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AFM Magazine


15 Key Tips for Effective Drop Back Passing

by: Steve Axman
Quarterback Coach, University of Washington
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Over the years, I have found fifteen key tips, or points, in regard to the coaching of effective drop back passing fundamentals. Although they are treated individually, they are fundamentals that build upon one another in an effort to produce a smooth, coordinated execution of the drop back pass action. It is the interrelation of the execution of these drop back passing fundamental tips that helps to produce effective drop back passing.

1. Athletic Stance - A quarterback's stance, once he has dropped back, should look much like a boxer's stance with the exception of the hold of the ball in the vicinity of the top of the quarterback's back breast. Feet should be shoulder width apart. There should be a slight bend in the knees with a feeling of the quarterback's upper body weight being displaced predominately over the balls of the feet. However, the quarterback "digs in" on the inside of his back foot as he readies himself to step forward with a back foot push-off to deliver the pass.

2. Grip Football With "Air" - Due to the variety of quarterback's hand sizes, quarterbacks will vary their hand grip positioning on the football (the smaller the hand, the further to the back/the larger the hand, the further towards the middle) placing as many fingers across the laces as possible to enhance ball control. The football should actually be gripped by the fingertips to help produce accuracy and a tight spiral. And, there should be "air" between the palm of the hand and the football for the same reasons. A "palmed" football will mean a nose down football when thrown.

3. Two-Handed Hold of Football - In his athletic passing stance, the quarterback should hold the football with two hands for security purposes. In addition, two hands on the football helps to allow for an authoritative push of the football backwards by the front hand to start the actual throwing motion.

4. High Carriage of the Football - Whether held directly in the middle of the body or, preferably, towards the back breast, the two handed hold of the ball should be above the quarterback's sternum. Such a higher hold of the ball helps lift the quarterback's shoulders and arms. Such action raises the throwing platform (the shoulders and tops of the arms) to aid a quicker release since the football will now have less of a distance to be drawn back to in the actual throwing motion. In addition, it helps to facilitate a high, circular, over-the-top release. A low hold of the football slows the actual release of the ball. In addition, it is a common reason for a pass that takes off high since the quarterback is hindered in his ability to come all the way through on his circular, over-the-top throwing motion.

5. Back Elbow Up - In the high carriage of the football, the back elbow should be held slightly up and away from the body torso. Such action helps to produce level throwing shoulders. Level throwing shoulders help to properly transfer the weight of the quarterback's throwing motion from the back to the front foot once the actual throwing motion begins. A back elbow tucked in tightly to the body is a major reason for back foot throwing, producing high and/or fluttering passes that are lessened in power.

6. Fully Drawn Back Shoulder - The quarterback's back shoulder should be fully drawn back in the athletic passing stance. A fully drawn back shoulder eliminates the need for having to draw the shoulder back further once the actual throwing motion begins. Having to draw the shoulder back further once the passing action begins is another reason for a slowed release.

7. Shoulders Perpendicular to Target - The quarterback must position his feet so that his shoulders are perpendicular to the pass target. (Remember, the pass target may be directly at the receiver or at a spot that intersects the receiver's route course.) If the pass target is straight downfield, then a perpendicular positioning would have the quarterback's feet pointing out directly to the sidelines. If the pass target is to the left or right of straight downfield, the quarterback must adjust his feet accordingly so that he has a perpendicular positioning to the pass target, wherever it may be.

8. Read With Feet - As the quarterback scans left or right, he must reposition himself (his feet) left or right so that he maintains a perpendicular positioning to this pass target. As a result he "reads with his feet" as well as with his eyes.

9. Firm Wrist on Draw of Ball - As the quarterback draws the football back for actual pass delivery, he must maintain a firm, almost locked, hold of his wrist. Breaking the wrist at the furthest point of the draw is a major reason for pass wobble if the quarterback cannot firm his wrist back up in time before the football is released.

10. Step Just Beyond Pass Target - The forward pass is initially directed by the front, lead step foot. The quarterback drives off the inside of his back foot with a directional step using front whip to help the upper torso towards the pass target. The front foot should step JUST BEYOND the pass target spot to allow for a free movement of the quarterback's hips. Stepping too far beyond the target spot can produce an unnatural pulling of the ball across the quarterback's body. Stepping under the target spot forces the quarterback to fight through blocked hips.

11. Short, Controlled Directional Step - The quarterback steps just beyond the pass target with a short, controlled directional step. He initially hits on his front heel. However, he quickly rolls his body over the ball of the front foot. An elongated front footstep results in a locked out leg and a pulling downward action of the passed football.

12. Drive Ball With Chest - By driving the passing action of the football with the chest at the pass target spot, the quarterback is able to provide maximum total power to the pass itself. In addition, it helps to combine with the stepping action just beyond the pass target and the follow through of the throwing hand to efficiently direct all body parts at the pass target in a coordinated fashion. Some coaches emphasize back hip whip instead of the chest. However, a quarterback can drive the ball with the back hip and still keep his weight on his back foot, producing back foot throwing. An additional advantage of driving the ball with the chest is that on finesse type passes, the pass is provided power by the body as the arm and hand action "finesse" the football. Without such body power, the finesse pass may lack the necessary power it needs to be effective.

13. Over-The-Top Release - The release of the football in the passing action is a high, over-the-top release over the top of the ear. It is much like a baseball catcher's peg to second base. Every quarterback will have his own release point and angle off of center. However, the high, over-the-top release helps to get the pass over the hands of the rushing defenders. In addition, it helps to provide maximum leverage to the circular motion of the passing action.

14. Index Finger Follow Through - As was previously mentioned, passing hand follow through is the third aspect of directing the passed football (along with stepping just beyond the pass target spot and driving the ball with your chest.) When the football is released, sliding off the index finger last, the wrist should be firm and straight, but not locked. For extra power, the quarterback can actually snap the football off at the wrist. However, a breakage at the wrist can be a major reason for inaccuracy or wobble of the football. The index finger follows through to the pass target spot as the thumb rolls down naturally towards the opposite pocket area of the quarterback. On scramble, reset or throwing on the run action when the quarterback cannot step towards the pass target, the quarterback must emphasize EXTRA index finger follow through off of a high over-the-top release.

15. High Trajectory Pass to Zenith Point - Throwing a deep pass with high trajectory necessitates an adjustment to the normal passing action. Instead of a level-throwing platform, the quarterback drops his back shoulder (raising up his front shoulder). The back elbow does tighten in towards the body slightly. The key to throwing a proper deep pass in which the nose of the football turns over so that the football drops in to its target spot with power is to direct the passed football to the zenith point. The zenith point is the highest point that the quarterback wants the football to pass through. As a result, the quarterback directional steps, drives the football and follows through to the zenith point. A major key is the drive of the football to the zenith point with the chest to prevent sitting and throwing off of the back foot. Back foot throwing action forces a nose up football in which the football doesn't turn over and dies, descending without power.






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