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A Holistic Approach to Pass Protection: Why Keeping Your QB Clean is More Than Just the O-line’s Job

When most coaches think about pass protection, they first look at the offensive line. But if keeping the quarterback upright was as simple as better blocking up front, offenses would never struggle against pressure. Protection isn’t just an O-line responsibility—it’s a team-wide effort, from scheme to play design to quarterback decision-making.

“Pass protection starts before the ball is even snapped. It’s in the formations, the reads, the route structures—it’s built into the DNA of your offense.”

A holistic approach to protection ensures that every offensive piece—quarterbacks, running backs, receivers, and even the coaching staff—plays a role in reducing sacks, minimizing hits, and creating a smoother passing game. Here’s how you can make that a reality.

1. Scheme Protection from the Start

Pass protection doesn’t begin when the ball is snapped—it starts with game planning and play design. You’re already behind if your offense doesn’t account for protection within its structure.

  • Formations dictate the rush. Defensive coordinators scheme pressure based on where they see vulnerabilities. If your offensive formations are predictable, they’ll find ways to exploit them.
  • Route concepts influence pressure. Long-developing routes without built-in quick reads put your QB at risk. Every passing concept should have an immediate outlet.
  • Blocking rules must be tied to the play concept. A pass play with a seven-man protection scheme should look structurally different from a quick-game concept with five blockers.

“Your pass plays and your protections should be inseparable. You don’t call one without considering the other.”

2. The Quarterback is the First Line of Protection

No offensive line can protect a quarterback who holds the ball too long or misreads the coverage. QB decision-making is the single most significant factor in reducing sacks.

  • Pre-snap reads eliminate pressure. If a QB understands the defense before the snap, he knows where his answers are.
  • Progression speed matters. The longer a QB locks in on a route, the greater the chance of a breakdown.
  • Footwork and pocket movement extend plays. The best quarterbacks subtly move within the pocket instead of bailing too early or standing like statues.

A quarterback who gets the ball out on time and to the right receiver can make an average offensive line look good. A QB who hesitates can make even an elite line look bad.

3. Running Backs and Tight Ends Must Be Part of the Solution

Too often, running backs and tight ends are an afterthought in pass protection. That’s a mistake.

  • RBs must be able to recognize pressure and react. Blitz pickup isn’t just about effort—it’s about understanding where the pressure is coming from and where the ball is supposed to go.
  • Tight ends must be used strategically. Asking a TE to solo-block an elite pass rusher is a losing battle. Instead, they should be involved in chip blocks, quick releases, and helping set the edge.
  • Delayed releases can manipulate defenses. Having an RB or TE show a blocking stance before releasing into a route can hold linebackers in place and buy time.

Pass protection isn’t about keeping extra guys in to block—it’s about using all 11 players to control the defense.

4. Route Structure Determines Pressure

You’re asking for trouble if your passing concepts don’t account for how the defense reacts.

  • Spacing must be designed to beat pressure. Flooding a side of the field or creating multiple levels forces defenders to declare early.
  • Hot routes need to be built into every concept. A receiver should always be in position to replace a blitzing defender.
  • Motion can change protection responsibilities. Moving a back or receiver before the snap can help the QB diagnose the defense and adjust accordingly.

If the QB has nowhere to go with the ball, it doesn’t matter how well the line holds up. Protection and pass concepts have to be tied together.

5. Protection Adjustments Must Be Taught, Not Just Installed

Even the best protection schemes fail if players don’t understand the why behind them. This is where coaching and practice habits come into play.

  • Every protection needs a built-in answer. There should always be a contingency plan, whether it’s slide protection, a quick throw, or a formation adjustment.
  • Defenses will test your rules. Good coordinators disguise blitzes, rotate coverages, and force you into uncomfortable decisions. Your team has to be ready to adjust on the fly.
  • Repetition builds confidence. The more players understand their assignments, the faster they react—and the better your protection holds up.

“If your players don’t understand the why behind your protections, they’ll break down the first time the defense shows something unexpected.”

6. Protection is a Mindset, Not Just a Scheme

At the end of the day, protecting the passer is a team-wide responsibility. It’s about smart coaching, disciplined execution, and a commitment to structuring an offense that works together.

  • If your scheme doesn’t protect the passer, fix your scheme.
  • If your QB holds the ball too long, train his decision-making.
  • If your RBs and TEs struggle in blitz pickup, coach them up.

Pass protection isn’t just an O-line issue. It’s an offensive philosophy.

Want to learn more? [Insert link to full Read & Shoot system courses]

Listen to the Entire Episode on The Coach and Coordinator Podcast

“A Holistic Approach to Protecting the Passer”

Get Dan’s Courses on Pass Protection:

Part 5. Protecting the Passer: A Multi-Layered Approach, Section 1

Part 6. Protecting the Passer: A Multi-Layered Approach – Section 2

How to Run the Flood Concept in Football to Attack Any Defense

Use three-level passing to create mismatches and stretch defenses vertically and horizontally.

Football is a game of space, and few concepts stretch a defense quite like the flood concept. By attacking three different depths of the field—deep, intermediate, and short—this passing concept forces defenders into lose-lose situations. When executed properly, flood turns a simple route combination into a dynamic weapon for any offense.

Flood isn’t just a play—it’s a multiplier. It takes what you already do and expands it, giving your quarterback layered options with clear reads.

This concept works in any offensive system, from Air Raid to West Coast to Pro-Style. Whether you want to create explosive plays, open up underneath routes, or disguise tendencies, the flood concept should be a staple in your passing game.

What is the Flood Concept in Football?

The flood concept places three receivers on one side of the field, each at a different level:

  • Deep Route (Vertical/Go or Corner) – Stretches the defense vertically.
  • Intermediate Route (Deep Out or Sail) – Attacks the soft spot between levels.
  • Short Route (Flat, Drag, or Quick Hitch) – Forces a defender to declare early.

By overloading one side of the field, defenses often don’t have enough defenders to cover all three routes. If they’re in zone coverage, the quarterback reads the flat defender—if he drops, throw underneath; if he steps up, hit the deep out. If it’s man coverage, the horizontal stretch creates separation, making the intermediate or short route a high-percentage throw.

Why Flood Concepts Work Against Zone and Man Coverage

Defenses at every level—from high school to the NFL—struggle to cover all three levels of the field simultaneously. Here’s why:

  • Against Zone: The QB reads one defender to determine where the soft spot is.
  • Against Man: The spacing forces defenders to chase, creating natural separation.
  • Against Pressure: Flood pairs well with max protection to give the QB a clean pocket.

The reason flood works regardless of system is that defenses still have the same rules. If you force them to cover three levels with two defenders, you’ve won before the ball is even thrown.

How to Teach the Flood Concept to Your Quarterback

For flood to be effective, the quarterback must process coverage quickly. The best approach is a simple progression read:

  1. Pre-Snap: Identify coverage—zone or man.
  2. First Read: Deep route—if there’s no safety help, take the shot.
  3. Second Read: Intermediate route—if the flat defender drops, throw it.
  4. Third Read: Checkdown—if the defense covers deep, take the easy yards.

Using Play-Action to Enhance the Flood Concept

One of the best ways to maximize flood is to pair it with play-action. This forces linebackers to hesitate, widening the throwing lanes for the intermediate and deep routes.

When you can hold the linebackers with a run fake and then stretch the secondary, that’s when flood really becomes a game-changer. You’re pulling one guy in, pushing another guy out, and that intermediate route just pops.

How to Install Flood in Your Offense

Here’s how to implement the flood concept successfully:

1. Use Formation Variation

Running the same concept from multiple formations keeps defenses guessing. You can run flood from: 

  • 2×2 Spread (Motion to Trips) 
  • 3×1 Trips Formation 
  • Under Center Play-Action Look

2. Incorporate Motion

Using pre-snap motion to bring a receiver into the flood route progression forces defenses to adjust on the fly, creating mismatches.

3. Teach the Quarterback a Clear Read Progression

Whether you use a front-to-back, deep-to-short, or key defender read, make sure the quarterback knows exactly where to go with the football.

4. Pair It with Other Concepts

Flood naturally complements other core passing game concepts, including:

Building Off Existing Concepts:
  • Flood isn’t just a play—it’s a multiplier. It takes what you already do and expands it, giving your quarterback layered options with clear reads.
  • So if you are in the West Coast offense and you run a lot of shallow crosses, if you’re in the Air Raid and you run a lot of meshes, these things… flood allows you to build off of things that are already in your offense.
Flood + Vertical Choice:
  • When we get people running vertical choice with options like the Briles system, we get people pushing up the field and start reading… It creates real value in not only throwing those but then using those to clear out.
  • When you can hold the linebackers with a run fake and then stretch the secondary, that’s when flood really becomes a game-changer. You’re pulling one guy in, pushing another guy out, and that intermediate route just pops.
Using Formation Variation to Hide Concepts:
  • You can mix and match these things so you can give different presentations… But the look for the defense is different.

Drills for Quarterbacks to Master Flood Concept Reads

If your QB can’t read the flood concept properly, it won’t work. Here are drills to reinforce the reads:

  • Progression Read Drill – Rapid-fire decision-making from deep-to-short.
  • Moving Target Drill – Throw on the run to hit flood patterns on bootlegs.
  • Blitz Recognition Drill – Train QBs to hit the hot read vs. pressure.

Final Thoughts: Why Every Offense Needs the Flood Concept

Flood isn’t just another play—it’s a foundational passing concept that works in every system. 

  • It creates natural mismatches in zone and man coverage.
  • It pairs well with play-action and quick game.
  • It forces defenses to defend all three levels, stretching them thin.

If you’re not using flood in your offense—or not maximizing it—you’re leaving points on the board.

Learn the Flood Concept

Course: 3-Level Floods

Coach Gonzalez shares the latest updates on an essential complimentary pass structure – the FLOOD game.   With almost 4 HOURS of content in this deep dive, he discusses it’s place in an overall structure, gives a 30-minute refresher on the A.C.T.S. reading systems, and discusses different actions/protections for both Inside and Outside floods.  Coach G then takes you through his playbook, where he gives coaching points for all the flood tags, followed by the latest additions to his video directory.  This is then backed up with additional variations to stimulate different ideas.   Last, he takes you through his installation, practice, and game planning guides with respect to the overall system. (3hours and 51 minutes).

See all courses from Dan Gonzalez