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 Win more games! Utilize position analytics like the QB Development Tool and In-game analytics to enhance your attack. Book a demo with Modern Football Technology today. https://www.modernfootball.com/demo Transform your football program with CultureAI! Grab your copy of the CultureAI Book and Workbook at coachandcoordinator.com/cultureai . The CultureAI Workbook is your ultimate guide to leveraging ChatGPT and AI tools to evaluate, align, and elevate your team's culture. Packed with actionable prompts, templates, and real-world coaching examples, it’s designed for coaches who lead with intention and embrace innovation. Streamline your processes and build a stronger, more cohesive team culture all season long. Don’t wait—get started today and take your program to the next level! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices