Best passing plays and formations

[slomo06]

Post your best plays and your formations here.


I need some good plays to run.

[colb]

I don't like to give out a lot of my plays. But here's an effective quick pass that can be effective against bump and run.

I'm not sure of the formation name. But it's Shotgun, 2 WR, 1 TE, 2 RB.

It's lined up like this:

0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0
0 0 0

The primary receiver (far left) runs a deep post.
The secondary receiver (slot) runs a quick in slant.
The TE runs a medium out.
The FB (right) either can block or run a swing pass to the right.
The HB (left) runs a swing pass to the left.

Timing will make or break this play. If you throw too soon or too late, it will result in a pick 6. I've tried it online with AA and Heisman mode. It is effective only when timed properly.

Your primary read is going to be the slot receiver running the in-slant. This is a very quick read.
Your second read is going to be the HB to your left. This will usually be who you throw it to. Here's how you setup:

I usually run this play from either the middle of the field or the right hashmark. If you run it from the left hash, you should run the formation with the package "Dual HB" so that you can flip the play and still get the speed.

Presnap: Check where the safteys line up and pay attention to the linebackers. You shouldn't have to adjust anything unless you feel a blitz coming from the right side (TE side). If you do, hot route the FB or TE to block. Once you're ready to snap the ball, select the HB to your left and motion him out to the left as if he were going to line up as a receiver. You must snap the ball while he is still running torwards the sideline in order to catch the defender off gaurd.

After the snap: Very VERY quickly, glance at the LB's, if the leftside and or middle LB's are blitzing, throw to the slant route as soon as he makes his cut. If the LB's do NOT blitz, you must react fast and throw to the HB that you motioned out.

As I mentioned before, timing is critical here. Make a late decision and it's a pick for a TD. You might want to practice this play without making the LB read and just try throwing to the HB. The idea is that by motioning him out of the backfield, he will already be passed the line of scrimmage when he gets the ball (so you can't lose yards). This is a good play to use when you're getting pressured in the backfield because you don't have to wait for the back to turn upfield before you throw. By snapping the ball while he is in motion, he will get up to speed faster because he is not taking off from a dead stop and changing directions. When the ball is snapped, he is already running in the direction of his route. This gives him a little space between him and the defender that is assigned to him.

I see teams run something similair to this... and it's not 100% effective. If they know they play, obviously it can be picked easily, and there are zone defenses that will break this up.

This is not a big time play. This is usually something you might run on 3rd and 2. If you execute, you will pick up between 4-5 yards against man defense, and about 2-3 yards against some zones.

[colb]

Another simple play you can run, is out of the same formation, and same exact play. It's not very effective, and it really requires an established run game and a good deep threat receiver.

Hot route your primary (far left) receiver into a deep fade. The secondary receiver runs a quick in slant by default I believe. Audible the TE and FB to block and let your HB run the swing pass.

Basically, the goal here is to go deep. This is really just taking a shot downfield (maybe after a recovered fumble or INT). Sometimes the defense will be sleepwalking and you can catch them off gaurd with the deep pass.

If the fade is covered well (i.e. saftey is deep), you can dump it off to the back or check your slant. This is NOT a high percentage play in most cases.

IF THE DEFENSE BLITZES and has man coverage on the TE and FB, the defenders covering them will blitz as well. PAY ATTENTION! This will most likely open up the middle for your quick slant! If you cannot handle the pressure, roll out of the pocket to the left away from the blitz and throw the ball away. Do not force a throw.

I've found this most successful after having a very good ground game going and just getting a turnover. Here's a scenario where I used it online:

I'm leading 17-7 late in 3rd quarter in an online match.
My opponent just threw an INT and I get the ball around my 45.
I have been running from the shotgun all day effectively (about 6.5 a carry).
My opponent lines up in a 4-4.
I snap the ball and immediately see that my primary receiver will be in single coverage. I get good protection, step up and throw it deep. Caught down at his 12 yard line. Now, had he called a blitz up the middle, simply hit the slant wide open.

This is not a play you want to run early in the game. Save it, and wait for the right moment to pull it out, if you even do. You gotta see what your opponent is doing defensively before taking a shot like this.

[pavel_quad]

OK, this is PS2, but I think it's the perfect play. SG HB Trips Weak, WR Drag.

The left receiver runs a little drag, while the three receivers to the right run a post/corner/ hook combination. The HB in the backfield runs a corner-go combination route. Even with no motion, there are lots of options, especially with the three receivers. One defender cannot stop all three routes, so I read the safety and corner to see if the post or corner is open- usually one is.

If there's any kind of a blitz, you have the drag route across the middle, or the hook route on the right side.

The nasty part is to motion your HB to the left, going five wide. The HB's default route will create space on a CB, and especially a linebacker. Once he makes his cut upfield, put a bit of loft under it and it's pretty indefensible. A decent running back will get 20-30 yards almost every time against a base defense. Eats up zones, too...

If you're a cheese connoisseur, the vacancy left by the two receivers on the left is wide open for a 10-yard scramble, too...

[SunDevil]

It's more important to memorize what routes do what. From there you can pick formations.

A lot of curl in routes have a receiver underneath in the flats to counteract cover 2.

Drag routes allow you to pick apart cover 2.

Square in and out routes are good against man.

I'd suggest you practice in a 5-wide set against cover 2, man and cover 3. Look at what each route does, and try to understand why that route is like that.