Brad Aoki, Football Analyst, Alabama
This video was originally posted on Glazier Connect.
It is a segment of a content video from Glazier Drive: Teaching Pass Concepts Through QB Drill Progressions
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This video covers a progression-based teaching method for installing the mesh concept (and pass-game concepts generally), moving from no-ball drills to near-full-speed reps.
PROGRESSIONS AT HALF SPEED (PHASE 1)
The foundation drill is the “progression drill” — an off-season/pre-practice drill that requires no ball and minimal space or staff. QBs line up 5 yards apart on a yard line so the field lines serve as landmarks, keeping the drop straight back (no dovetailing) since pocket strength is centered. QBs run air reps only, working through their full read (primary, secondary, frontside mesh, backside mesh to the back) to build muscle memory linking footwork to the progression. The presenter shows this translating directly to game reps, citing a Colorado clip where the QB works cleanly through the same progression under a heavy rush.
ROUTES AT HALF SPEED (PHASE 2)
Two drills are used here:
- Ball ID drill: A pre-practice/indy warm-up drill with a stationary receiver (e.g., aligned outside the play-side tackle at 5 yards for frontside mesh) who taps the shoulder where he wants the ball. The core teaching point, credited to former guest speaker Josh McDaniels (Patriots OC), is that yards after catch is a quarterback stat — accurate ball placement on the correct shoulder lets receivers “drop and steal four” extra yards after the catch. This requires mutual trust since the receiver’s back is to the defense. A game example is shown converting a 3rd-and-7 into an 8-yard gain because of correct ball ID.
- Pat and go drill: An everyday drill run at roughly 80–85% speed with moving targets, used for whatever routes are core to the offense (mesh, in this case). QBs must still work the full progression and get to mesh late rather than staring it down. Frontside mesh is highlighted as deceptively hard to throw accurately, especially against man coverage when receivers stay on the run — the aiming point should be 7 yards in front of the receiver’s current location, with an emphasis on leading them upfield (missing behind is the common error, not overthrowing).
KEY COACHING THEMES
- Eyes and feet must work together throughout every phase.
- Reps should build in speed and complexity gradually (air-only → stationary target → moving target).
- All drills are flexible and can be adapted to any route concept, not just mesh.
- Backup/developmental QBs should treat every rep as valuable since they get fewer live reps.