2014 CFC Coaches Clinic: Using the Play-Action Pass with Todd Downing (PART 1)

The second day of the Burlington Coaches Clinic was held on Saturday and those in attendance were treated to a seminar from new Buffalo Bills quarterbacks coach Todd Downing. Downing has spent 12 years in the NFL at various entry level coaching positions, spending time with the Minnesota Vikings, St. Louis Rams, Detroit Lions and now the Buffalo Bills.

Before being hired this past January by the Bills, Downing held the position with the Lions working with Matt Stafford under Jim Schwartz who is also with the Bills for the 2014 season.

Speaking to a room full of coaches, players and other football personnel inside the Corpus Christi High School Theatre in Burlington, Downing spoke for more than an hour about the benefits of play-action passing game, and how any team can utilize it.

“This is not something that any of you should be sitting here thinking this is not something I can accomplish,” said Downing. “The play action passing game can be effective any level with any quarterback you got in your system.”

Creating Run/Pass Balance in Formations

Downing spoke about the many benefits that the play-action passing game can bring to an offence, starting with balance between the rushing game and passing attack. He highlighted his seasons in Detroit as an example of a team that struggled in that regard.

“We all know that offensively we need balance in the run and the pass game,” he stated. “I just spent five years in Detroit, we didn’t have that.”

“We were a pass heavy team that wasn’t able to match what we did in the run game with what we did in the pass game and it caught up to us.”

Downing has also spent time in the NFL on the defensive side of the ball and spoke about how important a balanced attack is in keeping defences guessing.

“My time on defense taught me that one of the things defensive coordinators want to do is attack what your most likely to do,” he explained. “When you implement a play action passing game, it’s a way of keeping them in balance.”

“You can fool defences in guessing wrong. One little token fake of play-action pass can get a defensive player a step late in his responsibility, which created the opening that we need as a passing attack.”

Creating Easy Reads/Completions for Quarterbacks and Vertical Routes

Downing states that the easier that you can make the game for quarterbacks the better, he explained why elite level quarterbacks such as Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers and Peyton Manning will make sure to utilize the play-action pass.

“They are smart enough to know it is an easy read and easy completion and just a little bit of action in the backfield creates the space they need to stay on time and be efficient in their game,” said Downing.  “No matter what level of football you are at, the easier you can make it for the quarterback the better.”

As well as creating an easy completion for the quarterback than can help get him in rhythm or help create confidence, the play-action game is also effective at creating big plays down the field. Downing explained how using the play-action can help in fooling blitz packages and get the quarterback to places on the field where he can make a big play.

“Not only can create quick strikes in the play-action game, you can also get more sound vertical play actions, said Downing. “Any way that you can make a protection more comfortable for a quarterback and get him on an edge or get him out in space, you are going to create opportunities down the field then you wouldn’t have if you were just in a pocket formation inviting all kinds of blitz packages.”

Helping the Run Game

While Downing is someone who specializes in the passing game and working with quarterbacks, he also understands that having a balanced attack is important and that the play-action attack can help with the running game by keeping the defence on its toes.

“I’m a passing guy and I like the quarterback to have good stats but I also like to have an efficient run game that protects him,” Downing explained. “One way you can do that is amping up your play-action pass and keeping the defence guessing.”

Encouraging the fundamentals, Downing expressed to the coaches in the audience the importance of the boot-out and why he never allows the quarterbacks he works with to get lazy with it on one play.

“One of the things that I encourage all of you do, those of you who coach quarterback who are young right now, teach them to boot out every single time they hand off the ball,” expressed Downing. “I don’t let my quarterbacks get lazy with one boot action after handing the ball off.”

“When we actually do call the pass, I want them to be standing by themselves with a defensive end screaming down the backside. It will help your run game and it will help you immensely with easy reads in the pass game.”

Not only will the play-action help with the run game, but with almost every play as the defence will have a harder time realizing what it coming next.

“It keeps defenses honest and not attacking downhill, said Downing. “Any time you can get a defensive end in a parallel stance trying to guess where you’re going or what your scheme is that’s a win for the defence.”