Commanders Training Camp Review: QB Rollouts
Breaking down a clip from Commanders training camp and examining how the offense can use QB rollouts.
You all seem to be enjoying the breakdowns of clips from Commanders training camp, so let’s do another one. Today’s training camp clip comes from Commanders fan Rio Robinson via his Youtube channel where he posted a vlog with some clips from practice. There were a number of good clips so go check that one, but the one I wanted to focus on came midway through the video at about the 3 minute mark.
https://youtube.com/clip/Ugkxx0P0KnmZd3LAzsjtWnpma32uHoJDzNg8
Note: The link to the specific clip from the video won’t embed, so you’ll need to click this link and it will open a separate tab for Youtube that will play the specific play I’m referencing.
This short clip from that video shows a scheme that I think will be used a lot by the Commanders this season to help not only Sam Howell, but also the offensive line. This scheme is a quarterback movement scheme known as “Sprint Right/Left”. Essentially, as soon as the ball is snapped the quarterback rolls out to the side of the call and looks to get the ball out quickly to one of two receivers working to that side of the field. Here’s what that specific example looks like drawn up.
We can see here that the Commanders are working out of 12 personnel, with one running back, two tight ends and two receivers. Both tight ends align to the left of the formation while both the receivers align to the right. Just before the snap, receiver Terry McLaurin is sent in a short motion from the outside to join fellow receiver Jahan Dotson in a stacked set. The ball is then snapped and the pair of receivers execute a basic stick concept with Dotson running the stick route and McLaurin working underneath him to the flat.
For his part, Howell takes the snap and immediately rolls out to his right. He reads the outside corner working to the flat to cover McLaurin, which leaves Dotson open inside. Howell quickly pulls the trigger while on the run and finds Dotson for a simple completion that then allows Dotson to burst up the field and pick up a first down.
The reason this play in particular is worth highlighting is that it very much fits what the Commanders are looking to do with Sam Howell at quarterback while helping a potential weakness in the offensive line up front. Howell is a mobile quarterback and has no issues rolling out on these types of plays or throwing on the run, in fact those are strengths of his game. These types of plays also force him to get the ball out quickly to one of two receivers, cutting the field in half and making the read very simple.
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