Post by Coach Campbell on Dec 17, 2023 22:48:21 GMT
CENTER'S STANCE AND EXCHANGE FROM UNDER CENTER, GUN or PISTOL: The stance that I teach the offensive center is a three-point stance with weight distributed evenly over the "full bottom" of both feet, with little weight forward with very little weight placed on the football itself.
Under Center Base: Slightly wider than the shoulders with the feet perpendicular to the L.O.S. using only a slight stagger.
Base When QB is Gun: I have our center maintain his same stance as he would if under center the only difference I have him drop his tail below parallel so when he snaps the football it keeps the ball down.
Feet: The feet must be parallel as much as possible but never more than 2 to 3-inch stagger.
Shoulders - Back - Tail: Shoulders must stay square to the L.O.S. with the back parallel to the ground if quarterback is under center but, if in gun the center can drop his tail below parallel to keep the ball snapped at the belt buckle of the quarterback.
Initial Movement: We want the center to explode out of his stance with his near playside foot when exploding out to block or as it applies to the run blocking scheme. DO NOT ANTICIPATE THE SNAP COUNT. Snapping the ball early penalizes the rest of the offensive linemen by giving the defense an advantage. Snap the ball on the proper command.
Position of the Ball: The ball should be placed slightly to the right eye and forward of the center's head. Extending the ball in front of you will give you better cut-off angles if snapped with the quarterback under center, if snapping to a quarterback who is in gun or pistol depth the center now can drop his tail which in turn moves the back instead of forward on the snap
The Grip: The football is placed so that the laces are facing up. Grip the ball by placing your right thumb between the second and third lace nearest the front end of the ball. The fingers and palm of the hand will grip the ball on the side to have complete control of the ball. The arm should be extended with your wrist straight. NEVER allow your arm to be bent, as this will cause a bad snap.
Effecting the Snap: Snap the ball by turning the wrist one-quarter turn without bending your elbows. This should be one quick movement and is a lifting action. Slap the ball against the quarterback’s hand. The quarterback should take the ball from you - NEVER throw the ball to the quarterback. Snapping and stepping with the proper foot should be one of continuous movement. The Center must be the quarterback of the offensive line. The center is responsible for making calls recognizing defensive fronts and alerting the rest of the offensive line to all changes. The center must have a clear understanding of the concept of plays used in the offense. The center must make calls loud and clear!
Effecting the Snap When QB is in a Gun Set: The ball should be placed slightly to the right eye and forward of the center's head, grasping the football is if throwing it. When the center brings the ball back he will slap the inside of his right thigh this will keep the ball from be snapped to high and will keep the snap of the ball at the belt buckle of the center.
ALIGNMENT AND SPLITS - "THE LITTLE THINGS" make the difference. For an offense line to be successful with its plays, they need to play smart. Understanding splits as it applies to the inside run and outside run becomes an important factor. An offensive lineman needs to understand that a wider split helps the inside game and, in some instances, the passing game which will be addressed later in this manual a tighter split benefits the outside game (helps restrict the defense). Certain plays that require combination blocks by two adjoining linemen must have a sense about themselves when working together.
Under Center Base: Slightly wider than the shoulders with the feet perpendicular to the L.O.S. using only a slight stagger.
Base When QB is Gun: I have our center maintain his same stance as he would if under center the only difference I have him drop his tail below parallel so when he snaps the football it keeps the ball down.
Feet: The feet must be parallel as much as possible but never more than 2 to 3-inch stagger.
Shoulders - Back - Tail: Shoulders must stay square to the L.O.S. with the back parallel to the ground if quarterback is under center but, if in gun the center can drop his tail below parallel to keep the ball snapped at the belt buckle of the quarterback.
Initial Movement: We want the center to explode out of his stance with his near playside foot when exploding out to block or as it applies to the run blocking scheme. DO NOT ANTICIPATE THE SNAP COUNT. Snapping the ball early penalizes the rest of the offensive linemen by giving the defense an advantage. Snap the ball on the proper command.
Position of the Ball: The ball should be placed slightly to the right eye and forward of the center's head. Extending the ball in front of you will give you better cut-off angles if snapped with the quarterback under center, if snapping to a quarterback who is in gun or pistol depth the center now can drop his tail which in turn moves the back instead of forward on the snap
The Grip: The football is placed so that the laces are facing up. Grip the ball by placing your right thumb between the second and third lace nearest the front end of the ball. The fingers and palm of the hand will grip the ball on the side to have complete control of the ball. The arm should be extended with your wrist straight. NEVER allow your arm to be bent, as this will cause a bad snap.
Effecting the Snap: Snap the ball by turning the wrist one-quarter turn without bending your elbows. This should be one quick movement and is a lifting action. Slap the ball against the quarterback’s hand. The quarterback should take the ball from you - NEVER throw the ball to the quarterback. Snapping and stepping with the proper foot should be one of continuous movement. The Center must be the quarterback of the offensive line. The center is responsible for making calls recognizing defensive fronts and alerting the rest of the offensive line to all changes. The center must have a clear understanding of the concept of plays used in the offense. The center must make calls loud and clear!
Effecting the Snap When QB is in a Gun Set: The ball should be placed slightly to the right eye and forward of the center's head, grasping the football is if throwing it. When the center brings the ball back he will slap the inside of his right thigh this will keep the ball from be snapped to high and will keep the snap of the ball at the belt buckle of the center.
ALIGNMENT AND SPLITS - "THE LITTLE THINGS" make the difference. For an offense line to be successful with its plays, they need to play smart. Understanding splits as it applies to the inside run and outside run becomes an important factor. An offensive lineman needs to understand that a wider split helps the inside game and, in some instances, the passing game which will be addressed later in this manual a tighter split benefits the outside game (helps restrict the defense). Certain plays that require combination blocks by two adjoining linemen must have a sense about themselves when working together.