qb drills

So you weren't really running bunch mesh and triangle with the stack? unless your under route is what we call a whip?
No reason to be sorry. Just an ol guy trying to really learn the passing game.

I think your whip is the same as my under - I release to the flat and return back inside. If we go the other way - inside out, we call it a snag, playing off the drag concept and the picture of snagging the route back to the outside. As far as the terminology of the bunch mesh and triangle(aka. Coverdale/Robinson concepts), I probably would fail the quiz on that material. I have read the book, excellent material, I really like Coach Coverdale, had some time with him last summer. I was brought up in a Pro Style system in college under Mike Kruczek that taught me a similar approach just with different terms, and I guess I find it easier to go with what I know, just like I told JC. My struggle with multiple bunch routes is my young QBs are a little more high maintenance than I would like, so I kind of have to set the plays up and spell it our for them. I actually did put in a few too many routes in at first and even got confused myself as to what I was calling sometimes - a common QB/Off. Coord. mistake. I structure my pass offense around a number and name scheme that sets up combinations and opportunities to get the ball into the player's hands that I want. I know I only have 2 out of the four guys on the field catching the ball that I know will be able to do something with it when they catch it, so I set them up using other routes to compliment them to get open. We will throw to the other guys, but that is window dressing, let's be honest, we want the ball in the athlete's hands.

oops doubled up by accident on my other post. JC, that is amazing that you didn't get the route package. It was extremely simple in its inception and that is what I have used at the HS level the whole time. The secret is really in the numbering and the rules - that is what made it so versatile, and possible to run with rank rookies like I had. I have tweaked it to my needs, but it functionally runs the same way as it did when I played. I just love the fact that I can call any play I want up to 3 different ways, and can add as I will because it is just memory stuff. The QB running part is a joke for me. I was not the fastest kid, but had a few games where the QB draw sure worked well. The kid I have now is slower than I was and 6 inches shorter, but he did real well. I will have a runner and thrower this season, so I am looking forward to seeing if he can really get it cranking. I have incorporated the Bowling Green/Toledo Drive packages and Valdota mesh packages into the Spread I run, but there again, it is just a concept of the same to keep it simple. Most of the defenses I see can't cover the first guy in the route, much less the 2nd. I scared a great many coaches with it, it just takes time to get the QB up to speed mechanically and the receivers on rhythm - we just missed too many people flat out, or dropped the ball. People knowing I can run the no huddle spread will spend a great deal of time preparing for it, and may find themselves crushed by my conventional running and screen game - it is actually fun to watch that work when it does

I like a three-video series on developing the QB by Bob Johnson from Mission Viejo H.S. and the Nike Elite 11 camps. The videos cover footwork, accuracy, and throwing fundamentals.

The videos have all kinds of drills that are explained in what they are looking to accomplish by doing the drill, how to do it properly, and they give demonstrations of the drills.

The videos are terrific and it is hard to argue with the success that coach Johnson has achieved through the years in developing QB's. From his own son Rob Johnson to his latest pupil Mark Sanchez, Johnson has a long list of QB's that have been very successful at all levels.

when the qb drops where should the ball be chest level or at the side up about ear level

HEY JC,
Just got back from a week of traveling(West Palm, Pensacola, Iowa). Thanks for the plug.

BEARCAT,
The location of the ball is best determined by what must happen on the throw. The height of the ball by the ear essentially does very little to help a QB. It curls his wrist, the weakest position for the wrist to be in prepass, it lowers his elbow because it hangs down, and sets up a move downward through the throw. Simple physics: In the absence of acceleration upward through the motion, the elbow is forced down and around the shoulder on the release creating an orbit motion, or 3/4 delivery of the football. You might be able to generate spin, but you effectually make over half the throws a QB is required to make much more difficult if not impossible.

The flat angle of the elbow on the turn doesn't allow the tricep to extend the arm toward the target, thus providing no foundation for touch, placement, or trajectory. I call the slashers - 1 - speed throwers because they cannot control pace for their bad angle of attack. The ball in the chest doesn't get it done either because the ball must be moved backwards at the start of the throw in order for the elbow to elevate. The ball will fall in behind the elbow, so by necessity it will have to move backward before the throw begins. This creates a large looping action on the motion, slows the release time down, and makes the timing go haywire for the delivery of the ball on time.

Ideally, the ball is pressed back off and even with the back shoulder, wrist cocked as JC described to reduce movement, double the length of the snap, set the nose up for release, remove the need for a move backwards before the motion, sets the ball for the finger roll or throwing with the finger side of the ball, and greatly enhances rotation and control. The spacing of the ball off the body a bit allows the elbow to elevate quickly to the lead position. The elbows should be fanned and level below the ball in relation to the earth.

This sustained tension on the elbow makes the QB aware of its preeminence on the move, and location throughout the motion. The ball is useless to the motion, it reflects the motion's effectiveness. Set the ball back, wrist cocked and off the body slightly, and you will notice a quicker, more powerful release right away. Don't let the open bottom nose of the ball angle past parallel to the ground with the wrist cocked. We cock it just enough to achieve what I mentioned above. The issue is feel. Awareness prepass of the elbow, and the wrist, insures that the QB is preparing for the fastest, most efficient move to the target available to him. Let me know if you have any questions about what I wrote here, I am happy to help in anyway I can.

Added thought Darin: Some woman called me from Atlanta and told me she was sending her son to Michael Vick's camp and then yours. I told her to save her money and go with your camp as I'm not a big fan of name NFL player camps unless your playing college ball.

JC