ATTN; QUARTERBACK COACHES

The two things I look for--maybe more intangiables than trained--are leadership and mental toughness. As far as "trainables," I'd say footwork and the initial read responsiblitity (what they need to do the first two seconds of the play), run or pass.

Step one, IMO, is to talk to your JV coach and/or pull JV tapes from last year. See what the kid does well and is comfortable with and install that first. This will be good for his confidence AND his teammates' confidence in him. A real morale problem can occur if some/all lack confidence in the teams ability to win with this QB.

A related question: How do you deal with not knowing who your #1 QB will be going into fall practice? Do you set a firm deadline to declare a starter? Do you let the two (or more) boys know the deadline? How do you split up practice reps? etc.

Coach Easton,

We do not have spring practice in NY so we will not have any basis to choose a starter before going into fall. I do not think we should arbitrarily choose one now as neither candidate has a varsity start.

I like your idea of keeping stats.

I expect both of them to be at the team camp we go to in July so maybe we can start to get an idea there (if one or the other doesn't go I guess our problem is solved). The one kid is a senior who is smart and has paid his dues as a back-up but is limited athletically. The other is faster and has a stronger arm but is only a sophomore.

I assume you are against any kind of platoon?

-Scott

Coach Easton,

Thanks for the advice.

-Scott

Work HARD on the following. In particular - do things to determine IF your QB has these qualities. The BEST thing is just have him throw TO HIS RECEIVERS. QB drills WITHOUT the receivers are largely a waste of time!

1. The timing of the delivery is essential. It is the single most important item to successful passing.

2. If you cannot co-ordinate eye and arm to get the ball at it’s intended spot properly and on time, you are not a passer.

You can only determine these qualities throwing to RECEIVERS!

Jerry - we feel there is a BIG difference in "passing ability", & being able to work out timing with receivers. A lot of GOOD passers never get THAT down. We STRESS what Coryell & Fouts did with the Chargers:

A) Receivers must adjust to the QB - not the other way around. They must be WHERE the QB expects him to be - WHEN the QB expects him to be there.

B) RECEIVERS MUST NEVER FOOL THE QB

NOTE: To achieve THIS - it takes a WHOLE LOT OF WORK. That is why our QB is selected for his ability to: "co-ordinate eye and arm to get the ball at it’s intended spot properly and on time"! We don't have TIME to teach much else!!!!!!! Famous Sid Gillman quote: "PASSING IS TIMING. IT'S THE ABILITY TO STAND IN THERE AND TAKE A CHANCE ON A BEATING BY THE PASS RUSH UNTIL THE RIGHT TIME COMES TO LET GO OF THE BALL. NOTHING IS IMPORTANT EXCEPT RELEASING THE BALL AT THE RIGHT INSTANT. THEREFORE, ACCURACY MEANS LESS THAN GUTS"! We spend MOST of our time putting our QB's in situations to get good on THAT!!!!!!!


OUR QB's have to do only 3 things:

#1 THINK (IN ORDER TO DO THIS - HE MUST HAVE HAVE COURAGE, CONFIDENCE, CONCENTRATION)

#2 PASS

#3 HAND OFF

We run NO option, & we don't like scrambling QB's.

PS: JOHN UNITAS: "THE 3 MOST IMPORTANT ATTRIBUTES FOR QB'S ARE: 1. COURAGE; 2. CONFIDENCE; 3. CONCENTRATION. THESE ARE THE "3 C's OF QUARTERBACKING"!

Our feeling is that if QB can PASS, & someone else can RUN - they are defending more than 1 kid. We also feel to ask a QB to WIN for you with both his arm & legs is unrealistic (at least, for us). We spread it around with the QB's passing, the RB (& H) running, & WR screens, etc.

Like you said - in "Empty" - you DO need some running from the QB.