Roll Your Quarterback Out and Win More Games

 by: David Huizar & Matt Zavadil

Football teams ranging from the high school level down to the youth football level will never be successful passing the ball.

Do you believe this? Many coaches and football bystanders do. I do not.

In my experience, if you're trying to have success with five or seven step drops, then my opening statement is true. However, if you implement the shorter three-step drop and roll-outs, you can definitely have success passing the ball with youngsters.

Let's take a closer look at the types of roll-outs you can use with your youth football team to gain those crucial yards necessary to move the chains.

1) Basic Wide Roll-Out

The basic idea behind the roll-out is to create pressure on the defenders to make a decision on whether to defend the run or pass. At the snap, your quarterback runs to the left or right behind the line of scrimmage instead of dropping straight back.

As your quarterback "rolls out", the cornerback or linebacker in coverage to that side must make a decision: Do they commit to stopping the quarterback from running or stay in pass coverage?

If the defender stays in coverage, the quarterback can throw if the receiver is open or take off and run if the receiver is covered. If the defender decides to come up to stop the run, you may have a wide open receiver for your quarterback to pass to.

2) Short Roll-Out

On a short roll-out, you'll instruct your quarterback to move just past the tackle. This type of roll-out gives you the same advantages as explained in the "wide" roll-out with the added option of the throwback pass to the side opposite that of your quarterback's roll-out direction.

3) Sprint-Out

The sprint-out is a roll-out where your quarterback will take a quicker and more shallow route along the line as he moves behind the running backs. Usually, you'll have two or three receivers (half-back, tight end, flanker) on the play side run quick outs or hooks so the quarterback can get the ball out quickly. You can also have the quarterback give a quick pitch to a half-back rolling out in front of the QB.

4) Bootleg

Whereas in the previously mentioned roll-out types your quarterback moves in the same direction as the running backs, on a bootleg he moves in the opposite direction. At the snap, your quarterback will fake to a running back, then roll to the opposite side of the field.

A bootleg is good in short yardage situations or at the goal line. As the defense reacts to the flow of the play in one direction, your quarterback is moving with the ball in the opposite direction and will usually find an open area in which to run or pass into.

Some teams will have a lineman pull out to provide extra protection while some run a pure "naked" boot where only the quarterback rolls opposite the initial flow direction.

5) Waggle

There are different opinions on what constitutes a waggle. Some coaches call it a waggle when the quarterback fakes to one or two running backs and then rolls behind the backs as they all move in the same direction.

Other coaches call it a waggle when the quarterback makes the fake and then moves out in the opposite direction as explained above in the "bootleg" section. Usually, the pulling lineman is employed in this type of roll-out.

I've often found that young offensive lineman have trouble holding out defenders long enough for the five and seven-step drops. Plus, the roll-outs described above will most likely open up more receivers for you as many youth defenders will get confused on whether to come up for the run or stay back in coverage.

It's up to you, but if you desire success with passing the football in the youth leagues, I highly recommend you get good at employing some form of the roll-out into your playbook.