QB steps on Zone Read

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Originally posted by: TIGER ONE<Coaches,
As an EX-QB and QB coach, IMO, there is no comparison to the two techniques. I rode the "ride and decide" for long years. Then, I found a new way that was run by Carson Newman called "the point technique" and I haven't looked back to this day and that was the fall of 1988! It is so much better than putting your arms back which is uncomfortable at best while keeping your head in the opposite direction to make your read. In the point, you take your escape step and drive DOWNHILL at your read. It is absolutely imperative that you get a downhill surge from your 0 line in order to be successful so that the QB can step right up into the very edge of the hole and sometimes actually right into it before transferring the ball, in any option, imo. I teach that the QB takes his deep step escape (6:00 not 4:00 or 8:00 to the backside) and GATHERS his front foot to his back foot and drives DOWNHILL directly at his read man. I THEN TELL THE QB/RB THE FOLLOWING: IF THE BALL IS STILL IN THE POINT POSITITION AT THE MESH, IT IS THE FB'S BALL, PERIOD!!! When I was first introduced to the technique all I could visualize was mass fumbles! THE EXACT OPPOSITE IS TRUE, WE REDUCED OUR FUMBLES AT THE MESH POINT BY ALMOST 100%!!! CONVERSELY, THE DIVE BACK MUST ALSO KNOW THAT IF THE BALL IS NOT THERE AND IS PULLED AT THE LAST SECOND, HE MUST NEVER REACH FOR THE BALL AS IT IS NO LONGER HIS!!! UNLESS THE FB RUNS CLEANLY THROUGH THE MESH AND CLOSES DOWN ON THE BALL IN HIS CRADLE, HE DOES NOT TOUCH THE FOOTBALL. The technique that I teach my QB's is very simple. As they drive off the gather step they hold the ball with two pressure points (both hands) directly in front of their numbers. On the inside veer it is a simple matter of escape step, gather, drive, and point the ball directly at his read. If it is there at the mesh, he simply releases the ball into the dive backs cradle and carries out his assigned fake. On the OSV, he will have to take that extra step or two because of the distance of his read (EMOLS) BUT HE MUST NEVER RUN PARALLEL TO THE LOS, HE MUST FOLLOW THAT DOWNHILL SURGE OF HIS LINE. If your line is just stalemateing and staying on the LOS, you will never have any success to speak of. Sure, even a blind hog finds an acorn every now and then, but CONSISTENCY IS THE NAME OF THE GAME. IT IS WAY TO EASY TO BEND IT BACK (qb) IF HIS PATH GETS BUBBLED ON THE OSV AS HE IS NOW AWAY FROM HIS READ. THAT IS NOT WHERE YOU WANT HIM TO BE AS IT BECOMES VERY EASY FOR THE EMLOS TO GIVE HIM A FUZZY READ AND SCREW HIS HEAD UP. If his path becomes bubbled, he must be taught to escape the penetration but recover and drive right back DOWNHILL and not stay back from the LOS. I was the QB coach at a very successful High School program in 4-AAAA football in FLorida that ran the triple out of a base mix of bone and "I". We went 33-3 the first years I was there, going 10-0 in regular season play twice. We never went back to the ride and decide ever again. I have coached this tehnique for a long time, and I unequivocally state without hesitation that the point technique is far superior, IMO. I've have just told you all there is to it, nothing more to add except the reps with your QB and FB. YOU WILL BE SURPRISED HOW FAST THE KIDS ADAPT TO IT AND PREFER IT.
The reason in my mind for the easy adaptation by the QB is it is so much easier than the other technique.
Try it and see if you like it, is all I can offer.


JC

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