Point the ball or ride and decide

Coaches,
As an EX-QB and QB coach, IMO, there is no comparison to the two techniques. I rode the "ride and decide" for long years. Then, I found a new way that was run by Carson Newman called "the point technique" and I haven't looked back to this day and that was the fall of 1988! It is so much better than putting your arms back which is uncomfortable at best while keeping your head in the opposite direction to make your read. In the point, you take your escape step and drive DOWNHILL at your read. It is absolutely imperative that you get a downhill surge from your 0 line in order to be successful so that the QB can step right up into the very edge of the hole and sometimes actually right into it before transferring the ball, in any option, imo. I teach that the QB takes his deep step escape (6:00 not 4:00 or 8:00 to the backside) and GATHERS his front foot to his back foot and drives DOWNHILL directly at his read man. I THEN TELL THE QB/RB THE FOLLOWING: IF THE BALL IS STILL IN THE POINT POSITITION AT THE MESH, IT IS THE FB'S BALL, PERIOD!!! When I was first introduced to the technique all I could visualize was mass fumbles! THE EXACT OPPOSITE IS TRUE, WE REDUCED OUR FUMBLES AT THE MESH POINT BY ALMOST 100%!!! CONVERSELY, THE DIVE BACK MUST ALSO KNOW THAT IF THE BALL IS NOT THERE AND IS PULLED AT THE LAST SECOND, HE MUST NEVER REACH FOR THE BALL AS IT IS NO LONGER HIS!!! UNLESS THE FB RUNS CLEANLY THROUGH THE MESH AND CLOSES DOWN ON THE BALL IN HIS CRADLE, HE DOES NOT TOUCH THE FOOTBALL. The technique that I teach my QB's is very simple. As they drive off the gather step they hold the ball with two pressure points (both hands) directly in front of their numbers. On the inside veer it is a simple matter of escape step, gather, drive, and point the ball directly at his read. If it is there at the mesh, he simply releases the ball into the dive backs cradle and carries out his assigned fake. On the OSV, he will have to take that extra step or two because of the distance of his read (EMOLS) BUT HE MUST NEVER RUN PARALLEL TO THE LOS, HE MUST FOLLOW THAT DOWNHILL SURGE OF HIS LINE. If your line is just stalemateing and staying on the LOS, you will never have any success to speak of. Sure, even a blind hog finds an acorn every now and then, but CONSISTENCY IS THE NAME OF THE GAME. IT IS WAY TO EASY TO BEND IT BACK (qb) IF HIS PATH GETS BUBBLED ON THE OSV AS HE IS NOW AWAY FROM HIS READ. THAT IS NOT WHERE YOU WANT HIM TO BE AS IT BECOMES VERY EASY FOR THE EMLOS TO GIVE HIM A FUZZY READ AND SCREW HIS HEAD UP. If his path becomes bubbled, he must be taught to escape the penetration but recover and drive right back DOWNHILL and not stay back from the LOS. I was the QB coach at a very successful High School program in 4-AAAA football in FLorida that ran the triple out of a base mix of bone and "I". We went 33-3 the first years I was there, going 10-0 in regular season play twice. We never went back to the ride and decide ever again. I have coached this tehnique for a long time, and I unequivocally state without hesitation that the point technique is far superior, IMO. I've have just told you all there is to it, nothing more to add except the reps with your QB and FB. YOU WILL BE SURPRISED HOW FAST THE KIDS ADAPT TO IT AND PREFER IT.
The reason in my mind for the easy adaptation by the QB is it is so much easier than the other technique.
Try it and see if you like it, is all I can offer.

Coach Easton

Coach,

#1 question- no, because the FB is not running parallel to the los on either the ISV or OSV, he is running the "veer angle" if he is running it correctly. His eyes are focused on the football, with his aiming point being the brown spot of the PSG on the ISV and the outside hip of the PST on the OSV.

#3 question - his knuckles are at 4 yds off the ball, directly behind the QB
#4 question - your BSG had better really be quick.

Coach Easton

Coach,

I'm not trying to sell you on the point method. You can only answer these type questions by actually doing it for yourself on the field. If you ever played QB you would appreciate it a lot more, Im sure. From a coaching stand point you just have to go with what you know, and what you are comfortable with. I can only share with you what I have learned from actual on field experience since 1988, when I was introduced to the technique. I'm merely sharing my point of view, not trying to convince anyone to use my technique. Just as any technique or scheme that you use, there has to be rules that are ironclad. That happens to be one of mine for this facet of the game. If I experienced those problems that you are suggesting to any degree, I would be foolish to continue to use the technique, agreed? YOU have to do it for yourself to experience the actual
pluses and minuses of the system. In the 16 years I have used it, I have not found any reason whatsoever to change. Just my way, and the converts who have arrived at the same conclusions I did a long time ago.

Coach Easton

Coach Easton,

I also appreciate the information you have provided on this topic. I guess I was just expressing my opinion in my last post except for the one question. When your QB sees his dive read crash down does he hold the ball out until just before the mesh to sell the fake or does he automatically pull the ball in and wait for the dive back to pass him? In other words at what point does the QB pull the ball in when deciding to keep it?

I completely understand. I guess I just wasnt thinking about quickly the play develops and the fact that the fullback is by the QB in the blink of an eye. Which gives him only that split second to give or pull. At first while going through the play in my mind I was looking at it as if the QB had way more time to make a decision than he does in reality.

I am now getting the idea of this (granted ti took a while) so my only question is how far in front of the numbers does the qb hold the ball?

I'm just gonna throw my oar in here.

We installed Coach Easton's point method last season, with a lot of success. It proved to be effective and fast. But the most important point is that it contained less mechanics than the ride-and-decide method. Obviously there were landmarks and techniques to be acknowledged, but it allowed the QB (me!) to focus on these factors and on my read, rather than having to think about other mechanics. There's no mesh point, as such, which (I gather) requires endless reps to perfect - and it must be perfect.
We don't get much training time over here, so anything that can cut down on mechanics without losing effectiveness is a very good thing. The simplicity of it makes it a lot easier to explain too.

We have a stud FB who is a great ballcarrier, but unfortunately not much of a thinker. When we first brought in the ISV, he couldn't get his head around the mesh, and we spent a couple of sessions running after fumbled balls. Then I turned up one day with the point method, and told him he'll either have the ball or he won't, simple as that. Straight off - from the very first rep - there were no fumbles, he ran his path with confidence and the ISV worked the way it was designed to - ie beautifully.

Coach Easton - I am interested in the Point the Ball method - If I understood your info on the footwork for inside veer the QB steps at 6 o'clock, gathers(we call it "Click") and then attacks downill at the dive key(4i,4,5,6i,6). Is this correct?
Also how far does the QB extend his arms? Is it full extension like the mesh. We had trouble this year with the inside veer and have had mesh problems off and on with certain players. I think this would help our FB's to know whether they were getting the ball or not and eliminate the soft squeeze which some of our kids had trouble with. Would also allow them to hit the hole at full speed- which we coached but did not always get because of the player's worry about the mesh and ride.

COACH VARLEY,

ANSWER TO YOUR FIRST QUESTION: YES!
ANSWER TO YOUR SECOND QUESTION: THE QB AFTER STEPPING ON HIS RELEASE GATHERS THE BALL WITH 2 PRESSURE POINTS TO HIS CHEST (ABOUT 2 INCHES IN FRONT ACTUALLY)AS HE STEPS TO THE LIP OF THE HOLE. IF THE DT IS IN A 4 HE MUST NOW READ HIM (4I =AUTOMATIC PULL 5= AUTOMATIC GIVE). AS THE QB REACHES THE MESH POINT, HE FLASH POINTS THE FOOTBALL DIRECTLY AT HIS READ. IF THE BALL IS STILL EXTEND(FULL EXTENSION OF THE BALL BY THE QB) WHEN THE FB MESHES IT IS HIS, PERIOD. IF IT IS A PULL, HE WILL FLASH POINT HIS FIRST READ AND PULL IT INSTANTLY AND GET UP FIELD TO HIS NEXT READ. VERY IMPORTANT COACHING POINT= YOUR FB MUST BE COACHED TO RUN TO THE EXTENDED FOOTBALL! THIS INSURES YOUR QB WITH ARMS FULLY EXTENDED WILL NOT BE HIT BY THE FB IN THE ELBOW AREA AND DROP THE BALL!!! GIVE IT A TRY, I REALLY THINK YOU WILL LIKE IT. IF YOU DON'T, NOTHING VENTURED, NOTHING GAINED.

SLS, THATS ALL I HAVE TO OFFER, THATS IT IN A NUTSHELL. I HAVE NOT BEEN TO CARSON NEWMAN IN QUITE A FEW YEARS NOW, BUT IF THEY RUN THE OPTION I WOULD BE WILLING TO BET THEY POINT IT, RATHER THAN RIDE IT. HOPE THIS HELPS Y'ALL.

Coach Easton

Thanks, Coaches!

COACH VARLEY,

IF I CAN HELP ALONG THE WAY, DON'T HESITATE TO ASK. HAVE YOU HAD YOUR QB AND BACKS RUN THROUGH IT YET? IS THAT PERMISSABLE WHERE YOU ARE LOCATED THIS TIME OF THE YEAR? WHERE DO YOU COACH AGAIN? REP IT AND REP IT UNTIL IT JUST BECOMES SECOND NATURE TO THEM. I HONESTLY BELIEVE YOUR QB WILL COME TO PREFER THE TECHNIQUE IN SHORT ORDER! IF YOU WANT TO CHAT JUST EMAIL ME AT: coacheaston@hotmail.com or jerryeaston1@aol.com or call me at 864-716-9935 residence or 864-958-5945 ( cell ).

Coach Easton

Coach Easton,

Now, have you used this technique out of any type of shotgun spread option? If not, do you think it is adaptable to this type of option? Just curious...

ju