No Back Passing Game

with Mark Yanule,
St. Xavier University Offensive Coordinator;
4x MSFA Mideast League Assistant Coach of the Year;
2011 NAIA National Champions

Running a no back scheme can be very rewarding when done right. If your quarterback is given enough time to read the defense and make the right decision, opposing defensive coordinators will spend all night shaking their heads.

In this video, St. Xavier University offensive coordinator Mark Yanule shares his approach to the no back passing game. He includes plenty of chalk talk and game film examples to help relay his strategies to you, that way you can implement them with your own team.

No Back Routes and Plays

Coach Yanule hits on many of the best routes and plays that his offense has used for great success within a no back set. These include:

• Hoss - A vertical hitch scheme that allows for the slot receivers to "read" the coverage for route conversions.
• Pivot - A triangle read route that attack the heart of the defense.
• Vertical Hitch - A simple concept that employs the hitch game with three verticals.
• Quick Screen - The best play in the offense, considered a run from the no back attack.
• Stick - An air raid base play with a Mike backer to safety read, allowing the QB a simple progression to attack the outnumbered side of the defense.
• Snag - Another common play with the same QB read for high execution.

No Back Reads and Strategies

Yanule demonstrates how to keep the no back passing game simple, yet multiple in its approach. The QB has a "yes/no" pre-snap read on each play. If the defensive alignment does not take away the route, the QB will "bang" him the ball. If the pre-snap is not available by defensive alignment, the QB will simply go through his route progression working play side to back side.

The Stick and Snag uses a Mike linebacker to frontside safety read for the QB. If the Mike works to the strong side, the QB shifts his eyes to the safety. With no safety rotation, the QB reads the routes opposite of the movement of the middle backer. If the safeties rotate, the QB works away from the rotation. Backside tags can be employed to add complexity of the scheme to the defense without changing the read or the scheme or routes on offense.

Does your program have the personnel to run a no back look? If so, you'll benefit heavily from watching this in-depth video from Coach Yanule!

60 minutes. 2019.