Arm Strength

I agree with Coach Lyle that some throwing drills can do as much as anything for your QB. All the classics: throwing on a knee, wrong leg forward, etc.

One of my favorites that actually builds "arm strength" in terms of actual throwing power are two things that improve the shifting of weight and balance. The first, the QB will stand facing his target, shoulders squared up, with his feet touching or almost touching. He will keep them firmly planted as he leans far over while performing his throw to his target. He will continue leaning forward during and even after the throw to the point where so as to not fall flat on his face he will have to step out and catch himself, which of course he will do. (This should be the normal leg that comes through when he throws.) This is great for the shifting of weight forward.

The next is one to do at the end of drops. Have the QB complete his 3, 5 and maybe 7 step drops, and when his 3rd or 5th step hit, have that foot just stop completely and his front foot should be completely off the ground. He should be able to easily land on that back foot, sit there, hold it for anywhere from three to eight seconds until you say throw, upon which he will complete his throw. Usually when QBs do this they do some funny things, like they are about to fall backwards or fall forwards or all kinds of things, but when they can do a full speed normal drop, land on the back foot and just stand there, completely ready to throw, with their front foot in the air, then you have eliminated them from throwing off their back foot and being out of balance as well as the other common problem at the end of drops, which is having too much weight on the front foot, leaving no room for the shifting of the weight. This drill naturally eliminates these two problems, which are huge culprits for sucking the "arm strength" out of your QB.

As far as in the gym, we like medicine balls, and one we got from Spurrier back in like 93 was improving finger strength by chest-passing a basketball off a wall a thousand times or so.

Also, as far as lifting, biceps are useless, but the tricep is a good place to start. One we like is to have them lay on a bench and grab a freeweight and have them hold it over their head and then lower and raise it behind their head with both hands. Works the tri's, shoulders and chest. (They need to work the whole body. Situps and crunches along with lower back excercises are important. Like a golf swing, a throw by a QB is a full body motion.)

Finally, one lift we have them do is lay on their side and roll up a small towel and put it under the armpit if the arm that is in the air. They will take a 5 pound weight (no reason to do a lot) and, keeping their elbow tucked tight, drape their arm across their body so the arm is at a 90 degree angle, then they will extend the arm out without raising or bending the elbow. This will help the rotator cuff, which may have some impact, difficult to say how significant, but it greatly reduces the risk of injuring their rotator cuff, which is common in both football and baseball.

Hope that helps.

I subscribe to june jones philosophy throw,throw and throw somemore.

another great device which really increases arm strenth is call the shoulder horn. it allows a person to increase the throwing muscles in the shoulder. light weight and high reps. it greatly can increase the rotate cuff.

Go onto the "Unofficial West Coast Offense" site. You can download a manual used by major league baseball pitchers & NFL QB's to strengthen arms.