Ball Handling & Faking

They must all act as if the ball were actually being exchanged.

1. No over-exaggeration on size of handoff pocket, rolling of arms, extension of ball, level of pitch, or throwing up the arms to simulate catching a pitch. They must all go through the same technique and motions they would go through on the exchange they are faking

2. Faking RB must keep pad level down (we say "show em your shoulders") but chin and eyes up. Lots of backs tend to drop their eyes to the ground when they fake. Keep the eyes up as if reading the point of attack.

3. Burst through the hole, pumping knees high. If the back fakes and quickly slows and "pops up," you've not faked out anyone

4. Have the QB fake right in the RB's pocket, and as the back runs by, have the QB's head and eyes follow him for a second as he moves to his next assignment.

5. Make sure the QB is hiding his hands immediately after executing a fake.

Have the QB learn to make both handoffs and fakes look identical. The ball is extended with two hands once he has seated it and started back, he runs the stomach side hand into cloth and then pulls it to his hip flexor, the ball hand absorbs the impact of the handoff staying attached until it is secured and the head snaps forward on the back in case the ball is fumbled so the QB can react. If the ball is extended with one hand you announce a probability of handing off, and the exposure to RB interference on the fake is substantial - It could hit the elbow, hip, etc. This consistency also sets up a solid play action scenario. The PA is the same, but the QB will show ball early in the extension, but then pull it back with this stomach side hand just before the ball enters the pocket. The fake hand goes into the belly and the head snaps forward to follow as before. The ball is hooked into the wrist and put on the hip flexor line from hip to crotch with the elbow in - three points of contact for control - hand, wrist, and leg. This is on an iso play action - don't show the ball too soon after it has been faked. We are wanting to arrest the progress of the backside End. We need him unsure on every play where the ball is, because we aren't usually blocking him and his angle is the most direct to us. We are solid playside, but if the End sees the ball, then the QB is exposed too early. He must learn to secure the ball without it getting too far back on the hip. The RBs body will block the playside sight line to the ball and the QB's body blocks it from the back side. All we need is for the end to take one bad step and we got them. Now, on bootleg action, we want to perform the same hand and head action on the fake, but the ball will be taken across the body to the opposite hip flexor. Show ball and carry the fake into the offside hip flexor, so the end away from the direction of the fakes only sees our hand and head look like we gave it up. We only need him guessing or a split second and then we break contain make the throw. The work on this type action is valuable and effective. Good Luck

Yo Darin,

Been missing your posts! I think your opening sentence really stresses the most important part of any fake, TWO PRESSURE POINTS ON THE BALL AT ALL TIMES TO AVOID THE PITFALLS OF FLYING ELBOWS, BACKS RUNNING TO QB'S ELBOWS INSTEAD OF THE BALL, ETC. Just as Bill says about James Farrior, any LB worth his salt is not doing anything but ignoring an empty handed fake in this day and time.

Not showing the ball to the backside end on the boot is paramount to success, imo, and the way you describe to make it look like you gave it up is excellent.

Coach Easton

Lochness,

That's the beauty of the belly when it is run right! Speed and deception and a magician at the QB spot!

Coach Easton

Rooster,

I Like that tip.

Coach Easton

Hey Darin,

Sorry not to get back to your last post about hooking up some time in the future, but with my schedule I can't even commit to a coke in a local soda shoppe! Between league meetings, practices (we are on the field 5 days a week now at staggard times) I will keep you posted as best I can for future get together.
My computer must not have the right stuff to pull up the video upload, as I get nothing. Sure wish I could have gotten it. Did you ever play for Coach McDowell or just Coach Krusik while at UCF? Bill said he thought you may have played for Gene, but I could only attest to Coach Krusik. How have the camps been going?

JC

JC

Hey Darin,

All going well here, just busting our tails to get ready as we fall out for the first time on the 21st. Glad to hear the camp went well, I know that is a lot of personal satisfaction to watch the young guys progress!
Will check with you and let you know how we are doing. It's 2 in the morning, time to end a long day! I think I am the happiest 64 year old you ever saw getting to do what I do, and I thank the good Lord for the privilege of doing it!!!

JC