Air Raid Passing Concepts for Middle School

[@CoachMcKie]

Hey Coaches, what Air Raid drop back concepts would you install if you were installing the Air Raid at the middle school level?

[@Ironmonk036]

Coach what software are you using for your playbook in this video?

[@Coach_T]

@@Ironmonk036 Looks like Hudl

[@randykernen8411]

Thanks so much Coach. First year coach taking over a middle school program that went 0-8 last year. We installed the Air Raid offense, and are currently 5-1 with 5 straight wins once the light bulb turned on. Averaging close to 40 points a game, using Y Stick, F Shallow, one Flood concept, a couple screens, and Inside Zone. Thank you for putting out the content, greatly appreciated!

[@kevinqueen6246]

Hey Coach you are absolutely right here. When I was living in Cedar Rapids, Iowa during the summers I would work with some of the kids transitioning to the high school ranks, the drag route is so important although in my experience no one wants to run that route so the toughest thing for coaches will be getting kids to buy into that route, they all want to run down field. I would like to add that I think the kids at this level can also grasp the smash concept very well. A second drag route works as well, the linebackers just can't process all that confusion, the second can come from the opposite side of the field or the same side of the field. Finding a kid to throw won't be a problem but finding kids who can catch consistently will be. Short routes are a lot easier on them than constantly trying to make them catch the deep ball. So if coaches want to run a couple clear out routes on a side and bring someone underneath that'll work well. In my opinion, the Quarterbacks need practice throwing the timing of the crossing routes anyway, we are seeing a lot of kids get to the college ranks these days who can't even hit a crossing route. One last observation here, I'm in favor of putting the kids under center at this young age on every snap, they need to get that feel for dropping back and beginning the throwing motion, we're doing a disservice to the sport by not teaching kids to take snaps from under center. The QB's who can do this will be better for it in the long run.

[@CoachMcKie]

Coach Queen, The drag route is a huge part of our offense. I know Dan Gonzalez uses the drag all the time in his offense. I think kids can grasp the Smash concept as well. That's what I talk about in my next video. The Y-Corner concept. I love to use it against teams that go man to man. Especially in the Red Zone. I agree with being under center, but I would like for middle schools to use some shotgun. It helps identify centers for the high school. But you are right about learning to take snaps under center. That is an aspect that is slowly being faded out at the high school level. At least where I coach at.

[@coachantell7119]

Thanks Coach, I enjoy your stuff. I have been immersing myself in Air Raid the past two months. I coach 7th and 8th graders. I am still trying to figure out what we will start with in the passing game. I do know Y stick because it will pair nicely with our run game. We see mostly cover 3 so I’d like to think 4 verticals with the bender route. All in all though I believe the system will simplify our passing game for our players.

[@horns0101]

Coach McKie, thanks for your videos! Believe it or not I coach YMCA football and I ran Air Raid for ages 10-11. This year my group will be 11-12 and Air Raid is really great for them because its easy to run and fun for them so it holds their attention. Shallow Cross is one of their/my favorites. Y-Corner is another one we run because if the defense shifts over we audible to the run to the opposite side.

[@CoachMcKie]

Coach Horns, No problem coach. Thanks for taking time out of your day to watch my videos. It means a lot to me. Shallow Cross is one of my players' favorite routes as well. They love to run across the middle because most linebackers forget about them, and they are wide open when they catch the ball. When do you run Y-corner? I love to run in inside the 20. That's when most teams will go man, and Y-corner kills man to man.

[@horns0101]

Coach, thanks for the reply. I like to run Y-corner anywhere on the field. Its just one of those plays my kids just get. My QB loves Air Raid because he always knows he can dump the ball off to the RB. Ever since I made the switch to Air Raid my QBs completion percentage has increased dramatically and their interceptions have gone down. Keep up the great videos, I am always looking for new ideas or twists I can use.

[@CoachMcKie]

Coach Horns, I love to call the corner route in the Red zone. That's my go to play when teams start to play man. My QB loves the Air Raid as well. Love to know how you structure your practice. I'm always looking for ways to improve.

[@horns0101]

Practice is an interesting problem for me as we only have 2 practices at 1 hour each before we have our first game and everyone has to play at least half the game for the entire season. I researched the air raid install (3 practices) and I had to condense from there. I start with Settle-noose, then get into passing lines and have the kids run every route in air raid so I can see who can do what. Then go right to offense/defense scrimmage, the entire time I am coaching the QB on his reads. Since my kids are young the scrimmage holds their interest. If they mess up a play they run it till they get it right. By the time we get to our first game my kids are far more organized and comfortable than the other teams and it shows on the field. I just coach YMCA now but I have done so for 7 years so if you have any suggestions for running practice for me I would appreciate it. Thank you for your time.

[@eburghardt]

Hi Coach McKie, good stuff as always. We are installing Mesh & Y-Stick for our 6th graders, chose Mesh as the one play to rule them all... and Y-Stick so we can progress to your 1-back RPO - one week of practice in and its looking promising

[@CoachMcKie]

+eburghardt Coach Eburghardt, That sounds great. How are the kids getting mesh? What formations are you using?

[@eburghardt]

Pretty good, I think the low-5 in the middle is fun for them... started 2x2(ACE) and will intro Trips this coming week. Ran through the 5-man mesh progression second practice, 4 boys+1 coach throwing, the rest running routes - didn't look half bad for 11/12YOs... Drilled the Y-Stick reading Backer (Stick & Shoot routes), really like the decision making aspect of that drill.

[@kevinqueen6246]

I've found the kids really like running the slant routes and the quick hitters but when the defense gets out there I'm not sure how you're QB is going to fair.

[@CoachMcKie]

Coach Queen, That's why I think it is important to rep the heck out of those routes in 7 on 7, and not just on air.

[@eburghardt]

We are lucky to have a couple power runs as our base offense, which buys us time to rep the passing game, but to Coach Queen's point - I'm sure it will be different with real defense out there and we'll need to adjust accordingly.

[@erickilpatrick5265]

With middle school, I would do I formation, split backs, wing T, double wing, wishbone/wingbone, and double slot formations to use the air raid/run and shoot concepts...and they do all work at that level as well.

[@CoachMcKie]

Coach, That's a lot of formations for high school, much less middle school. If you had to choose one of those formations - which one would it be?

[@erickilpatrick5265]

go with the BYU split backs. It is what the air raid was derived from. Gotta go with that. plus you can do the Houston veer schemes as well. heck of a offense Split backs Air Raid/Veer offense.

[@jmcginnis336]

Hi Coach Mackie yet another excellent video. Thanks for sharing with us middle school coaches. Can you forward the air raid drill video you mentioned?

[@CoachMcKie]

+jmcginnis336 Coach Jmcginnis, Thanks for the complement coach. And thanks for taking time out of your day to watch my video. If you go to www.airraiddrills.com you can get a free eBook of the drills.

[@ChantzFabz]

@@CoachMcKie is there still a free ebook you could send me:)

[@aaronscallion2824]

really good, have anything on qb sprint out passing, gotta have my mobile qb moving

[@CoachMcKie]

+Aaron Scallion Coach Scallion, I've got a video coming up in a couple of weeks that covers sprint out. Right now I'm doing a series on installing the air raid at the middle school level. The quick game is next.

[@TheFootballNerd7]

Aaron Scallion I did it coach. Used Snag and Smash just sprinting out. Was really good for us

[@CoachMcKie]

The Football Nerd Keeping things simple. I like it.

[@TheFootballNerd7]

Coach McKie only had to read one defender as well. Loved it

[@kevinqueen6246]

Aaron Scallion think about using some bootlegs concepts (pulling a guard[or TE] as a blocker) and flood concepts, you could even approach the sail concept with this. One thing in particular I think would go well would be using a jet sweep motion to get the defense moving one direction then sprint out with the QB the opposite side of the backfield.

[@waylandmoody9717]

What program are you using to draw up your plays. It looks very good.

[@benstout6982]

Coach MaKey if you were running the run and shoot in middle school what plays would you install?

[@jakechapman1770]

I'm not a coach, I'm just a football junkie. Anyways I love your videos. What high school do you coach at?

[@CoachMcKie]

+Jacob Chapman Coach Chapman, Thank you for the kind words. And thank you for watching my videos. I coach at Crestwood High School in Sumter, SC.

[@jakechapman1770]

Coach McKie I knew you coached somewhere around there because I've heard you talk about Austin Kendal, and I'm a big OU fan. Good luck this season.

[@CoachMcKie]

Thanks coach.

[@laurentpeiffer520]

Hi ! Formation is legal but you have uneligible player downfield (F)...

[@ismaelreyes6627]

greeting coach, at what age you can install offensive air ride

[@CoachMcKie]

You can install this offense as early as 3rd/4th grade.

[@xliquidflames]

Preface not preference

[@bigpoppa564]

Can you really 5man protect in middle school? That is unrealistic.

[@CoachMcKie]

+Po Page Coach Page, I don't think it is unrealistic. The beautiful thing about the Air Raid is how fast the ball gets out. So it's not like the quarterback is sitting in the pocket for six seconds.

[@Kakavian70]

Just a minor thing Coach, but the way this is drawn up...F is ineligible. ;)

[@CoachMcKie]

That's why I almost failed Art in high school.