Football Pass Types

In football, the offense’s goal is to score on the defense. For that to happen, it is imperative for the offense to keep the defense guessing what they will do. One way offenses accomplish this is by running a variety of different passing plays. Passing plays are plays where the quarterback throws the ball to a receiver instead of handing it off to the running back. Pass types are the different variations of passes used on passing plays.

Pass types can differ based on the distance, purpose, and speed of the routes run by the receivers. By reading this article, you’ll get to know some passing plays and better understand how the passing game works in football.

List of Football Pass Types

Below is a list of passing plays in football:

• Long Pass
• Hail Mary
• Deep Post
• Stop and Go
• In Pattern
• Out Pattern
• Fade
• Short Pass
• Screen Pass
• Button Hook
• Slant
• Play Action
• Lateral Pass

Long Pass

The NFL classifies a long or deep pass as one that travels over 20 air yards. Long passes are a standard pass type used to gain lots of yardage on a play.

Hail Mary

A “Hail Mary” is the most well-known type of deep pass. The name of this pass came from famed Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach, who threw a huge touchdown pass in the final seconds of the 1975 NFC Divisional Championship to defeat the Minnesota Vikings. Staubach later said of the pass, “I closed my eyes and said a Hail Mary” because throwing the pass was like throwing a prayer. The chances of completing a Hail Mary pass are quite low, which is another reason why the name has stuck, as these passes are so rarely successful that they are considered miraculous when they do succeed. In a Hail Mary situation, the wide receivers all run straight down the field, and the quarterback launches a pass as far as they can, hoping someone can catch it. These passes are typically only used in desperate moments.

Deep Post

On a post route, the wide receiver runs straight for a set amount of steps and then cuts in and runs diagonally toward the goal posts for the remainder of the route. Deep post routes are long passing plays in which the receiver travels 15+ yards straight downfield before making their cut inward.

Stop and Go

A stop and go route is an excellent way to fool the opposing defense’s cornerback. The wide receiver starts forward and acts as if they are stopping and turning around for a hook route. Then, the receiver turns back up the field and runs deep to receive a pass. This passing play is especially effective when the defense is in single-man coverage. 

In Pattern

An in pattern, also known as a dig, is a shorter pass route run of about 10 yards on average. It starts with the receiver running straight off the line of scrimmage, then cutting at the 90-degree angle towards the middle of the field once they have reached the predetermined number of yards.

Out Pattern

The out pattern is similar to the in pattern, except the receiver turns 90 degrees out towards the sideline instead of towards the middle of the field.

Fade

Fades are mostly used in the back of the end zone to tall receivers. The passing pattern starts straight, but the receiver drifts towards the sideline. It resembles a post route, but towards the sideline rather than the middle of the field.

Short Pass

Short passes travel very fewer than 20 yards, and their primary focus is speed.

Screen Pass

Instead of going out for a pass, the receiver simply turns towards the quarterback and catches the ball at or behind the line of scrimmage. Blockers will attempt to create a path for the receiver to run through after catching the ball.

Button Hook

A button hook or comeback pattern involves the receiver running a specific number of steps forward and then hooking back toward the quarterback to receive the ball. This route is also known as a hitch when it is done over a shorter number of yards. 

Slant Route

Slants are fast-hitting and are a good way of picking up some quick yards. The wide receiver cuts right off the line of scrimmage and runs diagonally towards the middle of the field, quickly receiving the ball from the quarterback.

Play Action

Play action can be applied to any of the previously mentioned pass types; it enhances the effect of a pass. Play action is a fake handoff to set up the pass.

Lateral Pass

A lateral pass in football is a pass that goes laterally, or sideways, relative to the field of play. A lateral pass can also go backward, commonly referred to as a backward lateral. Lateral passes are typically only used when time is expiring, and the offensive team needs a touchdown to tie or win the game, as they are harder to throw and receive.

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