Pass Patterns for a Running Back

The first step in learning pass routes is to see the three different depths (short, medium, deep) at which differ-ent pass patterns will be run. In order to get a feel for the actual distance down the field at which the area occurs, the first practice should only deal with each running back striding down the field in a straight line and calling out the area he is in as he runs.

As the player is running up the field, he will call out "short, short, short" for the first six yards past the line of scrim-mage. From 7 to 13 yards he will call out "medium," and after 14 he will call out "deep." By calling out the depths as he moves up the field, the player quickly becomes familiar with the depths at which different pass patterns are run and he also demonstrates to the coach that he understands where the three areas are located.

Pass offense is based on timing. The coordination of the quarterback's drop and delivery of the ball will be based on the precise running of a pass pattern at a certain depth and time by the receiver. Consequently, each running back must know exactly where he must run the var-ious pass routes, the "passing tree" con-cept, and the actual pass patterns (routes) that he will use.

In order to help the young running back not become overwhelmed when first learning all the routes on the run-ning back's passing tree, it is best for the coach to introduce the patterns by the depth areas where they are run. In other words, the coach first teaches the running back all the patterns that are run in the short area, then medium, then deep. In the beginning it is best to run the patterns without using a ball in the drill. Af-ter the player has mastered running the patterns for each of the areas correctly, a ball can be added.

DRILL:

Short Patterns
Because passes in the short area often are thrown quickly by the quarterback, the running back must be instructed to immediately turn his head around, focus his eyes on the quarterback, and get his hands in proper position to make the reception.

In running the "wide" pass pattern, the running back should use a crossover start to the sideline, arcing back slightly away from the line of scrimmage as he runs, so that he will be able to turn his body up the field as he makes the catch. The pass usually will be caught on the of-fensive side of the line of scrimmage. The running back should think in terms of using his hand nearest the sideline for his mitt hand.

When running a "flat" route, the run-ning back should attack the line of scrim-mage. Once he is one yard past it, he should break directly toward the sideline. Again, it is very important for the running back to turn his head quickly and look for the ball. The hand that is farthest up the field will serve as the mitt hand when catching a "flat" pass.

On the "angle" pass pattern, the run-ning back should be instructed to attack the line of scrimmage in the same man-ner that he did when running the "flat" route. But as he crosses the line of scrim-mage, instead of breaking toward the sideline, the running back should break at an angle, back toward the center of the field. As with the flat pass, the upfield hand should be the mitt hand when mak-ing the reception.

On all pass patterns, but especially on passes caught in the short area, the running back must expect to be hit and tackled immediately after making the reception. Because of this, it is of vital importance that the running back secures the ball the instant it reaches his hands. Any player who is going to be a pass receiver has to understand that there is a good chance he will be hit whether he catches the ball or not, so he might as well make the reception and gain the yards. DRILL:

Medium Patterns
The object of the "stop" pattern is to get downfield as quickly as possible, stop, and turn back to the quarterback to re-ceive the ball. In the drill, the coach should tell the running back to turn either to the inside or the outside, but later the back must learn to turn away from the nearest defensive man in coverage.

Prior to the play ever beginning, the running back should pick out a spot sev-en yards across the line of scrimmage and seven to eight yards outside of where he originally lines up. As he sprints to the point, the running back must gather himself, lowering his back-side, and be prepared to stop and turn. As he turns back to the quarterback, it is very important that the running back bring his head around, focus quickly on the quarterback, and bring both hands up in a position to make a reception. The hand on the side of the pass should serve as the mitt hand for the catch.

The initial release by the running back on all of the remaining pass patterns should be the same. At the snap the run-ning back should release wide enough so that he can easily avoid the block of his own offensive tackle and the rush of any defensive players. Once he has got-ten enough width to clear these obstruc-tions, the back must turn and sprint straight up the field. The success of the remainder of the running back's pass routes in the medium and deep areas will depend on the defensive players never being certain if he is going to run up the field or not.

For the "short,, route, the back should sprint up the field for eight yards past the line of scrimmage. At nine yards the run-ning back should roll over his outside foot and break toward the sideline. It is important for the running back to under-stand that he will come back slightly to-ward the line of scrimmage as he pro-ceeds to the sideline. The player must be reminded to reach back with his hands so that he has his fingers and the ball in his vision at the same time prior to mak-ing the catch.

The "in" route starts with the same re-lease, only now the running back will continue his sprint up the field for 10 yards. As he crosses the 10-yard area, he should roll over his inside foot, break-ing on a path directly to the center of the field. In this pattern, the running back must be prepared to make the reception at any point as he proceeds across the field. The important thing is that the play-er not slow down or, worse yet, stop his movement across the field.

DRILL:

Deep Patterns

For all deep-area pass routes, the quar-terback will take a deeper drop from the line of scrimmage and usually will hold the ball slightly longer before he throws the pass. When executing a deep pass route, the running back also must realize that the pass will be thrown with more loft and hang in the air longer, thus allowing him the opportunity to run under the ball as he makes the catch.

The "flat and up" pass pattern begins with the running back running a "flat" route exactly as he did in the short area patterns. As he nears the sideline, he should look back for the ball and the quarterback should pump his arm in his direction. As soon as the running back sees the pump, he must turn up the field and sprint toward the goal line. Usually on a pass of this type the ball will come over the player's inside shoulder, and the palm of the outside hand will serve as the mitt on the reception.

If the running back is called on to run a .,seam" pattern, he should release from his position in the same manner as he did when he was running the "short" or "in" route. On the seam, the running back will continue to run straight up the field. Ideally the pass should come over his inside shoulder as he runs up the field. But because of the way the de-fense may be playing, the running back must be prepared for the ball to arrive on either his inside or outside shoulder.

The "fan" pass route is different in that the running back will be breaking at an angle deep toward the sideline after run-ning up the field for 10 yards. The ball usually will reach the running back by coming in over his shoulder nearest the sideline. This is one pass pattern where, because of the difficulty in throwing it, the running back often will have to adjust his path so that he can be in position to make the catch. It is very important for the running back to get his head around as soon as he makes his break so that he has the maximum time to locate and ad-just to the flight of the ball.

The final pattern is the "post" pattern. Again the running back will release out-side and head straight up the field. At 14 yards, instead of continuing to run straight up the field as on a "seam," the running back should adjust his path so that he bends in and heads in the direc-tion of the goal post. For this pass to be complete, the ball needs to be thrown over his inside shoulder, allowing the player to use his outside hand as the mitt for receiving the point of the ball.

Once all the pass patterns have been introduced and taught to the running backs by using the three depth areas, the coach can then present the entire running back passing tree for the players to see.

The players need to learn all the pat-terns running both to their left and right. Remember, players only become great pass receivers by learning to run routes correctly, by understanding the proper method of catching each pass, and by catching a number of passes at practice every day.

Winning Points

• To catch pass even with, or higher than, jersey numbers, hands are held with thumbs touching, wrists cocked back.
• To catch pass even with, or below, jersey numbers, hands are held with little fingers touching.
• To catch pass coming over shoulder or head, reach ball for ball with hands held with little fingers touching; try to see ball and hands as catch is made.
• The hand on side of pass is mitt, or contact, hand; other hand surrounds and controls ball, and helps secure it.

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Play Football The NFL Way is the ultimate football manual for coaches and beginning players who want to learn the basics of football correctly. Author Tom Bass is a former NFL coach with more than 20 years of experience with the Cincinnati Bengals, San Diego Chargers, and Tampa Bay Buccaners.

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