QB Scramble - Mechanics/Philosophy Questions

[hefnerjm]

Couple of mechanics questions on plays where the QB scrambles out of the pocket and is in that grey area between run and pass:

1) what is mechanic/philosophy on wings drifting downfield when they read pass to cover receivers vs. staying at LOS to pick up forward progress in case QB runs? 

1a) Differences for 4-man/5-man? (I know its easy in 7-man, but we arent there quite yet).

1b) does this differ for H or L, or is it the same regardless of which way the QB scrambles?

2) Who is primary/secondary for covering whether the QB is beyond LOS when a pass is thrown?

3) philosophy on differences in QB protection inside vs. outside the pocket?

[gdp1018]

1. Mechanic book says drift down 5-7 yards if you read pass.  However if you have no receivers to your side there is no need to drift right away.
 
1a. In 4 man with no back judge you need to move from the line of scrimmage a little sooner, in 5 man you can stay home a lot longer because you have help downfield.

1b. If the passer scrambles my way and I am the LJ more than likely I have receivers on my side so I am going to move down once I read pass.  The HL can stay home since the action is away from him.

2.  Mechanic says referee is to rule on crossing on LOS, however if the HL or LJ whichever is not threatened will stay home they can help rule on this as well.

3.  Once the passer is outside the pocket he still gets protection but not as much as if he were in the pocket. Remember once he is outside the pocket he becomes a runner. 

I hope this helps.  Biggest thing to remember is if you have no receivers on your side or the QB is rolling away from you, you can stay on the line of scrimmage no need to drift downfield immediately.

 

[hefnerjm]

I hope this helps.  Biggest thing to remember is if you have no receivers on your side or the QB is rolling away from you, you can stay on the line of scrimmage no need to drift downfield immediately.

What about when the QB rolls to your side, AND you have receivers?
(Typically less like for a QB to scramble to the side with no potential receivers/blockers)

What does H do when action to his side? Is he always staying home while L drifts? what about the U helping here?

[gdp1018]

If the QB rolls to my side and I have receivers I am going to drift down 5-7 yards.   The other flank should stay home.  This could either be the HL or LJ depending on which side the QB rolled.  The U can help on the LOS but is difficult as he has stuff going on in the middle.

I have learned the past couple years to not be so quick to drift downfield on pass plays.  First of all you have deep help.  Second you can run downfield and still be in position to rule on catch no catch. 

[goodgrr]

In our mechanics on a 5 man the U goes to the LOS when reading pass, this seems to make sense on two fronts; first he has the QB past the line whilst the wings go downfield, secondly he's pulled out of the way of any short crossing routes that A may run.

[UmpSC]

Same here re: the U moving to the LOS.  Unfortunately it has become much tougher over the past couple of years with all of the quick slants and short crosses.  I also now have schools that have a route for the TE that is to go wherever the U is.  As I move, they move.  I know this because I've not only experienced it, but I've asked the TE about it. 

There is a movement and discussion to possibly move the U behind the LOS to the A side of the ball.  I'm not in favor of it, but it looks like it will probably happen.

But going to the OP, our mechanic is for the U to be secondary to the R.  I work very hard to know the LOS on every play for this reason as well as IE downfield calls.