6. Individual Pass Routes

Running the individual pass route is the most important phase of the passing offense. An end or any other receiver must be able to beat one defensive man when covered singly. Quarterbacks set their teams in vari­ous formations with the purpose of trying to force the defense to cover at least one receiver with a man of their own.

The Baltimore Colts, under Coach Weeb Ewbank, throws more in­dividual passes than any other team. Unitas takes the maximum protec­tion and depends on ends Ray Berry and Jim Mutscheller, and halfback Lennie Moore to beat their coverers by executing properly the various pass routes.

THE HITCH PASSES. First is the hitch pass which is as simple as it is important. The end sprints off the line of scrimmage for four or five steps, then stops and turns to face the passer. After catching the ball, he makes a head-and-shoulder fake to his inside, then pivots outside, turning up the sideline. It is amazing how many times the defensive halfback will miss the end. I have often seen cute performers like Elroy Hirsch and Jon Arnett turn a five-yard pass into long touchdown runs.

An elaboration of the hitch pass is the hitch-out. The end, after run­ning his four or five steps at the defender, breaks out at a sharp 90-degree angle. This type of pass keeps the defensive halfback from playing the end loose. If the defender taking the first shot misses, the end can make considerable yardage with a good chance of going all the way.

SIDELINE PASSES. Probably the most widely used and effective pass thrown today is the sideline. Tom Fears of the Rams ran the best sideline pattern I have ever seen, and so I will pass on Dr. Fears' prescription to the waiting patients.

The first move off the scrimmage line is toward the sideline, but with upfield progress. The next move is a lurch of approximately 45 degrees toward the sideline. Then the end turns up the field, sprinting until the defensive halfback is convinced the receiver is trying to go past him.

Naturally, the defender sprints to keep up with the end, who then breaks off the sideline at an angle that is back toward the line scrimmage.

Dr. Fears always felt that if he could get to the back side of his victim, he could beat him. Somewhere in the course of the end's route the de­fensive halfback would lose sight of him or turn his back and run with him; hence, all the gyrations to the outside from the beginning to the end in running the sideline pattern.

If you should happen to play against a defensive halfback who wants to be a hero by trying to pick off your sideline pass, you counter him with what the trade calls a sideline and up pass. The end usually will tell the quarterback when the defensive halfback is ripe for this pass. A halfback who plays the end close is generally considered ready for plucking with the sideline and up.

SLANT PASSES. Another pass that is effective against almost any de­fense is the slant pass. The end sprints four steps at the defender and breaks inward at a 45-degree angle. He looks for the ball on the break but continues at this angle if the ball isn't thrown then. Usually, though, the quarterback throws the ball when the receiver gets even with the line­backer.

The quarterback will call the slant and up pass when the defensive halfback to the receiver's inside plays him close on the slant. The end runs his normal slant and turns up the field when he sees or feels the halfback coming in fast to break up the slant. If the end gets past the defensive halfback on the up move, the pass is generally a cinch for six points.

The pivot route is another good one to use against a defensive halfback who plays the slant pass pattern close. The end starts in on his slant move, stops, and pivots to the sideline. Taking the ball over his inside shoulder, he is free to turn up the field.

HOOK PASSES. The hook is another pass route that is basic to the of­fense. The end usually hooks up in a designated spot some 12 to 16 yards from the line of scrimmage. Most ends, however, do not run a pattern that is deep enough. The reason why the pattern should be deep is that the end must drive a defender off in order to get open on the hook pass. As he releases away from the linebacker, the end should determine whether he hooks in or out. Most quarterbacks toss the hook pass on a third down, with ten or less yards to gain.

A hook and go pass should be run against a defender who plays the end close on the hook pass. The end should always pivot to the outside to clear the defensive halfback, then turn up the field in a sprint. The hook and go is a good pass to the spread end and flanker. It will burn the britches off the over-aggressive type of defender.

The center pass is one which we usually throw to the tight end in the area between the linebackers and the defensive halfback. The end sprints 10 to 15 yards up the field, fakes a move outside, then comes inside on a 90-degree angle. He looks for the ball on the break. If it does not come at that time, he continues across the field, looking for the ball all the way.

The cross pass is similar to the center route, except that the cross pass is run on a 45-degree angle instead of 90 degrees, as in the center pass. The end clears the linebacker and heads directly across the field. The passer may hit him at any time on his route.

LONG PASSES. What we call running a corner route is a long pass in which several feinting moves are combined by the end at his fastest gait. The end sprints 8 to 10 yards deep, makes an out move for a couple of steps followed by an in move for two or three more steps, then breaks for the corner at a 45-degree angle at top speed. The out and in moves are to disguise the intended destination. Boys with the speed of a sprinter need not make all these moves. One move inside should be sufficient for them, after which they should be able to beat the defender in a foot race to the corner.

The post pattern is the opposite of the corner. Sprinting off the line of scrimmage for 8 or 10 yards, the end's first move is in for two or three steps, then out for a few steps, and finally, a dash toward the goal post. Again, if the end had unusual speed, only one move is necessary. Some coaches believe in two moves before the final break and others believe in using just one. I believe that the speed of the receiver should determine the number of fakes he should make.

Also, if the defenders are playing the receivers loose, the end can hook up off his corner and post routes. The Rams of 1951-54 damaged Steve Owen's famed Umbrella pass defense by running these deep corner and post hooks.

Finally, there is the shallow pass which is run by the tight end. As its name implies, the end breaks shallow in the flat after clearing the line­backer. This is a good route to use against the man-to-man defense that plays loose.

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