QB Footwork

I assume they are talking about his plant step (back foot) before the ball is delivered. 3 O'clock seems a little odd to describe it, but I'm sure works. The idea is to get the QB cheated to the side he is throwing to by getting him off of the center line of his drop on his last step...not a sprint out. You sacrifice about 1/2 yd in the depth of the drop, but gain efficiency in the delivery and timing of the throw. If the QB is rt handed throwing a 3 step pattern to his right, his rt foot will plant (heel at an angle) on the right side of the center line (dropping on a straight line directly behind center). This shortens up the 3rd step in the drop, but gets the Q in a better position to deliver the ball. It is important that the Q stays on line until this step or it starts to become sloppy and looks like a bad roll out, loses passing lanes, leaves protected area. He needs to understand that he 1) must still get as much depth as possible with the get away (1st step) 2) stay online until plant 3) shorten the 3rd step. This keeps him inside his protection and also gets him away from the LOS. Hope this helps...it is easier to show it than describe it in words! I think I have some diagrams that I created for QB manual.

I assume 3 and firm would mean three step drop and throwing off the 3rd step without any forward gather steps, sometimes called a hard drop. One big step back, short crossover step, third step is a short plant then throw. I assume the "passing clock" refers to the timing of the route. That stick route is a quick route usually paired with a 3 step drop. Please post if you find out differently.

kd

What do you guys think about backing the qb out on his drops. I know it isn't done as often anymore, and I was curious what its major detractors are. It seems like a right handed qb could throw to his left easier. He would have to shift his feet to throw to the right, but I think it would still be more natural to do this for a right handed qb. You also get the benefits of the QB staring straight down the middle and being able to see the field better(blitzes and/or open receivers).

Coach pdow27, is your passing game primarily based on 5-7 step drops? Does the back pedal drop change/influence your protection schemes?

Pdow,

you said when your QB was throwing to the right he would back out. Was that because he was left-handed? Did you back out all the time or just to the right?

also, what are some of your coaching points for getting the QB to do this properly with good depth.

Coach:

I do not teach a back-pedal drop. When throwing away from the arm side, we open with the foot across the midline. The second step is at a 45 degree angle to the LOS, and step three we execute a "heel pop" which places the foot perpendicular to the LOS. We then say "knee to chest" to open for the throw.

Chin and spine angle are critical to throwing the football properly, which is why we don't back out or use a "bucket step" to throw away from the arm side (backside).

Coach Lyle

Dan Henning ("OC" of the Carolina Panthers) uses the following passing clock:

12 0'clock is directly over the QB's head:

A) On deep passes ("UP route" etc.) QB releases the ball at 10 o'clock (before it reaches the yop of his head).
B) On intermediate routes (12-14 yd routes) QB releases the ball at 12 o'clock (directly over his head).
C) On short routes (6 yd hitch, etc.) QB releases the ball at 2 o'clock (out in front of his head).

I worked QB Camps with Dan for 5 years, & he is one of the best ever! Marino said Henning was the best QB Coach he ever played for. Dan is a disciple of Sid Gillman (having played foe "El Sid" with the Chargers!

Bill Mountjoy