COACHING THE QB
FROM GOOD TO
GREAT
JEP IRWIN
QB/OFF. COORD.
PELHAM H.S. (AL)
TF SYSTEM SEMINAR
2007
COMMON QB PROBLEMS
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LOCKING ON TO ONE WR OR TAG
FORCING BALL INTO COVERAGE
SEEING RUSH
SCRAMBLING TO LEFT AND THROWING
ACROSS BODY
• NOT THROWING BALL AWAY
• LITTLE FEEDBACK FROM QB TO COACH
• WAY UP OR WAY DOWN MENTALLY
2006 SEASON
• 2nd YEAR IN TF SYSTEM FOR SCHOOL
• 10-3 STATE QUARTERFINALS (6-5 IN 2005)
• QB JOSH THOMASON – 486 RUSH, 10 TD
YEAR
2005
COMP %
60%
YARDS
2245
TD
21
INT.
18
72.5%
2873
29
12
(10 GAMES)
2006
(13 GAMES)
GREAT SYSTEM QB:
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LOOK FOR GRASS AND ADJUST ACCORDINGLY
CANNOT BE RATTLED – HAVE SHORT MEMORIES
DON’T MAKE FATAL MISTAKE
MISS SMALL AND MISS IN RIGHT PLACE
HAVE GREAT FOOTWORK
KNOW DOWN, DISTANCE, AND GAME SITUATION
KNOW WHEN AN INT. IS BETTER THAN A SACK
ARE SELF-STARTERS, NEVER SATISFIED, EVEN-KEELED
LOVE PRESSURE AND WANT THE BALL – LOVE BLITZ!!
WANT TO KNOW WHY
ARE HIGHLY ACCURATE ON EASIER THROWS
KEEP TEAM AHEAD OF STICKS
WILL THROW TO BACKS – GET BALL OUT
QB OFFSEASON PREPARATION
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WATCH GAME FILM & SEMINAR DVDs
WATCH HIGHLIGHTS OF GREAT QB
DRAW COVERAGES/PLAYS ON BOARD
I.D. COVERS FROM FILM (SEE BLITZ)
MAKE HIM VERBALIZE READS OFTEN
DEVELOP A QB DRILL CHECKLIST
TAKE SNAPS & DROPS DURING WINTER
ALWAYS REP A PLAY & DROP
TROY SUMMER CAMP A MUST
WEEKLY FILM AND BOARD SESSIONS
PELHAM FOOTBALL
QB WARM-UP AND TECHNIQUE DRILLS
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Partner Warm-up drills – always focus on small target on partner
 Pronate – straight arm from one knee – emphasize pronation and follow-through
with upper body
 One-Arm – push back – ball high and away – from knee
 Two-Hands – push back, wipe glass, emphasize shoulder rotation and followthrough (switch knees)
 Feet parallel – follow through, drag back foot
 Turn to left and throw – should/trunk rotation
 Turn to right – same emphasis
 Fast Feet, short step and throw – emphasis perfect technique
Walk through drops step by step on a line (3 step under and from gun - simulate
throw at end both to left and right)
Drops on lines - 3 step drops from under and from gun (Cheat Step to right, hinge to
left) Go through a play progression every rep.
Get Big drill (begin drop and coach claps for throw)
Circle drill - both to right and left
Slide Drill – throw dummies, cones or trash canes – start from right and then go back
to left – verbalize a play progression as you go – partner claps, fire feet and throw.
Yo-Yo – run back and forth on line throwing to partner and then backpedal as he runs
at you
Typewriter - forward and back over line – fast feet
Typewriter 2 - lateral right to left over line – fast feet
Wave Drill (3 step and hitch - coach points)
Scramble Drill (bubble back from line after ducking under rusher)
Zero/Bucket Drill – snapper runs at QB and hits in gut. Day 1 – right corner, Day 2
– post, Day 3 – left corner
Fast Throws - under center and from shotgun – rapid fire
Play-action and boot footwork and ball handling (throw to a WR or QB partner):
 Solid screens under center and from gun
 3 Rio and 2 Leo from under center and from gun
 Rodeo/Lasso from under center and from gun
GETTING FEEDBACK FROM QB
• ASK HIM QUESTIONS CONSTANTLY
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“WHEN IN TROUBLE?” (FIND A BACK)
“WHO DO YOU READ ON A POST TAG?” (FS OR PS SAF)
“WHEN DO YOU THROW DEEP?” (EARLY)
“WHAT ARE THE EIGHT NEVERS?”
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NEVER THROW LATE OVER MIDDLE
NEVER THROW BLINDLY
NEVER TRY TO THROW CORNER ROUTE OVER A SINKING DEF.
NEVER PASS UP OPEN RECEIVER (3rd DOWN)
NEVER GO BACK TO A PRIOR READ
NEVER THROW ACROSS YOUR BODY
NEVER MISS AN OUT ROUTE INSIDE
NEVER UNDERTHROW A POST ROUTE
– “WHAT IS THE PROGRESSION ON SHALLOW?”
– WHAT DID YOU SEE?
BUILDING CONFIDENCE
• MUST TREAT QB DIFFERENTLY THAN OTHER
PLAYERS – HIGHER STANDARDS, LESS FIRE
• DON’T WANT HIM TO FLINCH
• USE “ALWAYS” AND “NEVER” WHEN YOU CAN
• MUST ACT LIKE “HE’S THE MAN”
• PRAISE HIM IN FRONT OF TEAM
• RIP IN PRIVATE OR AFTER GAME/SERIES
• JOB #1 – PROTECT THE FOOTBALL
• JOB #2 - GET BALL TO PLAYMAKERS
• LIST OF HIS TOP TEN PLAYS
• SUMMER 7 ON 7 – LET HIM FORCE BALL SOME
– PLAY GREAT COMPETITION
MORE CONSIDERATIONS
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MOVE POCKET, LET HIM RUN BALL
FOOTWORK, DECISION-MAKING VITAL
HAVE HIM FIX EYES, VISUALIZE PATTERN
BE CAREFUL ABOUT TAGS
BLITZ/P.U.P. PERIOD IS MUST
START OFF WITH SCREENS & SAFE
THROWS
CAN’T MAKE CERTAIN THROW, TAKE IT OUT
WHAT CAN HE DO CONSIST. UNDER
PRESS.?
THERE MUST BE PRESSURE IN PRACTICE
FIGHT URGE/SUGGESTIONS TO ADD MORE
PLAYS
PRACTICE PRESSURE ON QB
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DO YOU LIKE SURPRISES IN A GAME?
COACH EVERY REP AND THROW
PREACH CONSISTENCY
RELATE MISTAKES BACK TO DRILLWORK
HAVE A CONSISTENT APPROACH
MUST WORK AGAINST BLITZ/PRESSURE
MUST BE “ON THE CLOCK” IN 7 ON 7
FORCE HIM TO SCRAMBLE/THROW IT AWAY
CONSTANT VERBALIZATION AND
QUESTIONING
READING DEFENSES
• PRE-SNAP READ SPEEDS UP RELEASE
• MUST UNDERSTAND COVERAGE AND FIND
GRASS
• MAN COVERAGE – FIND BEST MATCHUP
• ZONE COVERAGE – WHAT ARE THEY GIVING
US? WHERE’S THE GRASS?
– COVER 2 – POST AND CORNERS
– COVER 3 – FLATS AND SEAMS
– COVER 4 – EVERYTHING SHORT
• BEWARE OF TOO MUCH 7 ON 7 IN-SEASON
DAILY TEACHING TIPS
• GRADE EVERY THROW IN PRACTICE
– DEMAND PRECISION – SMALL TARGET
– SAME STANDARDS AS RB/WR
– DON’T SETTLE FOR A “GOOD DAY”
• ASK, “WHY WAS THAT THROW _____?”
• EVERY MISTAKE IS A CHANCE TO TEACH
• MENTAL ERRORS ARE MOST COSTLY
• USE DOWN TIME FOR INDIV. DRILLS
• ALL DRILLS CAN BE DONE IN 10 MIN.
• MEET WITH QB ON FIELD AFTER PRACTICE
• BACKUP QB ALWAYS RIGHT BY QB COACH
CONTACT INFO
JEP IRWIN
c/o PELHAM H.S.
2500 PANTHER CIRCLE
PELHAM, AL 35124
606-224-6622 cell
205-682-5562 field
jirwin@shelbyed.k12.al.us
tydlover@yahoo.com