 5 to 7 steps and break.
- Slant is best weak.
- Throwing strongside you should use dropback and weak flow.
- Throw ball to middle of receiver and above his waist - if anything slow him up to catch it.
- Receiver should always be aware of relationship between corner and safety.
- Hop inside and come under control in hole.
- Ball should be caught 1 ft. in front of receivers numbers.
- Vs corner inside - go full speed and break across his face.
- Always practice 1/2 as many throws to outlet as primary.
(B) Five Step Drop
- Ball control, timed passes; good on 1st and 10, 2 and 6, 3 and 4.
- Receivers run 10 - 12 yrd routes.
3. Square-out: 
- WR 8 yd split.
- Square out = 5 quick steps - don't lead WR.
- 9 out of 10 square outs are thrown to the LEFT.
- Throw square out into short field and away from rotation.
- If LB crosses throwing lane - throw the outlet route. (Practice with coach catching primary and anyone catching outlet - hands up indicate who to throw to.)
4. Square-in: 
- Prefer to throw square in to the RIGHT.
-5 Steps and hitch step.
-WR sells GO pattern. Inside release, outside push, plant outside foot and start in.
-WR 12 yd split.
-QB 5 BIG STEPS - HITCH and throw on time. WR does NOT keep running. Catch ball no more than 3 steps inside original position. (keep ball in middle)
-WR catches ball and runs straight upfield.
-"Square-in, wide Flare, wall off."
[Ed. Note: The square-in is addressed in the video below by Ron Jenkins.]
5. Flanker Post:
- Prefer Big, smooth WR.
- WR 12 yd split.
- QB 5 BIG steps and Hitch.
- ALWAYS throw RIGHT.
- WR break into hole in the zone.
- Attract FS weak to create hole - throw ball inside corner and past SS
- TECHNIQUE is outside.
6. Curl: -5 step timed.
-Throw to middle of WR.
-GREAT vs middle LBer defender - if WR is not open go to outlet immediately.
-WR 12 yd split.
[Ed. Note: Video below.]
(C) Seven-Step Drop -Bread and Butter BIG chunk offense.
7. Go pattern: -- Only to fastest WR.
-Practice 4 to 1 to fastest WR over other WR's.
-WR 12 yrd split.
-DON'T THROW AGAINST THEIR BEST DB! (Scout their personnel)
-Throw GO in conjunction with plat action.
-Keep the length of the throw consistent.
-7 step hitch and throw.
-Practice throwing to a spot with WR standing there.
-Don't throw if DB is deeper than WR when you hitch step.
-Measure distance with WR full speed than practice stationary.
-WR: release inside than out - chase DB step on his toes and run by him - keep DB in his backpeddle - look DB in the eyes NOT past him.
-At 8 yds, be 1 yd inside, next 8 yds be 1 yd outside.
-When thrown inside the 25 yd line change to 5 step drop.
-Throw GO RIGHT more often than left.
-Vs Cloud throw in hole (only vs stationary DB) 5 Step drop.
8. Deep Comeback: 
-Only when DB is turing and running away.
-WR 12 yrd split.
-20 yds full speed - plant and come back.
-7 step and hitch step and throw to spot.
-Ball should be released as WR is planting foot.
-WR always keep elbows and arms in running position. Just before you break, drop head and dig (pump hands).
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14 comments:
Chris -
Do you know exactly why Walsh (and his coaches) would have wanted certain routes thrown to a particular direction (i.e. Outs to the left and Ins to the right)?
I would guess it has to do with the fact that most QBs are right handed thus making those throws mechanically easier and the strong side of the field is usually the right side
The out and the hitch look exactly the same in the first diagram. I was thinking that maybe the TE was running a hitch, but he looked like he was running a slant pattern.
Nevertheless, I appreciate this.
Jon,
The diagram I guess is a bit misleading; I'll fix it. The hitch is where the receiver runs five steps (three big, two small) upfield to about 5-6 yards and just turns around, to the inside, towards the -- the QB already has the ball in the air.
The out is a quick outbreaking route at five yards. I didn't mean for both sides to represent one route, I had both receivers showing both the hitch (inside) and the out (outside). They are really the same play -- a quick outside throw before the flat defender (linebacker, strong safety) can get out to cover it -- the only difference is how you want to work against the defensive back's leverage.
But when I get a chance I'll fix the diagram. Sorry if that was misleading.
Pilot: Tom has a good answer. I wouldn't take those notes as "never, ever!" statements, but as rules of thumb. And in that sense, they hold true to most passing offenses today.
Chris,
Good stuff as always. I do have a question about the slant-flat combo, though: when Walsh says that, if "[t]hrowing strongside, you should use dropback and weak flow," uh... I was following him right up to the "and" part. What's "flow" in this context?
Thersites,
To be honest not totally sure. I think in this context it means that you should really only throw strongside if the defense flows weak -- i.e. the mike or middle linebacker definitely drops to the weakside rather than straight back or strong. (Though depending how you count that might be a lot of the time.)
Also, as a side note, I like to run slant as a 3-step route for the receivers -- three big and plant and break on the 3rd step. Walsh says here 5 to 7 steps which strikes me as more of a "glance" or skinny post route. Same combination though really.
Thanks, Chris -- and good spot on the 5-to-7-step thing; I was picturing a three-step slant myself, and I wasn't reading closely enough to pick up on that.
You're right when you say that using a 5-to-7-step stem makes it less of a slant and more of a skinny post, but I think there's a lot to be said for using that longer stem on the slant. I figure if you're trying to disguise some of your routes, why not disguise all of 'em? Why not just make six yards the breaking point for everything INCLUDING the speed-out?
That's not a rhetorical question, by the way, although it sounds like one. I'm pretty sure there IS a hidden downside to that or else everyone would do it. I just can't see what it /is/, so uh... help a brother out?
The main item he seemed to address in his idea of slants one way and outs the other dealt with the football spin. Got kids to try one hand catching on both routes and Walsh's directional preference works for the directions he tags on one handed attempts every time. The ball will at least spin back to the frame of your arms and body for the preferences he lists.
Now for other routes he notes the difference strong/weak because a safety or LB rotation could drastically change the progression read coming open.
Splits differences are very important. When we went with splits the preference was to start far outside so CB wre on islands and we could include an interior slant stem to bait the sluggo if corners looked into the backfield too much.
Does coach Walsh ever indicate splits as being effective for the run game? Were certain runs paired to tight splits the same way certain pass routes were? That could be very important.
" Hop inside and come under control in hole." I need some tech specifics there, please. What of coaching 'hop' and why is it taught? Just an allusion to quickness or is an actual method at place with that choice of words?
Timed routes taken on tight situations(3rd and 4, 2nd and 6) and loose ones(1st and ten) why the discrepancy? I thought the first down was a loose cover down and the third down one is obviously tight. Walsh likes running on second and six a lot if they had not done so the play prior? Is he coaching his own tendencies into how the defense would respond?
"Throw square out into short field and away from rotation." This couples with throwing away from strong. Walsh is checking tendencies to shift or rotate zone to strength IMO.
'If LB crosses throwing lane - throw the outlet route. (Practice with coach catching primary and anyone catching outlet - hands up indicate who to throw to.)'
This is a read progression. Do you count where they go or cue shoulder/chest(numbers) to accelerate a passer read?
I don't like using hands to determine it because EVERY target will wave his hands like he's open, very bad habit at lower levels. They need actual items in technique as part of the read to signal their action. What are they?
"WR always keep elbows and arms in running position. Just before you break, drop head and dig (pump hands)."
Explain the mechanics in this at the end of his route, dropping the head to sell a move later, or for leverage? The "dig" tech is used to emphasize low push offs out of breaks? Pushing low is less likely to draw a flag and it does create separation where they cannot jump the route by getting their hips turned with you.
When Walsh refers to weak flow (slant) he is talking about the backs. I.E. the 70 series in the West Coast Offense run with an offset half back free releasing weak and a full back blocking to the weakside. The Strong Guard would have a double read (unless used with 200/300 jet which was a slide protection.
Mr. Murder,
You raised a question --
"WR always keep elbows and arms in running position. Just before you break, drop head and dig (pump hands)."
I assume this is similar to a burst technique. Anyone else?
stan
Walsh preferred for outs to be aimed "through the earhole" of the target's helmet so the ball stays high in their line of sight.
Walsh (like Dan Henning of the Dolphins, & Vince Lombardi of the Packers) PREFERRED in-breaking routes to the right, & out-breaking routes to the left BECAUSE of "spin factors" (drift of ball). I.E. - with a right handed passer throwing in-breaking routes to the right - the ball spins RIGHT (INTO the receiver). On out-breaking routes to the left - the ball spins RIGHT (INTO the receiver). On DEEP passes - better to right BECAUSE ball will drift (to the RIGHT)& out of bounds (rather than back into the playing field) IF the reveiver can't get it (porevents picks).
ALL of this is detailed in Bart Starr's great book:"QUARTERBACKING" by Bartr Starr. Can be found on ABEBOOKS.com.
The REASON Walsh preferred certain passes to be thrown to the right, & others to the left, was because of "SPIN FACTORS" of the ball. With a right handed passer - the ball spins (drifts) to the RIGHT. Vice-versa with a left handed passer. Walsh PREFERRED thge ball to spin INTO the receiver, rather than away from him. Lombardi was BIG on this also (see Bart Starr's book - "QUARTERBACKING" - with a chapter devoted to this porinciple!
There is a formula (once used by the great Bill Walsh - at Stanford U. & the 49ers) - that can be used to determine the effective LENGTH of any pass a particular QB CAN throw (on a "frozen rope"). Needed (particularly in YOUTH ball) in setting UP a pass offense.
EXAMPLE: 12 yard Curl, with a split of 17 yards from the ball, with a 5 step drop which takes the QB to a depth of approximately 7 yards:
(NOW GET SOMEONE WHO KNOWS HIS MATH): The simple Pythagorean theorem informs us that A (squared) + B (squared) = C (squared). From our parameters we determine the following information: receiver split (squared) + drop depth + route depth (squared) = length of pass (squared)! Understand that the drop depth is calculated from the LOS not from where the QB is standing. Therefore, the QB should never stand with his toes at the LOS but rather 1-1.5 yards from the LOS. Consequently, 17 (squared) + 7+12 (squared) = C (squared). Therefore, 289+361 = C (squared) is 25.5 yards. In other words, the length of the pass is approximately 25.5 yards - this length will vary for a variety of reasons and could be as long as 32 yards depending on the split or depth of receiver.
It becomes obvious that the less arm strength the QB HAS - the closer the receiver must align, and/or the route must be shortened to various degrees.
Heve filled out TWO of these in past several days - why haven't they appeared?
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