What Is a Swing Pass In Football?
In American football, a swing pass is a short pass typically thrown to a receiver behind the line of scrimmage. The ball is usually thrown with some velocity and arc so that it can be caught in stride by the receiver. Swing passes are usually thrown to running backs or tight ends, but they can also be thrown to wide receivers in certain situations.
How To Execute
To execute a swing pass, the quarterback will take a short drop back from the line of scrimmage before making a quick lateral or backward motion to one of his backfield teammates. The receiver will then catch the ball behind the line of scrimmage and have the option to run with it.
Swing passes are typically used to gain positive yardage on short passing plays, and they can be very effective in catching defenses off-balance.
Potential Benefits
1. They can catch a defense by surprise. If the quarterback can sell the play-action fake well enough, he may be able to get the ball to his receiver without the defense even realizing what has happened.
2. It allows the receiver to run after the catch. This can be especially useful if the receiver is a running back who is skilled at making plays in space.
3. They can set up screens and other plays that involve receivers running after the catch.
Potential Risks
1. The receiver may not be able to catch the ball cleanly. This can lead to an incomplete pass or even an interception if the ball is tipped into the air.
2. The defender can read the play and intercept the pass before it reaches the receiver.
3. If the receiver does catch the ball, he may not have enough space to run before being tackled by the defender.
When Should You Use A Swing Pass?
Swing passes are often used when there isn’t much time left on the clock, and you need to gain as many yards as possible before time runs out. They are also used when your team has just gained possession of the ball near their own end zone and needs to get out of danger as quickly as possible.
