BYU Passing Game - Adjusting Pass Patterns By Head Coach Lavell Edwards 1985 AFCA Proceedings We are committed to the forward pass as our means of offensive football.  Our passing attack is basically five-fold: We try to protect the passer at all times. Our efforts are to devise schemes that will protect the passer, and leave little to chance We control the football with the forward pass. We emphasize throwing the ball down field, but we also emphasize throwing the short and intermediate routes equally as well. We run to set up the pass and we pass to set up the run.  We run the draw to slow down the hard upfield pass rush and run wide to take advantage of soft corners who are more concerned about pass coverage than about run support. We always strive to take advantage of what the defense gives us.  We guard against being greedy and going for the long ball if it is not there, or forcing the ball into coverage. We try to execute and be patient and attack the inherent weakness in any defensive scheme. We always try to KISS it. The acronym as I'm sure you are all aware is "Keep it Simple, Stupid". We try to show the defensive team as many different looks as we possibly can while still running the same routes and plays over and over again. My focus today is on the specific adjustments that we make during particular pass patterns.  For the sake of clarity let me define two terms for you. A pass route is the route run by an individual. A pass pattern is the total package of pass routes run by the various receivers. We feel that the halfback in our offense must be a versatile athlete who can block, run, and catch the football. He must also be smart and alert, as we give him a number of pattern adjustments. For example figure 1 shows our HB read option from our basic formation. Note that he aligns as wide as possible, often directly behind the offensive tackle or at least splitting the inside leg of the tackle. We also have him in a two-point stance as we do with our wide receivers. His width allows him to release better into pass patterns, and his stance allows him to see the linebackers and coverages a little better. We realize that the takeoff of the backs and receivers is not as explosive. However, in our specific situation, we are willing to make a trade-off. We feel that it is extremely important to recognize coverage, and we work hard on our get-off from a two-point stance to compensate for what we may lack in explosiveness. Figure 1 illustrates how we attempt to vertically stretch a defense. The single WR runs a fly route with an outside release. The inside of the two receivers runs six to eight yards upfield from an inside release, then plants and aims for a point 15-17 yards down field in an area that, we hope, has been vacated by the single receiver. The outside receiver on the two-receiver runs a 20 yard in route. The pattern is a weak side dig or flood pattern; however, this 20 yard in route is crucial for us in man-to-man coverage. There is a large void area because most of the coverage is weak, and this route, if properly run should be good for a 20 yard advantage in man to man coverage. The FB runs an arrow, again to help facilitate the 20 yard in route to the outside receiver. The QB's progression is to the HB, to the crossing route, and to the clearing route in that order. As the primary receiver, the HB has to be able to make the appropriate reads. If the defense is in a 3-4 alignment and the weak outside and weak inside linebackers drop in a strong invert coverage, then he finds an open area approximately six yards deep. Splitting the two linebackers, he turns and readies himself to catch the football (figure 2). If they have some type of weak roll coverage or two deep five under (Cover 2) zone coverage with the outside linebacker rushing, then he finds a hole between the corner in the weak flat and the weak inside linebackers drop (figure 3) Please remember our original premise that the pass protection is solid. Thus in this scheme, the left guard would block the rushing LB. If the defense is in some type of man to man coverage then the HB releases hard, using pressure in an attempt to get as close as he can to the defender. He is allowed to go either inside or outside, depending upon the position of the defender. Figure 4 shows the HB's route versus a man with FS coverage and the wek outside LB on a blitz. If the inside LB rushes, the only change is that the HB must now run his route versus the weak outside LB rather that the inside LB. This same adjustment applies in any man-to-man coverage, regardless of whether the defensive coverage has one or two safeties (e.g. two-deep four under man). As illustrated, there is a lot of field to work with versus man to man coverage, as everyone has cleared out of the area. Man blitz presents the problem of pass protection if the defense decides to rush both the weak outside and the inside LB's at the snap and chooses to cover the HB with a FS (Figure 5). In this situation, the HB breaks hard on a shallow flat right along the LOS and, we hope, the FS has a long way to go to tackle him. If he misses a big play unfolds. We immediately throw the ball utilizing the hot principle, as the QB knows that there will be a defender unblocked and that the BH will look immediately. He must deliver the ball before the defender reaches the HB. If the defense chooses to rake away the HB by squeezing him on his route with both weak side LB's (Figure 6) the read then goes to the inside double receiver who should find a hole on his intermediate route. If would be ideal if we only saw a straight 3-4 defense; unfortunately this isn't the case. The reduced front and the 4-3 front are also popular fronts that need to be dealt with. Again the critical factor is pass protection. Figure 7 outlines a reduced front of of a 3-4 front. If we decide to block the center to the strong side and allow the HB to block the weak inside LB if he rushes, then the hot principle is the read. The HB has no blocking assignment but releases, watching the LB. If the LB rushes he turns outside immediately along the LOS, expecting the FS to cover him (Figure 8). If the LB drops, then he finds a void between the weak flat coverage and the weak inside LB. Figure 9 shows a weak roll which along with the two deep coverage can usually be expected with this front. If we decide to block the center to the weak side, then the HB knows that he does not have a blocking assignment. If the weak inside linebacker rushes the HB does not have to flatten his route at the LOS but rather can run his regular route usually against the FS (the route will be deeper with more technique) knowing that if he beats the FS, he could possible score (Figure 10). We hope that we have discussed enough coverages to give you a feel for our adjustment philosophy. This pass pattern has been a good one for us and allows us a good pattern regardless of the type of defense we anticipate or encounter. LaVell Edwards Head Coach Bringham Young University