American football · Route running · Team plays & schemes

Red-zone passing concepts

Receivers and the QB run smash, flood and mesh inside the 20, where the end zone's back line squeezes every route.

12 ydEnd zoneCQBXHZCB2FSMSSCB1
Start / 5
Time
20 min
Players
8–16
Age
U16+
Area
Inside the 20 and end zone
Equipment
16 helmets4 footballs8 cones4 pylons

Setup

  1. Contact level: air, 7-on-7 style. No linemen and no tackling; a two-hand touch ends the play. Helmets on and a coach watches every rep.
  2. Use the field from the 20 to the end line, with pylons on the corners of the end zone.
  3. Offence: a centre to snap, QB, and three receivers (X wide on one side, H in the slot and Z wide on the other). Defence: two corners, two safeties and a linebacker.
  4. Start with the ball on the 12. The diagram shows the smash concept to the bottom side.

How it runs

  1. The coach calls a concept and a coverage. The QB has 3 seconds to throw or the rep is a sack.
  2. Smash: Z runs a 5-yard hitch, H runs a corner to the back pylon. Read the corner: if the corner squats on the hitch, throw the corner route high; if the corner sinks, throw the hitch.
  3. Flood: three receivers to one side at three depths (flat, 8 to 10 yards, back of the end zone). Read the defender in the middle level.
  4. Mesh: two shallow crossers pass close to each other at about 5 yards. Each runs their own route; nobody blocks a defender.
  5. Fade and back-shoulder: one-on-one outside, thrown to the receiver's outside shoulder away from the defender.
  6. Score 7 for a touchdown, 3 if the offence gains a first down without scoring, 7 to the defence for an interception. 4 to 6 reps per concept.

Coaching points

  • The field is short. Routes have to break earlier and the ball has to come out on time.
  • Throw the corner route high and towards the pylon, where only the receiver can get it.
  • Know the boundary rules: two feet in bounds in the NFL, one foot in college and high school.
  • Pick plays are offensive pass interference: a receiver can't block a defender before the ball is caught. Stacked releases and crossing routes are fine if each receiver runs their route.
  • Receivers: sell the stem at the defender, then break. Use the width of the end zone, not just its depth.
  • Defence: play the end line and the goal line as extra defenders; squeeze the space.

Common mistakes

  • Drifting out of the back of the end zone on the corner route.
  • QB staring down the first read so the safety jumps it.
  • Receivers on mesh slowing down to rub a defender (a flag for pass interference).
  • Throwing late into the middle of the field, where the space is smallest.

Say it: “Break early, throw on time, use the width.”

Make it harder

  • Move the ball to the 5, where there is even less room.
  • Add a pass rusher who has to stop 2 yards from the QB, so the throw comes out in 2.5 seconds.
  • The defence disguises Cover 2 and Cover 0.

Make it easier

  • Air only: no defence, just timing and spacing.
  • Start on the 20 for more room.

Reviewed by the Sportdify coaching team.