Two Simple Passing Packages for the Double Wing

By Jeff Cziska

I once had a player ask me why we did not pass the ball more. Never one to debate with my players I simply told him that we passed on nearly every down. Hey, the ball is snapped and you “pass” the ball to the Wingback on nearly every down. Then I walked away. Now years later I ask myself why indeed do we not pass the ball more?

When can we find the practice time to implement a consistent passing game? To run any offense effectively you need practice time. However, we can do a lot with little time if there is easy to follow set of rules. The beauty of the Double Wing when run properly is that rules make it much easier to learn the offense. Repetition builds familiarity and familiarity builds the machine. The less a player has to think the more likely they will be able to fire off the line at full speed and destroy the defense.

How could we make it easy with limited practice time? Well, I remember putting in the Double Wing in two one hour sessions at Bishop Stang. It was easy to do because of simplicity. The line was given blocking rules and it covered all of their assignments. In those two hours we put in Power, Power opposite of motion (easy Counter play), Iso, Belly Down (G for some of you), Wedge and a Flood Pass. Making it more impressive was the fact that they had been running the Spread for over a season. The players took to the offense immediately and it ended up being the most effective offense they ran that season. Furthermore, the aggressive nature of the offense trickled over to the defensive side of the ball creating much tougher players.

So in order to implement an effective passing game that the defense would be forced to respect it would need to be simple, rules-based and not take up a lot of practice time. The simplest and most effective passing game I knew was from my Wing-T brethren. I learned it from Bruce Cobleigh, a retired Head Coach from Georgia, who over his last ten seasons averaged 3,500 yards per season with 1,500 of those yards coming via the passing game. Making it all even more impressive was the fact that his teams did this playing AAAAA football, winning numerous championships. I was still on the fence until I saw DeWayne Alexander running it at Cumberland University. I showed a little drawing on a notepad to Bruce of the Double Wing and asked if it would be possible to run any of this passing stuff. He simply told me that it could be run from any formation including empty. Just follow the rules.

So, it has become a simple task of taking the rules and following them. Just as players in the Double Wing have rules to block any front; it would not be a tough transition for the players to learn the rules for an effective passing game.

First we have the Crossing Route package. Staying in line with the Double Wing philosophy, a few simple rules add up to a defensive nightmare.

I. Basics

A. Blitz control

B. Stop hard scraping linebackers

C. Easy read for quarterback

D. Great run after catch yardage

E. Simple pitch and catch

F. Place defenders in conflict

II. 5 Step Drop

A. First read is the inside linebacker

- Do not block linebackers

- If they blitz throw at any time during drop to Crosser

III. Cross

A. Cross any players at line of scrimmage

- Crosser must run for the hands of the defensive linemen

- If linebacker comes the ball is received immediately

- Crosser climbs to 5 yards over backside guard

B. First man past the center opposite of cross runs a Dig route at 10 yards

C. FB flares to the side of crosser

- Who is going to cover him?

- Opposite call we will flare to the other side

D. Man away from the Dig route runs the Go route

E. Man opposite Dig runs the Seam

IV. Pass Protection

A. Linemen block linemen

- Quarterback’s read is predicated on whether linebackers drop or blitz

ROCKET C CROSS

Playside TE - Run Dig route at 10 yards

Playside Tackle - Big on big

Playside Guard - Big on big

Center - Big on big

Backside Guard - Big on big

Backside Tackle - Big on big

Backside TE - Run seam route

QB - 5 step drop/linebackers blitz hit crosser/at 5 steps read playside flat defender/hit crosser or flare (the flat defender is in limbo; cover the crosser or cover the flare)

2 - Run wheel route if not motioning

3 - Drive for left foot of center/block area

4 - Take off at full-speed when the ball is snapped/block backside

If you have a QB like I have never been blessed with having, you can have him throw the Dig if the backers come and the safety sits deep. I have never had this type of player so I would tell the QB when to hit the Dig, Seam or Wheel. Two options are more than enough and are accomplishing what we want; putting the defenders in conflict.

Now we have the Scat Package which also falls within the lines of our Double Wing philosophy.

I. Advantages of the Scat

A. Can throw the ball effectively out of any formation

B. Gives the offense a valuable no motion play

C. All purpose routes

D. Can be run with any kind of motion

E. Great pass out of empty formations

F. Easy pass protection rules

G. Put you best players in space

H. Easy to drill

I. High completion percentage

II. Rules for the 2 Man Scat

A. The Ends always run the Scat

B. The Wing back runs the glance

C. The backs flair

D. Out of the double wing a Right or Left call is made, telling which HB to run the Glance.

III. Scat Route

A. The Scat route is a spacing route in which the receiver finds the hole between the linebackers

approximately 6 to 7 yards deep

B. Punch & Pivot

IV. Glance

A. The glance route is just a skinny post run by the WB. He will nod on the seventh step and run for the near post.

RIP RIGHT 2 SCAT

Playside TE - Run Scat route

Playside Tackle - Block aggressive

Playside Guard - Block aggressive

Center - Step and cup

Backside Guard - Step and cup

Backside Tackle - Step and cup

Backside TE - Run Scat route

QB - Drop back 3 steps looking to hit Scat when he sits/he releases outside read #2/Scat or Flair will be open

2 - Leave in early motion/check for blitz/run Flair

3 - Check for blitz then Flair away

4 - Run Glance route

LIZ LEFT 2 SCAT

Playside TE - Run Scat route

Playside Tackle - Block aggressive

Playside Guard - Block aggressive

Center - Step and cup

Backside Guard - Step and cup

Backside Tackle - Step and cup

Backside TE - Run Scat route

QB - Drop back 3 steps looking to hit Scat when he sits/he releases outside read #2/Scat or Flair will be open

2 - Leave in early motion/check for blitz/run Flair

3 - Check for blitz then Flair away

4 - Leave in early motion/check for blitz/run Flair

At this time I would like to thank Steve for giving me the opportunity to contribute to Double Wing Illustrated. If anyone has any questions please feel free to contact me at webmaster@coachesturf.com.