Combining Dash with the Wave Concept
In a recent episode of the Board Drill Podcast, we sat down with Coach Wakley Bergner to dive into the Dash Passing Concept, a tool he’s leaned on to help his quarterback get on the move and gain clearer vision downfield. While Dash has quietly gained traction in the high school ranks, a handful of college programs have started to incorporate it into their own systems. One team in particular stands out.
Arizona State has used a modified Dash rollout to push the ball vertically, pairing it with their “Wave” concept, a route combination built on a double post from one side and a deep over from the other. It’s a shot concept that can be lethal against a range of coverages, but it requires protection and a clean launch point to let those deeper routes develop.
In this article, we’ll break down how the Sun Devils blend the Dash protection with Wave to buy time, create space, and open up explosive plays in the passing game.
Our first example shows Arizona State in 11 personnel from a semi-condensed formation. They use the tight end (Y) to pin the defensive end while the offensive line full-slides away from the rollout, classic Dash protection rules. While ASU doesn’t include a gift read on this call, the protection and movement clearly mirror the Dash mechanics. Quarterback Sam Leavitt works smoothly into the rollout and targets the deep cross versus Cover 1. The play checks all the boxes: the protection holds, the route wins, and the throw is on time and accurate. The only thing standing in the way of a completion is a tremendous play by the Texas State corner, who breaks it up at the catch point.