Passing Game Concepts: 2 Man Patterns with Lead Swing

This article looks at a popular concept starting to emerge in the NFL and college ranks. It is a 2 man pattern to the front side with a hb swing to the same side. The unique part of this play is that the swing is thrown with a lead blocker in front. So the QB will have a 2 man option and if he doesn’t like what he gets, he throws the swing pass. This concept has been used by the Packers, 49ers and Bills to name a few teams. Lets look at some of the routes.

At the college level you can make this a 3 plays in 1 situation.

Pre snap: You have a 1 wr gift route. Cover 1 or soft zone, you can give the QB that option.

#2 You run the outside pattern and can throw the 2 man pattern or the swing.

In college and HS you can definitely add the concept below.

#3 Add RB Tear motion where he goes to the outside, if the mike expands outside #3 build in the QB draw.

#4 Use exit motion and run an inside switch route

Well, lets look at the NFL version.

The 1st one is Dagger with the lead swing by the Packers.

They hit the dig as they get the defense curl player in a bind. You see him start to play the swing and it opens the curl window as the defense is running tampa 2 out of nickel.

Texas University

Exit motion

Lead swing with the inside switch route!

Again, teams will run a 2 man pattern with the screen option off it. In the 1st example you have the snag concept. The snag is open so Purdy hits it for a big gain.

The Packers run y cross with the swing route. They look for the y cross to the dig with the swing as the 3rd option. The deep routes aren’t open so they throw the swing pass.

The Bills version

The Bills fake toss and throw the vertical route down the middle of cover 2. If that route isn’t open you have the lead swing back to the sideline.

In the playoffs they try to run the same play. This time the Chiefs cover it so Allen is forced to throw the swing route.

At the college level. you see the snag concept being utilized with the lead swing. Nice job by the defense taking away the snag and almost getting the interception.

The 49ers run the lead swing with the snag route to the front side. They motion the y acroos from 12 personnel and run the snag on the front side with the dig to the 1 wr side. Purdy looks off the dig to throw the swing.

The last concept is just a sit route the Bills run with it. They have the TE sit down and read the middle of the defense. He’s open so Allen throws him the football. They run it from 3x1 bunch. It looks you also have a go route on the outside.

49ers vs the Steelers

Orbit motion, lead swing with Deebo with the snag route on the front side.

Another example of the snag concept with the lead swing. They run the dig pattern on the single side. They get cover 3 with the mike pushing strong so he hits the 1 wr side.

I hope you enjoyed this article and the new trend in football. The 2 man pattern with the lead swing attached to it. You can run various routes with the concept and it can be a nice addition to the playbook.