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AFM Magazine

AFM Magazine


Advanced Level Techniques for Today\'s Quarterback

by: Jeff hancock
Tight Ends Coach, Grand Valley State Uni
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I have had the fortune of coaching at many different levels through the years. One thing that I have found is that at the ‘Non D-I levels’ it is hard to find a quarterback with good mechanics. The higher levels take their pick from the kids that are gifted athletically as well as mechanically. This becomes especially tough when you run an offense that revolves around the pass.

This article will focus on what I believe to be the proper mechanics of the QB throw. From the set-up/stance to the follow through, I have broken down the QB throw into 4 different phases. Obviously, there are phases leading up to the set-up/stance depending on the type of drop and whether your QB is going out of the ‘gun’ or under center. The four phases include: stance, cocking or loading phase, throw or ‘acceleration’ phase, and finally the follow-through phase.

The Stance Phase
The first phase picks up the last step in a QB drop. With this phase the QB will stand with his feet shoulder-width apart, side facing with his eyes on the target. The football is held up by the ear with both hands on the football, knees slightly bent to afford for bounce if the need arises in change of direction. The rest of the body is upright, with the center of gravity centered over the feet. Both feet should be perpendicular to the imaginary line from the QB to the intended target. The purpose of this phase is to achieve balance and stability to prepare for the second phase (See Photo 1).


Photo 1

Key coaching points for this phase include: weight balanced between feet that are shoulder width apart, knees slightly bent, and ball being held up by the ear with both hands.

The Cocking/Loading Phase
With this step the QB will rotate his hips back slightly, cock shoulders back, and bring the ball up and back while raising his elbows. The elbow of the throwing arm will be further back than the ball in this phase. The QB will continue to keep his eyes on the intended target in this phase. The purpose is to create the greatest potential energy build-up for maximum force delivery incorporating the entire body during the ‘acceleration phase’ (See Photo 2).


Photo 2

Key coaching points for this phase include: hip rotation, bring the ball back and up, keeping throwing shoulder further back than the ball, and both knees slightly bent while keeping weight evenly balanced.

The Throw/Acceleration Phase
From the cocked position the transfer of weight can begin by taking a step with the front foot into the direction the QB is going to throw. This will help transfer the ‘rotary’ motion of the upper body into ‘linear’ motion. The ‘uncoiling’ of the hips and shoulders must begin at the same time the QB is taking the step with his front foot and pushing off his back foot. He must also bring his non-throwing arm out and across his body without stopping, thus helping in gaining momentum for the hips and shoulders to turn. All of this is done quickly and with the eyes on the intended target.

A lot of mechanical problems that young QB’s have are in this phase. The first and most obvious problem is the ‘locking’ of the front leg. This will cause the QB to halt the motion of the lower body and force the throw to become ‘all upper body’ (See Photo 3). QB’s that have a problem with this will tend to have their balls sail high and also create more soreness than normal in the throwing arm. Another reason the QB doesn’t want to lock out his front leg is that if he were able to take a shot from a defender on that leg there is no give to prevent injury. As this type of throwing motion continues to go unchanged, they will have the feeling of coming up and over with the ball and their non-throwing arm will simulate this motion instead of coming out and across the body in a nice, fluid motion (See Photo 4).


Photo 3


Photo 4

Another problem that arises in a lot of QB’s is when they have their knee bent too much in the previous two phases. In other words they didn’t ‘climb the hill’ on their drop; rather, they sank down and ‘sat in the bucket’ (See Photo 5). In some cases this is what causes trouble in a hurry in that the QB ‘opens’ up his front leg too much. The front foot should be pointing at the intended target with a step by the front leg in that direction (See Photo 6). This type of step by the QB will usually result in the ball sailing wide especially for a right-hander throwing to his left and vice versa.


Photo 5


Photo 6

Key coaching points for this phase including pointing the front foot at the intended target, keeping eyes on target, coinciding transfer of weight from back foot to front foot with rotation of upper body, and ‘throwing ball from ear.’ Make sure the QB is not opening up too much or stepping out too far (See Photo 7).


Photo 7

The Follow Through Phase
The final phase is known as the Follow Through Phase. This phase should find the QB bringing his throwing arm through the throw with thumb of throwing hand pointing down to “opposite pant pocket” as the upper body comes through and leans forward with a slight bend in the front leg. The back foot will naturally be lifted off the ground to help balance the thrower (creating an “S” like shape with throwing arm and leg) as the non-throwing arm swings off to the side to straighten the hips and shoulders so that the body is facing the target. The eyes will have continued to stay on the intended target through all four phases. This final phase, in bio mechanical terms would be considered “extension at release.” If it is advantageous for a move to be compact at the beginning of the propulsive phase (Cocking Phase), they should be extended or stretched at the end (Follow Through). Also with a resultant effect, a proper follow through will allow ball to be more accurate because it will cut down tendency to deviate from desire direction (See Photo 8).


Photo 8

Key coaching points for this phase include: lead arm should continue coming across body to help balance body with thumb of throwing hand pointing down, throwing arm should also continue through the throw, and body of QB should be facing the intended target when finished.

Finally, here are a few other things that are important to know to successfully throw a football:

Throwing Hand Placement on Football
Although I have seen many successful QB’s hold a football differently based on hand size and type of ball, generally the throwing hand should be placed with the middle and ring finger just over the laces, with the little finger just touching the laces. The index finger should be above the laces usually placed somewhere around the “white stripe.” The thumb should be placed just far enough away to still have some “daylight” between the palm and the football (See Photo 9). QB’s that “palm” the ball (palm touching the ball) tend to throw a wobbly ball without much spiral.


Photo 9

Taking Good Drops
There are many different ways involving different terminology to describe and coach a successful three and five-step drop. The way that I have always explained a three-step drop is with one big “separation” step opening at “six o’clock” to get the QB away from the line of scrimmage. The following two steps are “gather” steps to get the QB set up to throw the football. On the QB’s third step he should be in position for the first phase (The Stance Phase) described above. With the two gather steps the QB should find his feet shoulder width apart with body weight centered over feet. Another important aspect to teach in the drop is to “climb the hill.” This means that as the QB drops he will rise up so that as he hits his third step he will be standing as tall as he can be while still having a slight bend in both knees.

A good way to start teaching a drop is to have a straight line painted on the field so that the QB works on dropping straight back. This can become a problem when the QB isn’t stepping at “six o’clock” on all three steps. Drifting can become a real problem in a hurry when they drift into the path of a rushing DE. With this drill you want to make sure that the QB isn’t leaning back on the third step. This happens when the QB gets the momentum of his upper body going faster than his lower body (See Photo 10).


Photo 10

The five-step drop involves three “separation” steps while ending with two “gather” steps. I have seen many different ways to take a five-step drop, but this is the one that I have found that works the best for us.

When taking a snap from the shotgun position the timing for a three-step throw works out with the QB taking the snap, resetting his feet, and throwing. A five-step drop usually times up with two reset steps by the QB when throwing.

Using “Eyes as a Weapon”
When explaining the four phases of a QB throw I indicated that the QB’s eyes should be on the intended target. This is an important coaching point, but as the QB takes his drop he should be using his “eyes as a weapon.” This means that he needs to “look off” the defenders, or look away from where he will be throwing the ball during the course of his drop. Once the QB has reached his final step in a drop and starts the first phase of the throw he will then look at his intended target. Many QB’s don’t realize how much time defenders spend in practice reading the eyes of the QB to let them know which way he will throw. This is a bad habit of many young QB’s that needs to be drilled in practice. A good way to start the coaching progression of this is to have the QB look straight down the field on his drop. This will also help reaffirm his thought on pre-snap coverage reads or change them based on what the safeties are doing.





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