SUMMER 2014 QB DRILLS CONTINUED

SUMMER IS HERE - TIME FOR SOME NEW QB DRILLS!

WITH SUMMER FOOTBALL WORKOUTS FINALLY HERE, I THOUGHT I'D PUT TOGETHER SOME OF THE BETTER QB DRILL VIDEOS I'VE FOUND RECENTLY.  DEFINITELY BIG INFLUENCE HERE FROM GEORGE WHITFIELD.

COUPLE QUICK COACHING POINTS I TRY TO STRESS DURING QB INDIVIDUAL DRILL WORK :

• FORCE QB TO MAKE TOUGHER THROWS IN PRACTICE THEN HE WILL IN A GAME
• NEVER PRESENT HIM WITH A "PERFECT" SITUATION 
• HAVE A DECISION MAKING ASPECT TO EVERY DRILL. 
• ALWAYS COACHING BALL SECURITY (2 HANDS, BALL HIGH AT THROAT) AND EYES DOWN FIELD TO TARGET
• MAKE HIM UNCOMFORTABLE! MORE DIFFICULT SITUATIONS IN PRACTICE THEN HE WILL FACE IN A GAME. 
• COMPETITION AMONG FELLOW QB's, KEEP THE INTENSITY & TEMPO HIGH.
• MY RULE - I AS A COACH SHOULD BE WORE OUT FROM QB INDIVIDUAL DRILL TIME BC I SHOULD BE DICTATING A FAST, INTENSE TEMPO FROM START TO FINISH. 

REALLY GOOD INFORMATION HERE FROM TEMPLE QB COACH/OC 

Some Quick Notes on Tempo and Auburn Hurry Up Drills

Here are some clips of Auburn during the 2013 season working on their tempo. 

•  Great stuff here as the OL really works hard to get lined up quickly.  When trying to play fast, I think you always have to challenge the OL to work extremely hard in getting lined up.  Explain to the big guys that they "drive the tempo" and the faster they play, the faster we can play as an offense. 
• Notice that the play call is basically the same every time in order to play at the fastest pace possible.  I would assume he is using some type of "roll it" call, meaning run the same play again, or an "alpha" call, meaning the same.  If you use "alpha" and "omega" calls, you can communicate quickly to your guys to run the same play (Alpha) or run the same play to the opposite side (Omega).  Very easy verbage, quick communication, and no need to look at wristbands or to the sideline for signals. 
• QBs cadence is the same every play.  You can hear QB saying "black black, GO".  Building in your cadence with specific tempos can be a great way to implement variety into your snap count.  For example..Base Tempo "Black, Black, Ready GO!".. Nascar tempo will always be "Black, Black, GO!" .. !" and your optimum tempo (Cheetah Nascar) "Black, GO!"

Click the link for the first clip from Auburn spring practice 2013. Shows the Auburn offense running up-tempo drill vs. air and allows you to hear QB cadence and some coach communication. I could not get the video to show up here but the link works fine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=129rzGmpkdY&feature=player_detailpage

QB Coaches Mic'd Up

I posted these a couple weeks ago on twitter (@qbadvantage) but wanted to share them on the blog as well.  Here are some of my favorite coaches in the college game right now talking up the QBs in practice.

Here's another good one with coach Gunter Brewer coaching up the WRs at UNC.  He gives some great points on Noose Drill at the beginning of the video.  Good stuff from coach Brewer. 

90s Game - Discussing 92 Mesh

92 Mesh

92 Mesh is one of the classic Air Raid/Tony Franklin System pass concepts.  This is a 3 step drop, 90s protection concept that provides a high-low progression for the QB.  Here is the position breakdown of this play:

QB - Drop = quick 3 ( have started to drift away from hinge and cheat steps.. quick 3 allows my QB's to learn the same drop for all 90s game, more practice time for the same drop, less thinking-more playing.)
        Progression = 1. Corner 2. Playside Mesh 3. Playside Back 4. Backside Mesh 5. Backside Back

Z - 10 Corner --- Landmarks: outside 25 = front pylon .. inside 25 = back pylon
Y - 6 mesh over (will set the depth of the mesh, always will run mesh OVER top the other mesh runner)
X - 5 mesh under (will always run mesh UNDER the mesh runner who is setting the depth)
                         * The MESH routes should meet directly over the center
F - check-check swing (remain parallel to line of scrimmage, running to #'s, slightly gaining ground up field)
H - check-check shoot (3 yards to the flat, run to #'s)

OL - 90's protection

 

 

 

QB Progression 

 

Like all other pass concepts, the QB must first take a great pre-snap picture of the play, this is picturing the play in his mind before the snap...visualize the routes, find grass, see the play in his mind. 

 

1. Upon the snap, QB will take a quick 3 step drop, taking his eyes to the Z on the 10 yard Corner.  Both QB and WR should understand landmarks (back or front pylon).  QB should have decision made whether or not to throw 10 corner by the last step of his drop.  I do not have my QBs read a specific defender of this play.. Keep it simple. If the Z is open, set feet and make the throw to grass.  If the Z (or other corner route runner based on tags) is covered, work feet in the pocket to get hips and shoulder to next progression.  Throwing to grass is key here.. If the FS remains high on the hash, QB can make throw deeper with more air to landmark... If FS jumps off the hash (cover 2 look) QB must make throw more on a line and throw the WR down to grass.  If the CB gets great depth with the corner, we move to next progression.  We work on making both throws in practice.  QB must understand, the corner route cannot be missed back inside toward the defense.  The corner route must be throw OUTSIDE to the sideline, opposite shoulder of the defender. 

 

2. Playside Mesh - QB must have great feet, working hips and front side shoulder to the playside mesh.  Vs Zone the WR will settle into grass 6 yards off LOS, avoiding LBs.  Vs Man the WR will continue to run, slightly gaining ground up field.. WR will not settle vs Man, continue running to sideline.  If QB reads playside mesh as open, throw should be made opposite shoulder pad of the defender.  If QB reads playisde mesh as covered, work in pocket to next progression.

 

3. Playside Back - When in trouble, find a back.  If the back is open on the swing, deliver the football.  Keep it simple, if he's open, throw him the ball. 

 

* Chances are at this point in the progression, the QB has had to move in the pocket and protection is breaking down.  If QB is getting pressure, pocket is breaking down, find a back.  If the back is covered or has stayed in for pass protection, QB must make a play with his legs, get what he can get and get down or throw ball away, play the next play. 

 

4.  Backside Mesh  & Backside Back - If QB has time to get this far in his progression ..Same rules as Playside Mesh and Playside Back..

 

Notes on Mesh

 

It is great if you can teach your QB to read the Playside Mesh/Backside Mesh as a whole picture.. therefore making the MESH routes 1 read.  If QB can see this entire picture, makes the Mesh concept more effective.  If the QB is not good enough to see this entire picture, stick to base reads. 

 

Mesh throw should be opposite shoulder pad of defender..never throwing OVERTOP the LBs, only throwing mesh routes to when WR settles in open grass.  

 

Define OPEN - Open is when the QB feels he can complete the pass.  Open may be different for each QB based on his skill set. Whats open for my QB may not be open for yours. If the QB feels he can complete the pass, fitting the ball to the opposite shoulder pad of his WR away from the defender, then the WR should be considered open. 

Tony Franklin often says "when you don't know what to call.. call Mesh".. You cant go wrong with calling Mesh.  Also, Mesh is great in the redzone and vs Man.
 

 

Tags off of 92 Mesh

 

92 Z post, 92 Z post F Wheel, 92 Switch *(Y becomes Corner route runner, Z runs 6 mesh over), 92 Swap *(X will become Corner route runner, Z runs 5 mesh under.. Must be ran out of Blue Flip), 92 Z Pyramid. 

 

92 Z Pyramid - Must be ran out of 2x2 set

Z - 12-14yd Dig

X - 10 Post

H - 5 mesh under, continue running regardless of Man or Zone Coverage

Y - 6 mesh over, continue running regardless of Man or Zone Coverage

F - check-check swing

QB - 1. Post 2. Dig 3. Playside Mesh 4. Playside Back 5. Backside Mesh