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AFM Magazine


Eyes Up – Quarterbacks Coach Terry Shea has devoted more than 40 years of his coaching life to the development of the position including the training of elite players like Robert Griffin III.

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Terry Shea knows quarterbacks. In addition to quarterback coaching stints in the CFL, college, and the NFL, Shea has helped prepare future NFL quarterbacks for their professional careers. Among others, he has tutored Matthew Stafford, Sam Bradford, and most recently, Robert Griffin III. When elite quarterbacks want the best in personalized instruction, they call Shea.

The compilation of his 40 years as an expert in coaching quarterbacks is now in his recently published book, Eyes Up, a 418-page encyclopedia on quarterback play. It includes the attributes needed for both the physical and mental make-up to be successful at the position. Additionally, Shea has sections of the book on tips on determining defensive alignments, read progressions, detailed drills, how to improve a quarterback’s accuracy and a complete summer conditioning program. We recently spoke to Coach Shea about the quarterback position.

Q. What physical attributes are most important for a young quarterback?

I think a quarterback’s accuracy is the most critical, both in the pocket and rolling out. By accuracy, I mean the ability to place the ball in a spot for the receiver when he is in full stride to maximize his yards after the catch. If your young quarterback is not accurate, you have to create routes for a more stationary target. Hand-size is also important for a young quarterback. I don’t mean he has to have large hands but he must develop strong wrists and hands that enable him to be a good ball handler.

The quarterback’s voice quality is also important. How defined is his voice under center and in the shotgun. He must practice with his voice especially in the red zone where it may be more difficult to hear. A young quarterback can develop a more confident voice by taking speech classes and lessons. He must understand his inflection comes from the diaphragm.

A quarterback must also be able to create with his feet; that is, be able to make a play in the pocket or on the run. A great exercise for improving footwork is jumping rope. Also, how does he handle himself with protections? What kind of physical toughness does he possess? Finally, there’s his passing mechanics. Are they fluid, smooth and consistent? Of the quarterbacks I’ve worked with, Matthew Stafford has the best mechanics – he has the same rhythm on every throw.

Q. What about the mental aspects of playing quarterback? What is critical to the QB’s mental development?

The most important part of the mental approach is knowing how to prepare for both practices and games. It separates them. That means a routine is crucial – daily and weekly. The quarterback needs to play with confidence and also has to have the ability to take notes and review those notes – from coaching points to the film room. It’s the quarterback’s ability to process information and then translate it to the field. Robert Griffin III is a great example – I would explain a coaching point to him and he would need one rep to make the change and successfully execute it.

Q. Besides leadership, what are the intangibles you look for in a quarterback?

One test of leadership is how the QB comes off the field after adversity. How does he handle himself? Is he resilient? What effect does he have on his own defense? Will they rally around him even after an interception? You also look for a self-starter, rather than a QB that waits for the coach all the time. A QB must also be accountable and able to handle the media. He has to be consistent and reliable.

Other intangibles are a quarterback’s IQ – is he quick-minded and open to learning? Bill Walsh told me that me that one of the great attributes of Joe Montana was his willingness to always learn, even after achieving All-Pro status. You also want your quarterback to have a feel for the game and a strong work ethic. It’s often said that in every practice your quarterback either improves or regresses.

Q. What fundamentals and techniques are most important in developing a QB? How crucial is proper footwork?

I believe you build a quarterback from the ground up, whether he is a high school freshman or Robert Griffin III. Footwork is critical to a QB’s success. He needs to have proper balance and rhythm with the feet, hips, and shoulders along with proper placement of the front foot. It’s also important to protect the ball. Arm speed (not velocity) in the loaded position is also critical. How quick is his release and how consistent is he with his release?

Q. What can a high school coach do to improve his QBs in the off-season?

You can divide it into two phases – the off-season and summer conditioning. In the off-season, you can work on his separation techniques from center. As I mentioned earlier, jumping rope will help his footwork, but it has to be practiced on a regular basis. Strength exercises should include regular sessions to build the core as well as neck muscles.

Working on footwork should be a major goal of the off-season. Bill Walsh, when he first worked with Joe Montana, would just concentrate on footwork and not even practice with a football. You can also work on the mechanics of improving the drop back pass and timing issues with your receivers during the off-season.

Q.  As a QB develops, he has to be able to read defenses. How do you teach a QB to improve in this area?

In terms of reading defenses, there is a formula to follow. You have 4-5 seconds per play and the QB has to be proficient in reading defenses. We call them pre-snap reads based on the defensive alignment and after the snap keys as the play unfolds and you determine what the defense is giving you. Prior to the snap, the QB looks for blitz indicators which could be a safety moving up, the body language of a corner, or a linebacker creeping up to the LOS.

Q. With most defenses disguised pre-snap, how does a quarterback learn to read defenses and make the right decisions?

As the quarterback goes to the line of scrimmage pre-snap, his eyes should be on the two safeties – is the middle of the field open or closed? In high school and college, he can look for any indicators from the short-side cornerback. 80% of the time the ball is on a hash showing a short and a wide side.

Q. You’ve trained dozens of successful NFL and college quarterbacks such as Matthew Stafford and Robert Griffin III. What common attributes do many successful quarterbacks possess?

The major difference among them is accuracy. Also, the ability to move their feet and create a play when it’s third and three. You can’t be a statue in this day and age. It boils down to being able to continue drives by getting out of trouble – with your feet or your arm – and making a play to continue ball possession.

Q. What are the primary differences between working with a running quarterback vs. a pure pocket passer?

Sam Bradford and Robert Griffin III obviously have different styles but the big difference is that RGIII is a dual threat – he can beat you with his arms and his legs. Very few others can do that.

As a coach, you have to play to your quarterback’s strengths. He needs to be confident to call plays in critical situations where he has the best chance of success. Make sure you know his strengths, especially in the red zone. Is he a pocket passer and relatively immobile? Or, is he an athlete that can run or throw in open space? If he’s tense in a critical situation, his muscle groups may tighten as the field is shrinking and the defense becomes tougher.

Q. Your book, Eyes Up, talks about seeing the field through the QB’s eyes. What did you mean?

In many ways, Eyes Up refers to the mindset of the quarterback – in the huddle when he looks up at his team and calls a play. Also, when he approaches the line of scrimmage and views the entire field before calling the play after seeing the defense. And, after the snap, keeping his eyes upfield.

You can find out more information about Eyes Up by going to Coach Shea’s website – ww.coachshea.com.






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