REFINING FOOTWORK: As a quarterback, footwork is of utmost importance. Unfortunately, many coaches have manipulated the system and cut corners. There are no shortcuts. My goal is to provide real-game simulation situations where the quarterback must know how to retreat and drift, shuffle in the pocket, step up, and make accurate, precise throws. This is achieved through drills such as cone shuffles, retreat and drift, QB conditioning, and more.
REFINING THE FOUNDATION, FORM, and FUNDAMENTAL is essential. If a house has a faulty foundation, it will eventually collapse. Similarly, quarterbacks often collapse in the pocket not merely due to pressure but because they lack the proper foundation, form, and fundamentals required for the position.
My foundation begins at the feet and extends up to the waist. The movement of my hips drives my throw, rather than lunging my head forward or placing excessive pressure on the shoulder. The form of your arm follows this proper foundation.
Weight must be transferred from the back leg to the front leg to ensure proper hip thrust, arm angle, and corresponding action (QB Shuffle Drill). The truth is, some quarterbacks get stuck in their ways and attempt to advance to the next level but fail miserably because the timing of their throw and fundamentals are significantly off. The game speeds up as you continually advance, and you must, in turn, speed up as well.
REFINING ACCURACY: Accuracy is extremely important. Often, quarterbacks lack precision because they fail to properly plant and replant their feet when going through progressions. The nets will help simulate this by allowing them to take three-step and five-step drops before releasing the ball. Additionally, we will run routes that simulate in-game scenarios (slants, posts, skinny posts, streaks). The quarterback will demonstrate both power and precision, with each complementing the other.
As defined by the University of Hawaii’s article titled “Practices of Science: Precision vs. Accuracy,” accuracy refers to how close a measurement is to the true or accepted value. Precision refers to how close measurements of the same item are to each other.
REFINING FORM WITH SIGHT (Ability to Diagnose Coverages): Unfortunately, this skill has become a lost art in coaching. Too often, players are left to figure it out on their own once they reach more advanced levels. The truth is, even at the collegiate level, most players cannot properly diagnose coverages, read receivers effectively, make appropriate decisions, and avoid putting the ball or the team at risk.
REFINING HANDOFFS: One of the most unfortunate occurrences in football is a fumble during a quarterback exchange. This happens far too often, whether the quarterback reverse pivots in the wrong direction or fails to place the ball securely in the running back’s hands. Regardless of the situation, the quarterback is usually the one who bears the blame for most offensive mistakes on the field. However, there are always opportunities to improve these exchanges by using drills such as Pitch Perfect and rapid-fire repetitions.
REFINING ROUTE TIMING: Many quarterbacks have yet to develop the ability—like Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes, or Joe Burrow—to throw a receiver open. When no one is open, they often take a sack, resulting in a loss for the team. Unfortunately, this skill is neither taught nor widely discussed; it is simply understood at the National Football League (NFL) level. This presents a problem because, upon entering the NFL, many players hold the ball too long, are indecisive, and lack the confidence to accurately anticipate where the receiver currently is on the field and where he will be as he progresses along his route. Sometimes, quarterbacks develop such strong chemistry with their receivers that they throw the ball to where the receiver is supposed to be, exploiting a gap in the secondary. I will assign them homework: film study of these quarterbacks and their genius to continually refine their ability to recognize these opportunities and not hesitate when they see them.
