South Eugene HS

2020 Quarterback Manual

 QB Evaluation
• SEHS Quarterback
Grading Sheet
# Play Call Decision Mechanics Execution Result YAC Comments

+/- +/- +/- C–I–

INT
 Terms to know
LOS: Line of scrimmage
EMLOS: End man on line of scrimmage
Boundary: If the ball is on the hash the boundary is the SHORT side of the
field.
Field: If the ball is on the hash the field is the WIDE side of the field.
Zone Blitz: A tactic where the defense rushes the quarterback with five or more
defenders and plays zone coverage, as opposed to man coverage, behind it.
That is all it is. Dropping a defensive linemen into a zone does not mean it is a
zone blitz if the defense is only rushing three or four defenders.
Gap Exchange: Gap (or scrape) exchange is a defensive tactic in which two
defensive players exchange the gaps they are responsible for in a gap control
defense — usually the C and D gaps — to confuse a quarterback’s option read.
Cloud: A defensive call made to indicate that a cornerback is responsible for the
flat versus a pass and is the primary outside force defender against the run, and
that the near safety is the deep defender.
Sky: A defensive call which indicates that a safety has aligned or moved to a
position close to the line and is responsible for support or contain versus the
run, while the nearest cornerback is responsible for deep coverage.
 GAP EXCHANGE ZONE BLITZ
1/3 1/3 1/3

F$ $$ F$ $$

C C C C
W M S Flats W M S
Flats
E N T E E N T E

SKY CLOUD
1/3 1/3 1/3 1/2 1/2

F$ $$ F$ $$

Hook/Curl C
C Hook/Curl C C
Flats W M S W M S
Flats
Flats
E N T E Flats E N T E
 Terms to Know pg.2
Dual Coverage: A tactic the defense will use to play different coverages on each
side of the field, often field/boundary. See COVER 6.
Force Defender: The defensive player charged with the responsibility of “forcing”
any outside or D-gap run inside where the defensive run support is.
Flat Defender: The defensive player who, in any coverage, is responsible for the
flats.
Overhang: A defensive player just outside of the box. Often offenses can be
confused whether this player is primarily a run or pass defender – “Is he wearing
spats or a neckroll?”
Alley: The area outside the tackle stretching to the flats.
Sink: A term used to describe a coverage player who gets depth off the snap of
the ball. Often associated with some variation of COVER 4
SCIF: It stands for SEAM-CURL-FLAT. A term used to describe how a defensive
player (a LB or $) goes into coverage.
Delete: A term used to describe a manned-up backside corner vs. a 3x1
formation.
 BOY/GIRL SAFETIES
BOY SAFETY: Against a 3x1
BOY
formation we use this term to
SAFETY
describe a hash-safety to the F$ $$
single-WR side. This safety can
C C
now help on the single-WR and M
W S
becomes a danger-player to
account for in any passing
concept involving the isolated
WR.

GIRL SAFETY: Against a 3x1 GIRL

formation we use this term to SAFETY F$
describe a safety who plays to $$
the middle of the field and
C C
therefore cannot help on the M
W S
single-WR side and does not
need to be accounted for unless
he moves post-snap. This could
indicate a Delete coverage.
 MOFC
MOFC: This is a general term for all single defensive coverages which feature a
single deep safety in the middle of the field. It’s a useful term for offenses because
it’s not always clear whether it’s zone (Cover 3) or man (Cover 1), or some other
hybrid coverage, but the fact that there’s a deep middle safety still tells you a lot
about the defense, both the number of defenders in potential run support (i.e., a
potential eight man front) as well as the number of potential blitzers.

F$
MIDDLE OF FIELD
CLOSED
C C

W M S $$
 MOFO
MOFO: The flip side of middle of the field closed, this refers to any defense where the middle of
the field is open. Technically this also applies when a defense is in Cover 0 with no deep safety
(and straight man-to-man blitz), typically teams think of defenses with two split safeties. When
offenses see teams in MOFO structured defenses they typically know they have a lighter box to
run the ball against and the outside receivers are being jammed at the line with safety help over
the top. However, many defenses show MOFO structures but the safeties are in fact read or even
robber players who can fit close to the line against the run, and the famous Tampa Two defense
features the middle linebacker running deep down the middle to take away many schemes
designed for middle of the field open defenses. As always, it’s a cat and mouse, but it’s still a
very useful way to group coverages, particularly for young quarterbacks and for receivers
adjusting their routes.
F$ MIDDLE OF FIELD $$
OPEN

C C
W M S
 Defensive Techniques

6o 6 6i 4o 4 4i 2o 2 2i 1 0 1 2i 2 2o 4i 4 4o 6i 6 6o
 Defensive Gaps

D C B A A B C D
 4-2 Box

M S

E N T E
 4-1 Box

E N T E
 3-2 Box

M S

E N E
 3-3 Box

W M S

E N E
 Cover 3 or MOFC

C F C
Deep 1/3
Deep 1/3
Deep 1/3

W M S $
Flat Hook/Curl Hook/Curl Flat

Y
X
H T Z
 Deep 1/3 Deep 1/3 Deep 1/3

Flat Hook/Curl Hook/Curl Flat

Y
X
H T Z
 Cover 2 or MOFO

F $
Deep 1/2
Deep 1/2

C W M S C
Hook/Curl Middle Hook Hook/Curl
Flat Flat

Y
X
H T Z
 Deep 1/2 Deep 1/2

Flat Hook/Curl Middle Hook Hook/Curl Flat

Y
X
H T Z
 Cover 4 or MOFO (Quarters)

F $
Deep 1/4 Deep 1/4

C
Deep 1/4
C
Deep 1/4

W M S
Hook/Curl Middle Hook Hook/Curl

Y
X
H T Z
 Deep 1/4 Deep 1/4 Deep 1/4 Deep 1/4

Hook/Curl Middle Hook Hook/Curl

Y
X
H T Z
 Cover 6 (MOFO)
(6 =Cover 4 to the FIELD
Cover 2 to the BOUNDARY)
F $
Deep 1/4 Deep 1/2
Split Hash and Sideline

C C
Flat Defender
Deep 1/4 “Cloud”

W M S
Flat Defender Hook/Curl Hook/Curl

X Y
H Z
FIELD T BOUNDARY
 Deep 1/4 Deep 1/4 Deep 1/2

Flat Hook/Curl Hook/Curl Flat

X Y
H Z
FIELD T BOUNDARY
MFO Cover 2 MFO Cover 4 Keying the
movement of a
Hash Safety
MFC Cover 1/3

MFC Cover 1/3

Y
X
H T Z
 Coverage Identification

F $

Pre-snap, find the safeties because corners

lie and safeties tell the truth….how many
are there?? What is their alignment? Key
their feet..are they leaning off a hash,
starting to open their hips, or are they
C leaning downhill?
C
Y
X
H T Z
 Coverage Identification

F
$
If one safety is lower than the other safety
then it means he is likely coming to the flat
and giving you MOFC (Cover 3)

C C
Y
X
H T Z
 Coverage Identification

F $

If the safeties are very deep, have open hips,

and work off the hash marks then they are
MOFO and likely giving you Cover 2

C C
Y
X
H T Z
 Coverage Identification

F $
If the safeties are tighter to the hash marks
(or on them) and are flat footed then they
are in a Quarters (Cover 4) or MOFO look
C
C
Y
X
H T Z
 R4
• R4: Rhythm, Read, Rush, Release
• CAP/UNCAPPED
• TUBES: Cushion, Collision, Crossover
• ACCELERATORS: Cushion, Collision
• HARD DECK
 R4 Timing
• Rhythm: 1.8 seconds
• Read: 2.2 seconds
• Rush: 3 seconds
• Release: Gap escape

• 2 seconds to throw vs. Man coverage

• 3 seconds to throw vs. Zone coverage
 R4 Timing cont.
KEY POINT:
Against the blitz (5 man pressure or more) the timeline to get
rid of the football is condensed.

We now only have time for our RHYTHM and then immediately
to our RUSH.

When we ID Blitz pre-snap, or feel it post-snap, we will

eliminate the READ route from our progression to keep our
internal clock on time.
 Rhythm Routes
The route break of these routes and the last step
of the QB’s drop should coincide at ~1.8 seconds

20
20

10 Yards

10
10

Fade Corner Seam Post Cross QB

G
G
 Snap Rhythms
The route break of these routes and the last step
of the QB’s drop should coincide at ~1.8 seconds

20
20

10 Yards

10
10

Drop out Speed Out Stop Speed Dig Spot QB

G
G
 Intermediate Read Routes
These routes attack the intermediate zones of the
field.
The breaks should coincide with the QB’s 2nd hitch at

20
~2.2-2.6 seconds
20

10 Yards

10
10

Comeback Curl Sail Dig Drag QB

G
G
 Vertical Read Routes
Another set of read routes include double moves. We
Will use these to attack aggressive defenders in “shot”
plays

20
20

10 Yards

10
10

Out & Up Shake Post-Corner Corner-Post Dig & Go QB

G
G
 Rush Routes
Rush routes are the end of a multi-route progression.
They attack the under coverage of a defense and are
thrown ~3 seconds.

20
20

KEY POINT: IF YOU FEEL THE RUSH THROW THE RUSH

10 Yards

10
10

Quick Stick Hitch

Slant
Shallow
QB
Bubble
Out

G
G
 “2 Rhythms make a Read”
Choose the best rhythm pre-snap based off CAPS. 2nd Rhythm is
eliminated from the progression OR becomes the Read route.
This must be determined Pre-Snap; Have a plan.

20
20

Rhythm Rhythm

10
10

X Z
H Y

QB
F

G
G
 TUBES
“THE BATTLEFIELD”

COLLISIO COLLISIO
N N
CUSHIO CROSSOVER CUSHIO
N N
 TUBES move with formation

CUSHIO CROSSOVER COLLISIO COLLISIO CUSHIO

N N N N
 HARD DECK

COLLISIO COLLISIO
N N
CUSHIO CROSSOVER CUSHIO
N N

HARD DECK 7-10 YARDS

 CAP/UNCAPPED

CAP CAP
NO CAP NO CAP
CB F$
HARD DECK $$
NO CAP
CB
 Accelerators
CUSHION COLLISION

20
If the CUSHION tube
defender is above or on the
7 yard HARD DECK we know
that we will probably not be
able to break his CAP and
we must hitch to the next
step of our progression.
20
If the COLLISION tube
defender COLLISIONS or
disrupts the route being run
by the slot we know now his
timing will be off and we
must hitch to the next step

10
10

C of our progression.
B
Defender gets hands on
10 yards. He is CAPPED He’s been COLLISIONED

G
G

X Y
Q
F
 R4 Concept Overlay:
Twins MEMPHIS
CAP

CAP
NO CAP

HARD DECK

NO CAP

Both RHYTHM routes = CAPPED

Can accelerate timing from READ to RUSH routes
ALWAYS CONFIRM CAPS POST-SNAP
 Now You Try:
Slant Right BRADY

HARD DECK

What routes are CAPPED?

What routes are UNCAPPED?
Which defensive players movement becomes most
important post-snap?
 Where to attack Cover 3 or MOFC

C F C
Deep 1/3
Deep 1/3
Deep 1/3

W M S $
Flat Hook/Curl Hook/Curl Flat

Y
X
H T Z
 Where to attack Cover 2 or MOFO

F $
Deep 1/2
Deep 1/2

C W M S C
Hook/Curl Middle Hook Hook/Curl Flat
Flat

Y
X
H T Z
 How to attack Cover 4 or MOFO (Quarters)

F $
Deep 1/4 Deep 1/4

C
Deep 1/4
C
Deep 1/4

W M S
Hook/Curl Middle Hook Hook/Curl

Y
X
H T Z