QB Stance

Hi Coach Campbell!

I consider the QB Stance much like the Grip, in that there is not just one perfect one, but there are some core principles that need to be addressed.

First of all the QB needs be comfortable and balanced (though with slightly more weight on his pivot/drive foot).

I teach a stance that is only slightly staggered- back foot (Left foot for right-hander) is no further back than the heel of the front foot.  I also like a little wider base than most, though never wider than the center’s feet. A staggered stance will help the QB get quicker separation and theoretically avoid being stepped on and tripped by his own linemen. Be careful here though, as I have seen QB’s stagger in the direction they are opening to, thus giving an early key for the ‘Bad Guys’ to take advantage of. This obviously, is to be avoided at all costs. The stance must remain the same regardless of the play call or opening direction.

What’s more important for me is what the QB does with his feet as the ball is being snapped. A lot of young QB’s will take a ‘false’ step forward (with pivot foot) as the ball is being snapped, thus defeating the purpose of staggering his feet. I believe the most efficient way to get out from under center is to pivot and drive with the back foot (left foot for Right-handers). I tell young QB’s to imagine two things: 1. That the pivot foot is nailed to the ground but allowed to pivot, and 2. That he has a rope tied to his left (for right-handers) butt cheek, and when he drives out someone is pulling the rope down and back. This helps in keeping him low and driving backwards as opposed to raising up from his stance.

Another point to address is Body Position.  You often see younger QB’s bent over looking at the backs of their centers. As with almost all things involving QB body position, I teach that the lower body should be low and the upper body should be up. From the waist up he must stand tall to get a better view of what the ‘Bad Guys’ are up to, while keeping his hips low to maximize leg use. If he is bent over looking at the back of his center he won’t be able to pick up a blitz tendency or pre-snap read, and will end up with a helmet in his back or chest a few seconds later because of it. Either of these two results make it VERY difficult to complete the pass.