Play Pass Concept: Drift

Breaking down how teams attack the middle of the field using the Drift concept.

We covered in a previous post how the guys upfront work with Wide Zone pass protection. (Click below to if you missed it)

Wide Zone Play-Action Protections

Now we’re going to dive into the specific passing concepts. The beauty of the system is once you’ve got the protections down, you can plug and play the different protections with all the concepts.

Drift

The first Play-Pass most Shanahan-style teams put in is Drift. Drift is meant to attack the space between the linebacker and safeties. Wide Zone and its horizontal movement will cause linebackers to flow quickly, and create voids in the space between the 2nd and 3rd level of the defense.

Space that play-action opens up behind the linebackers.

In the example above, you can see the linebackers are fitting the run, while the secondary is still holding for the pass. This creates a large void in the middle of the field. This is the area Drift is trying to exploit.

The passing lane between linebackers.

Once the linebackers realize it is a pass, they will get in their drops, creating lanes for the quarterback to throw. In the picture above you can see Goff throwing to the window between the two linebackers.

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The Day 1 install for drift uses 2 vertical routes. It is most common to run out of 12 or 21 personnel.

The primary route is a 6-step in route. This is a speed cut meant to quickly get horizontally. After the quarterback executes his fake, he looks for the space between the linebackers to fit the ball. He also needs to be aware of any deep safeties, especially if the defense is in 2 high. There is always a flat route to the side of the drift, giving the quarterback an outlet in case the drift is covered.

Opposite the drift is a streak route. This is a vertical, meant to occupy any deep middle safety, hopefully alleviating him from crushing the drift route.

In the 100s of drift clips I’ve seen, it is rare for the quarterback to throw the streak route. 99% of the time this concept is called the ball is going to the drift or the flat.

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3 Wide Receiver Drift

3x1 Single Receiver Drift

Here are the 11 personnel, 3 wide receiver versions of Drift. The first example is still using drift to a single receiver. The slot receiver opposite the drive runs the streak route. The added route is a deep comeback by the outside receiver opposite the drift. The deep comeback isn’t in the quarterback’s progression but is an outlet if flushed in that direction.

Slot Drift

Here the slot receiver is running the drift route. This can be a great option if the defense is bracketing the single receiver drift. This is also a better call if you are anticipating 2 high safeties. The streak will occupy the opposite safety and allow the drift route to work in between the two safeties.

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Drift is a versatile concept used in any personnel grouping and formation. It is a great addition to the keeper.

Keepers in the Wide Zone System

The keeper is designed to attack the space away from Wide Zone, but having Drift in the toolbox gives the offense a way to attack the middle of the field.

Below is 8 minutes of All-22 clips of Drift…