Warrior General Games

Originally posted by Makntak
So when setting up your QB progressions, should the QB be looking at the player who has the hot route first? Does looking for a man elsewhere first cause any kind of reactive behaviour in the defensive dots, ie do they get pump-faked so so speak (not literally) and think that the intended target is where the QB is looking, which in turn may effect their coverage detail?
In other words, can you use the QB progression to wrong foot the defense?

How many ticks is one progression?



When building progressions I try to look at who will be open first in the play, sometimes it's not necessarily the shortest route., or I will look at a deeper route that is 50/50 whether or not it will be open before progressing to a shorter route that is more likely to be open.

I have no Idea how many ticks is a progression, that's a good question, but I think it is highly variable.

Good insight Fumanchuchu. I'd even go further and add that you should study the routes each receiver runs because some will open up early and others late. Also, you can re-target a receiver to set up a throw. Example, WR3 runs a down and in route... if you set him a #2 in the progression, then again at #4, you can have the QB look at him as he runs the down, then to another receiver, then back again as he makes his crossing... causing the safety to close in the first look, then fall behind when he makes his crossing cut. I've seen it work... not always... but I've seen that work before.

It is hard to explain how to do progressions. It is more of a feeling based on experience with all the different plays. It can also change based on your depth chart setup and what you are working with. It isn't always wise to start a set of progressions with a guy in single coverage as you may be better letting that guy get to the point in his route where he can perform a fake of some sort.

It takes a lot of playing around and watching games to get a good feel for such things.

Originally posted by dusk883
Personally, I don't even look at what the "hot route" is in the play (primary receiver in the play design).

When scouting or game planning a game, in those rare events I will instead look for routes that go where i want them to go and determine my own "hot route" by double progressing that receiver a few times in the custom checkdown list. You can make that receiver as hot as you want by tripling up on him if you believe it in it enough.

As for ticks to the progression, that depends on many things, the quality of coverage, the quality of receiver, qb build...

The hot route is whatever your first progression is. The only time the hot route in the diagram means anything is for casual/basic tactics.

Originally posted by bhall43
The hot route is whatever your first progression is. The only time the hot route in the diagram means anything is for casual/basic tactics.

Ah - that's interesting.

Originally posted by Fumanchuchu
When building progressions I try to look at who will be open first in the play, sometimes it's not necessarily the shortest route., or I will look at a deeper route that is 50/50 whether or not it will be open before progressing to a shorter route that is more likely to be open.

Great advice, I think. I'll be using this to see what I can see.


Originally posted by Theo Wizzago
Good insight Fumanchuchu. I'd even go further and add that you should study the routes each receiver runs because some will open up early and others late. Also, you can re-target a receiver to set up a throw. Example, WR3 runs a down and in route... if you set him a #2 in the progression, then again at #4, you can have the QB look at him as he runs the down, then to another receiver, then back again as he makes his crossing... causing the safety to close in the first look, then fall behind when he makes his crossing cut. I've seen it work... not always... but I've seen that work before.

And again, nice info. What you say here implies that a look = a defender reaction = close in?

Why do you specify the safety?

I guess there is nothing cut and dried here and I need to watch plays to see how defenders behave which will of course depend on all sorts of rolls.

Thanks for this info though guys. Learning stuff = good.

Originally posted by Makntak


Why do you specify the safety?


Reason? Safeties usually are in zone or blitzing or spying on the QB (or HB or FB) or covering the TE or backs out of the backfield. Every now and then you'll see them double up on a WR (along with the CB) for double coverage... but mostly peeps play them in zone. A dot in zone coverage is, by design, watching the QB to see where he's looking so they can get a jump on the ball. It's why there's several QB SA's and VA's designed just to combat that. Having the QB move the safeties with their "eyes" (where they are targeting a receiver) has some merit. If you set your progressions from left to right, you make ti easier for any dots in zone coverage to follow the eyes. But if you make your progressions dart all over the place, you can literally "freeze" the dot in zone coverage (they'll dart left, then right, then left, then right... following the progression). With SOME plays, that can mean freeing up a receiver in 1-on-1 coverage... giving your QB a better shot at a completion.
The main thing to remember about any passing play is the less defense around the target, the higher the chance for completion. Anything that creates those oppertunities is good for you... bad for the defense. It's why screens, crossing routes, wheel plays, and how you set your progressions and checkdowns can ultimately make, or break, your game.
I highly advise (even though this will swallow HOURS of your time) you watch as many plays... successful and unsuccessful... as you can. You plays... your opponent's plays... everything. It's how you'll see what works and what doesn't... and why.

Originally posted by Theo Wizzago

Reason? Safeties usually are in zone or blitzing or spying on the QB (or HB or FB) or covering the TE or backs out of the backfield. Every now and then you'll see them double up on a WR (along with the CB) for double coverage... but mostly peeps play them in zone. A dot in zone coverage is, by design, watching the QB to see where he's looking so they can get a jump on the ball. It's why there's several QB SA's and VA's designed just to combat that. Having the QB move the safeties with their "eyes" (where they are targeting a receiver) has some merit. If you set your progressions from left to right, you make ti easier for any dots in zone coverage to follow the eyes. But if you make your progressions dart all over the place, you can literally "freeze" the dot in zone coverage (they'll dart left, then right, then left, then right... following the progression). With SOME plays, that can mean freeing up a receiver in 1-on-1 coverage... giving your QB a better shot at a completion.
The main thing to remember about any passing play is the less defense around the target, the higher the chance for completion. Anything that creates those oppertunities is good for you... bad for the defense. It's why screens, crossing routes, wheel plays, and how you set your progressions and checkdowns can ultimately make, or break, your game.
I highly advise (even though this will swallow HOURS of your time) you watch as many plays... successful and unsuccessful... as you can. You plays... your opponent's plays... everything. It's how you'll see what works and what doesn't... and why.


Great stuff Theo - thank you.