The Passing Lab - Layered Offense: Deep Routes, Smart Calls, and QB Play - Josh Thacker, Former HS Coach & Founder of 1 QB Academy

On this episode of The Passing Lab, presented by Modern Football Technology, we sit down with Josh Thacker—veteran coach, offensive consultant, and founder of 1 QB Academy—to break down the details behind elite quarterback development and pass game design. Coach Thacker shares insights from his coaching journey and dives into offensive philosophy, including the Air Raid quick game, RPO concepts, and the strategic use of deep choice routes. He emphasizes the importance of layering play calls and tailoring schemes to fit player strengths to maximize offensive success.

The conversation also covers key mechanics and coaching points, including rotational movement, common throwing issues among young quarterbacks, and the value of gap scheme runs—particularly through the A-gap—as a foundational piece of his system. Whether you’re a quarterback coach or offensive coordinator, this episode delivers practical frameworks and teaching tools to help refine your approach and elevate your offense.

Chapters

• Introduction to Josh Thacker and His Background
• Pass Game Philosophy and Overview
• Deep Choice Routes and Their Implementation
• Adapting Offense Based on Talent
• Double Post Concepts and Their Importance
• Layering Play Calls for Effectiveness
• Dagger Route Strategy
• Y-Cross Route Variations
• Quarterback Mechanics and Training
• Gap Scheme Runs vs. A-Gap Runs

Connect on X:

Keith Grabowski: @CoachKGrabowski

Josh Herring: @joshherring1

Josh Thacker: @J_Thack1

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