Quarterbacks
“Every quarterback can throw a ball; every
running back can run; every receiver is fast;
but that mental toughness that you talk
about translates into competitiveness.”
-Tom Brady
Leadership
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Goal of the QB: Make 1st downs!
It’s not about you. You must buy into every aspect
of the team! Do more than just throw in the offseason. Work with centers on snaps and running
backs with exchanges.
Play with great passion
Time is not on your side. Each play averages 60
seconds. 60 plays per game. 10 games. Total of 1
hour to show what you can do. Prepare for that 1
hour with passion.
Earn the respect of your teammates. Be
approachable and helpful. Take care of your
offensive line.
Warm-up (“Ignition”) Drills
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Soft Toss High Release Drill
Last 6 inches Drill (extend up and out at target, nose of ball up and to the right)
Under the Chin Drill (extend up and out at target, nose of ball up and to the right)
Small Circle Elbow Drill
Chicken wing I
3 Move Drill (zero, through, finish)
4 Move Drill
Full Circle Elbow Drill
Push-Pull Drill
High Release Knee Drill (extend, reach for ground in front)
Chris Rix discusses QB warm-up
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pjoNx_Z7Qs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GlEnDuLt_0
Quarterback Drills - The Secret to Avoiding Sore Arms
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnpBEbxIyLI
Stance, cadence, and center exchange
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
Feet shoulder with apart-less wasted motion, quicker
Weight on balls of feet
Slightly pigeon toed- weight forward automatically, sets pivot, can’t
false step, center has less access to feet. When staggering the stance
with one foot slightly back, the toes are still turned in (ensures no
false steps)
Back straight. 45 degree angles between back, legs and knees. If the
QB is in a good stance, he can swing his arms and they will slightly
touch knees.
Head up and on a swivel
Cadence loud and commanding
Left thumb in right thumb slot (receive middle of ball)
Pressure on center with bottom hand
Drop hips 6 inches on “Go”-helps keep hands under center and puts
QB in better position
Mechanics
Throwing Mechanics
1.
Nose must be slightly up at release because the ball will fly in an arc.
2.
Throw down 18” hallway (throw in right 9, step in left 9)
Grip
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Pinky must slide into slot, not cross laces
Ring Finger over laces
Middle Finger off laces
All four fingers in complete contact with ball (even spread of fingers)
Index finger top knuckle line over long axis stitch line
Thumb should make line with middle and index finger
Wrist
1.
2.
3.
4.
A curled wrist position weakens the finger grip and drops the nose of the ball.
A “cocked” wrist position lengthens the wrist snap and increases the spin
A “cocked” wrist reduces ball movement and loads the ball for strong release out to the target.
A “cocked” wrist brings the nose of the ball up to the proper release point.
Pre-Pass position
1.
Position ball off back shoulder
2.
Make sure front of ball stays lower than back of ball when cocking wrist.
3.
Point top of ball at right trap
4.
Left hand firmly on ball pushing ball back
Elbow
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
The lead elbow must be above the shoulder line to lead the throw.
Right elbow must be open and off body in pre-pass position.
Both elbows are level below ball and ball is pushed off back shoulder.
Ball off body.
Elbow should break imaginary plan of glass extended out in front of chest.
Lead elbow and shoulder point out to target.
Lead elbow breaks plane of glass behind in throw
Follow through
1.
Extend out to target finishing to the inside of the left leg
2.
Keep front arm bent when turning to throw
Drills
Thumb, Wrist, Elbow
1.
Chair Drill
a.
Sit in chair against wall
b.
Extend arm out at target, cock wrist, bring ball back and lay flat against wall
c.
Pass ball extending out to target following through and down
2.
3.
Same drill standing with feet parallel. Extend arm, cock wrist, lay the ball back to a natural elbow lead
position 45 degrees off shoulder. Extend up and out to receiver and at the highest point, turn the wrist over,
rolling fingers off ball keeping nose up. *shoot at basketball hoop
Finger roll drill
Release Drills
1.
High Release Knee Drill
a.
Kneel right knee down and left knee pointing at target.
b.
Start by extending ball arm to ground with nose of ball on ground
c.
Raise throwing arm high above the shoulder and at the highest point with the wrist still cocked rotate
shoulders 90 degrees so the lead shoulder points at the target (the ball will turn away automatically
with a cocked wrist)
d.
Once you make the turn to throw, collapse elbow sharply to lead position, extend top receiver holding
cocked wrist until the last second
e.
Follow through and touch ground
2.
a.
b.
c.
Stationary Feet Drill
Feet parallel
Good pre-pass position
Concentrate on elevating the elbow above the shoulder and extending down to the inside of the left leg
Finishing the Throw
1.
2.
Open hips fully to target line when making throw
Step slightly off target line
1.
2.
Drills
Target line drill (with tennis balls)
Basketball hoop drill
Self-Correct
1.
a.
b.
c.
Elbow Drop
Forearm orbits
Wrist Curls
Ball Goes Low
2. Wrist Fires Too Early
a. Ball wobbles and/or sails over target
Zero Position
-45 degree up, out, and forward of the level shoulder-to-shoulder line at
rest
-On the turn, the elbow must “outrun” the shoulder turn by 6” as it
elevates above it. A quick release depends on how fast elbow can get to
zero.
-The move to zero position occurs on the turn, not before the turn. The
first move is with the abs/core.
Tricep Extension (The key to release power and control!)
Extension Drills
1. Wrist Accuracy Drill - (receiver point to specific eye)
extend wrist to target
2. Vertical Extension Drill – Throw ball up and try to have
ball land on face
3. Last 6 inches drill – start the ball out past the elbow
and don’t let it drop back. Fire tricep then wrist
4. Under the chin drill – Ball starts under right half of jaw
straight above elbow. As the ball extends with the wrist
cocked keep the nose up through the release. AIM FOR
FOREHEAD OF RECEIVER! When you roll the fingers, fire
the index and middle fingers together.
5. Drop Extend Drill – Begin same as last 6 inches drill.
Drop ball by ear, not behind shoulder.
“Elevate”/”Extend”
Release Timing Drills: Combining Power and Quickness
-The “collapse” puts the ball gliding by the ear on the throw.
This is “throwing the ball from the ear”.
1. High Release Knee Drill
-elbow collapses with forward driving of chest into throw.
Elbow Circle Drills
-Short circle elbow drill: Stand with back against wall. Keep wrist
cocked as you rotate. Pick elbow up sideways and drop ball to
ear. The timing is ELBOW/TRICEP/WRIST. Wait for the elbow to
get back under the wrist before the tricep fires to extend the
arm. Up and out to target
-Full circle elbow drill: Begin with football pulled into the
shoulder (back of ball points at shoulder at 45 degrees with
chest) and wrist cocked. Use the abs to turn shoulder closed to
the target on each circle back and the elbow will elevate easier.
While making circle maintain “V” on arm. Elevate elbow above
shoulder line. Keep good rhythm.
Body: Advanced concepts for feel,
consistency and control
“TURN”
The Core: Abdominal explosion for transition, elevation,
and extension.
*The front elbow must clear around body fully and
control power transfer from the legs to the upper body &
tricep.
“DRIVE”
The Legs: Lower body acceleration for transition,
elevation and extension.
*Drive with a sense of “up”.
Drop Footwork and Drills: Advanced concepts for feel,
consistency and control.
Footwork Foundations: Target Hallway, Weight
Transfer and Stride Control
*Step in “left 9” of 18 inch hallway, throw in the “right 9”.
RESPECT THE MIDLINE!
-Weight Transfer
1. The Hinge
2. Stride Control – It begins with the heels. Keep the
heels up. Must land on ball of foot when striding.
Drops and Drills: Footwork Mechanics and Control
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
Sliding 1-step drop (left): Start in regular stance. Slide right foot behind left foot and throw to left
Sliding 1-step drop (right): Start in regular stance, lift and turn right foot and set target line, work on ball of
right foot
1 step drop for depth (left): first step right foot back, heel stays off ground in transition
1 step drop for depth (right): first step right foot back (quick hop), heel stays off ground in transition. Don’t
sweep lead leg across midline.
2 step drop (left): strong left foot step first, plant the right foot heel up, hinge and drive. Can replace 1 step
drop.
2 step drop (right): strong left foot step first, swing right leg around firmly to form back of hallway, keep heels
up and hinge, don’t start throw until weight is headed in direction of throw. Don’t sweep lead leg across
midline.
3 step drop (left)
a.
1st step: deep, seat ball just off back shoulder, wrist cocked
b.
2nd step: pull heel through, don’t let lead shoulder close, keep chin on shoulder
c.
3rd step: short, underneath body, heel stays up and set hallway. Step in “left 9” of 18 inch hallway,
throw in the “right 9”.
3 step drop (right)
a.
1st step: deep, seat ball just off back shoulder, wrist cocked
b.
2nd step: close toe to allow front shoulder to close to target hallway
c.
3rd step: short, underneath body, heel stays up and set hallway. Step in “left 9” of 18 inch hallway,
throw in the “right 9”.
5 step drop (without shuffle)-GET TO A DEPTH OF 6 TO 7 YARDS
-push hard and deep for 3 strong steps
-4th and 5th steps like last 2 steps in a 3 step drop
5 step drop (with shuffle)- GET TO A DEPTH OF 6 TO 7 YARDS
-same first 4 steps
-big 5th step set target hallway before shuffle
7 step drop (with shuffle)- GET TO A DEPTH OF ABOUT 8.5 YARDS
-Get 5 reasonably deep quick steps to get drop started
-last 2 steps like last 2 in a 5 step drop
Chad Pennington discusses the 3-step drop
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0O8TTJWV0tw
Chad Pennington discusses the 5-step drop
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9sbaNjdENE
Shotgun Footwork
-receive snap low with left foot slightly in front of
right, hands up
1. Sliding 1-step drop (left) from gun
2. Sliding 1-step drop (right) from gun
3. 3 step drop becomes 2 step drop in gun
4. 5 step drop becomes 3 step drop in gun (shuffle
and no shuffle)
“Any quarterback that understands what the offense is really about is going to succeed.”
-Joe Montana
ACCURACY
Locating Throws on Routes
-On all hitch routes the aiming point is the face
3 step Slant route
1.
Short stride to target
2.
Step to where receiver is going to be, not where he is
3.
Keep heels off ground
4.
Aim for the upfield shoulder of the receiver, it is the leading edge of the target hallway
2-step fade (from 10 yard line in)
1.
Receiver go vertical on route as much as possible, let ball fade him to corner
2.
Relatively high entry angle
3-step fade (in open field)
1.
Throw the ball above 45 degree apex
2.
When hitting 3rd step, drop back shoulder slightly elevating lead shoulder
Fade vs. Cover 2
1.
Ball on line 22-25 yards
Quick out
1.
2.
Step outside hallway to hit target
Aiming point is outside hip, allowing receiver to easily run after catch
5 step drop out with no shuffle (10 yards)
5 step drop curl route with shuffle- WR catch ball at 12 yards
1.
Keep his down and back straight
2.
Aim for face
5 step cross
1.
2.
Keep knees bent so to not drop into throw
Aim for the upfield shoulder of the receiver, it is the leading edge of the target hallway
Post Corner
1.
2.
3.
Shotgun (3 steps with shuffle)
Cover 2 – throw to outside, taking receiver towards the sideline (medium trajectory)
Cover 1 or 3 – Throw on angle of receiver’s route up the field (high trajectory)
Throwing Drills and Self-Correcting Common
Throwing Errors
Rope Extension Drill
1.
Rope should be at shoulder height of QB
Quick Release Quick Hands Drill
1.
For QB and WR
2.
QB throws from high release knee drill position, ball as high as possible
3.
WR 10 yards from QB, hands down, move up when comfortable
Ball Angle Wall Drill
1.
Develop nose up concept
2.
Start 5 yards from wall
3.
Place trashcan 1 yard from wall and 1 yard to the left of target hallway
Goal Post Touch Drill
1.
Receiver should stand as close to the back of the crossbar as possible and the arc of
the throw should be as flat as the QB can make it
2.
Come as close as possible to the crossbar without hitting it.
3.
Keep eyes on receiver while extending over crossbar.
Throwing Drills and Self-Correcting Common
Throwing Errors (cont.)
Goal Post Hallway Drill
1.
Work both sides of goalpost
2.
Work on throws of different heights
3.
Make hallway tighter as you go, always keeping eyes on target
Goal Post Grid Drill
1.
Throw routes over/under goal post
Tennis Ball Focus Drill
1.
5 step drop
2.
Coach 1 hops ball to QB making QB move with quick feet to catch ball and throw back
to coach
Rush Avoidance Drill
1.
Teaches QB to not over react to rush
Shuffle Clap Drill
1.
Take drop, keep feet live, throw ball when receiver claps hands
Throwing Drills and Self-Correcting Common
Throwing Errors (cont.)
Rapid Feet Drill
- Play catch with live feet
Offset Drill
- Hash to hash about 15 yards apart
Line Drop Drill
- Drop about 15 yards driving right foot down the line.
- Work ball pit to pit.
Soccer Goal Drill (Throwing Over the Defensive Line)
-Throw routes over soccer goal
2-Man Matrix Cover Call Drill
Common throwing errors
1.
2.
3.
Throwing off back foot (tell QB to elevate
elbow over shoulder)
Balls sails over target (wrist fires early)
Ball into ground (dropped elbow)
* Wrist cocked position allows ball to turn back
properly
*In pocket, be tall from the hips up, but keep knees
bent
*Ball must be off back shoulder so that the wrist is
in a good position to cock, slightly lift back shoulder
a.
b.
c.
a.
b.
Seating the ball
After getting snap, seat the ball in belly parallel
to ground (nose of ball pointing at belly)
Elbows in
Get head around before first step hits the
ground (faster than shoulder turn)
Ball Handling
Squeeze drop drill
Basketball ball handling drills (around head,
around back, figure 8 through legs, etc.)
Inside Running Game Fundamentals
(Handoff, Play Action, Sprint Draw, Bootleg)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Handoff
Aim for ball at bottom of number
Hand off with 2 hands , getting hands deep into pocket
Pull stomach side hand to hip flexor
Head watches running back’s back after exchange
Soft hand off. Absorb impact with hand off arm.
Snap head on handoff making sure the running back has secured the
ball.
1.
Play Action (Sprint Draw/ISO)
After fake (same look as handoff), bring ball to hip flexor, laces down,
with 3 points of contact: hand, forearm, hip flexor
Play action is successful only if previous fakes are carried out.
2.
1.
Play Action (Bootleg/Counter/ Zone)
Waggle-After sweep fake but ball on opposite hip flexor so backside LB
can’t see the ball.
Toss Sweep
- Seat ball in belly
- Pivot off playside foot
- Pull backside foot through in straight line (don’t make a big
circle, turn around quickly)
- Backside foot must be ahead of where the back is
- After pivot, drop ball straight down and let hips ride with
the pitch up and out to the aiming point of the running back’s
far shoulder
- Take one follow step with playside foot
- Crossover and boot away
“If there's one thing I can't stand, it's a quarterback who thinks playing quarterback is just
about passing.”
-Bill Parcells
Sprint Out Mechanics
-Elbow has to get to zero and wrist must extend out to
target
-When sprinting extend body up (roll the shoulder
carriage back) and get feet underneath you (shorten
steps/accelerate feet) before throw.
-QB should stay on the balls of his feet. If his heels
touch, weight transfer stops and elbow support to
zero is cut off.
-When throwing on move, drive throwing elbow back
before throw to help rotate upper body.
-Get to depth of 8 yards on sprint outs.
Sprint out drills
1.
Wrong foot forward
a. Put right foot forward
b. Push right elbow back
c. roll over right foot on throw and land on left
2.
a.
Forward and back (2 QB’s)
-10 to 15 yards apart
3.
a.
Circle Drill
Receiver in middle. QB runs around circle with 15 yard radius and throws to WR
in center. Run at receiver (come off circle) before every throw.
4.
a.
b.
Line Drill
15 yards apart 2 lines
Receiver accelerates down line in front of QB. Stop after catch and allow
other receiver to move in front.
QB runs down line then runs downhill at receiver before throwing.
Sideline to sideline
c.
d.
USC quarterbacks run through footwork drills
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaY_MO9NeTg
Ohio State quarterbacks run through footwork drills
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTY1GXkGXCo
Basic Jump Rope Training (Building Rhythm,
Speed, Agility, and Mental Toughness)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Speed Jumps
Shift weight from right to left (both feet hitting
ground together)
One leg jumps (30 seconds each leg)
Jumping jacks / Scissor kicks (front and back)
Jump Rope and run in place (get knees up!)
Jump Rope and run (get knees up!)
Combine all moves
Double Jumps
Jump rope demonstrations
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYAmg2TBb1s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yOl-Zr5qU0