The entire streaming video is available on Glazier Drive at St. Edward Quick Game Concept: Pre-Snap Look Read & RPO
Tom Lombardo, Head Coach, St. Edward HS, OH
This article was originally posted on the Glazier Coaching Blog.
See why 33,000+ coaches from schools across the nation trust Glazier Drive to help their program succeed. Glazier Drive has 2,000+ Curated Videos from Top Coaches, 40 Complete Coaching Systems, and Exclusive Content from Top Coaches in the Industry.
Start your free trial by signing up here GlazierDrive.com
Summary
A variation of the stick concept (sometimes called “shock”) for quarterback quick game reads, focusing on pre-snap identification and decision-making. Here are the key points:
The Concept Structure
- Field Side: Outside receiver runs a whiff hitch (with free access), #2 runs an inside fade through the top of the numbers, and #3 runs a “win hitch” at 5 yards (can turn in or out)
- Boundary Side: Features slant/arrow or spot/arrow combination (coach mentions preference for arrow over swing)
Pre-Snap Read System
The quarterback makes decisions based on safety alignment and coverage identification:
- Two-High Safety Look: Attack the shock/inside fade side, reading the Mike linebacker for access to the inside hitch
- One-High Safety Look: Go to the slant/arrow or spot/arrow side
- Cover Zero (Blitz): Take a shot on the inside fade
Purpose and Teaching Points
- This is the first play installed in their system because it teaches QBs to recognize one-high, two-high, and cover zero looks
- In quarters coverage, they aim to win with the #3 receiver against the Mike linebacker
- Against one-high, they want to pair an in-breaking route with an out-breaking route
- Against zero coverage (blitz), they utilize “track drill” practice with the inside fade
Variations
- Can be run with 6-man protection
- Can individualize the X receiver with out/hitch/fade options
- Can be tagged with RPO or Q-draw actions
- Can use traditional stick concept with fade outside and 4-step out from #2
Our video includes several play examples showing the concept against different coverages, with the coach analyzing the quarterback’s reads and decisions in real game situations.