Elite Football Network using Boomja Technology!

Readers,

Elite Football Network - EFN -- http://football.boomja.com.  

I made using Boomja technology (the internet organization project). It's great stuff.  You can check out Boomja at www.boomja.com.  It's still in the works but has loads of content up already... so check it out!! 

You can create your own subject directory -- it's free.

Thanks!

The Quarterback Blog Live Once Again!

Quarterback Blog Supporters,

The Quarterback Blog is live once again.  New, fresh content will now be be posted weekly detailing skills, drills, everything and anything dealing with quarterbacks.  

I apologize for the dry spell of quarterback content.  I was fininishing up my last semester of college abroad in London, England.  I'm now an official graduate of the University of Delaware.

While I was overseas, I trained quarterbacks from all over England. Believe it or not, American football is thriving across the pond and is growing rapidly.  There are nearly 50 University teams throughout the country as well as adult, youth and junior leagues.

Check out the British American Football league websites:

• British American Football League (BAFL)
  
• British Universities American Football League (BUAFL)

Best Regards,

Evan Bowen
Quarterback Coach

Grooming a Quarterback

BlueandGold.com Article Link

by TOMPAGNA
Staff

Great teachers employ different methods. Once they find a successful pattern they adopt it until something even better appears. There are those who attempt to have you see the “whole tree,” and others explore “each leaf” before a summation exists. Grooming a quarterback is a bit of each. Though there are individual parts to learn, none of the parts function alone. That makes it very logical to teach each part separately but in conjunction with all the others.

Click Here for More

The Pigskin Pass Benefiting Special Olympics Delaware and Maryland

Each year there are over 360,000 student-athletes who are given the opportunity to compete in the NCAA athletic programs. Student-athletes, like us, are given a chance to achieve personal and athletic success through our participation. Having these experiences changes our lives and gives us the confidence to succeed.

Special Olympics provides the same opportunity for athletes with intellectual disabilities; embodying and encouraging them through the spirit of athletics. In an effort to increase awareness and raise funds for these extraordinary individuals, the Student Athlete Advisory Councils from Towson University and the University of Delaware will host the Third Annual Pigskin Pass. Information for the 2008 event coming soon.

Help support Special Olympics Programs by making a contribution that will help off-set the cost to the participants in the 16 different sports as well as provide experiences that will positively change their lives. Contributions, of any size, will make a difference, and can easily be made online at http://www.pigskinpass.com/ or by mail.

Thank you in advance for your consideration of making a contribution toward this worthy cause. As student-athletes we have a unique opportunity to accomplish goals both in the classroom and on the playing field. Your support will encourage Special Olympic athletes to reach their goals and achieve success through these inspiring programs.

• P.A.W.S. (Proud Athletes Who Serve)
• Student-Athlete Advisory Committee - Towson University
• Student-Athlete Advisory Council - University of Delaware

www.pigskinpass.com

The Quarterback Stance

Click Here to go to Quarterbacking 101 Site

• Head - the head is straight up.
• Eyes - focused straight ahead.
• Shoulders - slightly in front of the hips.
• Arms - extended forward under the center's backside.
• Hand - placed on top of each other with the palms in, throwing hand on top, fingers spread with the middle finger placed on the center's pant seam. Pressing the hands into the center's backside is the signal the quarterback is comfortable and ready for the exchange.
• Back - arched.
• Waist - slightly bent.
• Knees - comfortably flexed to the point that the ball can easily be exchanged with the center. In practice without a center, use a 45 degree bend.
• Feet - shoulder width apart, toes pointing straight ahead.

Click Here to go to Quarterbacking 101 Site

Flacco makes solid first impression with Ravens

By DAVID GINSBURG, AP Sports Writer May 9, 5:45 pm EDT

OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP)—Joe Flacco dropped back in the pocket, scanned the field, cocked his arm and tossed a spiral far downfield. Mark Clayton sprinted under the ball and made the catch in stride, one step ahead of the defender.

Ah, if only playing quarterback in the NFL was that easy. Instead of pumping his fist or showing any outward sign of pleasure, the first-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens simply walked away from the line of scrimmage and awaited another opportunity.

“I’m just moving onto the next play. The last thing I’m thinking about is the play I just completed,” Flacco said. “This is a new offense for me, and I’m worried about the next play and making sure I know what to do.”

Flacco endured a steady rain during his first day on the job at the team’s mandatory minicamp Friday. Wearing a red jersey with the No. 5, the 6-foot-6 rookie from the University of Delaware set out to prove he’s worthy of the 18th overall pick in the NFL draft and capable of starting in his first season.

The first hurdle Flacco encountered was getting over the sense of awe that comes with being alongside some of the finest players in his profession.

“There’s guys out there I’ve been watching on TV for who knows how many years now, and they’re getting after it,” he said. “This is football at a high level. You know that coming in, but you don’t know what level it is. To go out there, get the first practice out of the way and really find out what it’s about was really fun.”

It might take a while before Flacco becomes entirely comfortable being around one of the most intimidating players in the league, a standout linebacker who makes a living chasing down quarterbacks.

“Yeah, it’s definitely different to see Ray Lewis come into the locker room and be on your team. I’ll get used to that, but I don’t know if I am right now,” Flacco said. “… He was just joking around with me, telling me he was going to get a pick off of me, all those kind of things. We’ll see.”

The competition between Flacco, Kyle Boller and Troy Smith will begin in earnest during training camp this summer. Now, all three are merely trying to get comfortable with a new head coach, John Harbaugh, a new offensive coordinator, Cam Cameron, and an unfamiliar playbook.

Flacco showed surprising poise when he lined up behind center. On one play, he quickly rolled to his right after being flushed from the pocket and tossed a harmless incompletion out of bounds.

“He never changes his expression, I don’t think. He seemed calm,” Harbaugh said. “He had done a nice job the last couple of weeks getting in the notebook, getting with (quarterbacks coach) Hue Jackson every evening and every morning. So, he was prepared.”

When the Ravens drafted Flacco, general manager Ozzie Newsome called him “the guy to lead our football team into the future.” For years now, Baltimore has been looking for stability at the quarterback position. There are no guarantees that Flacco is that person, but he did at least make a good first impression.

“The one pass he threw to Mark, I think it was 50 yards down the field in the air, and he put it on target,” wide receiver Derrick Mason said. “The way he commanded the huddle, I think that speaks volumes for him. He’s got to continue to do that. I think the more and more he’s out there, the more and more he’s around the guys, he’ll get used to everybody and be more confident.”

Clayton isn’t playing favorites. Four of his seven career touchdown passes have come from Boller, and he got along well with Smith, who was a rookie last season. Clayton also likes what he saw in Flacco on Friday.

“He looked comfortable out there,” Clayton said. “From my standpoint, we have three really good quarterbacks that can make all the throws. Long, short, touch, medium, power, they’re all capable. I’m happy we have those three guys competing for the starting job here.”

At this point, Flacco doesn’t consider Boller or Smith to be competition. The main competition for Joe Flacco is, well, Joe Flacco.

“I’m not worried about anybody else. I don’t think, through a competition even, you’re not worried about what the other guys are doing. You’re worried about going out there and playing your best football,” he said. “You let things take care of themselves.”

Notes

DE Terrell Suggs and OT Jonathan Ogden were the only veterans not in camp. Suggs has the franchise tag and Ogden is considering retirement. … TE Quinn Sypniewski underwent surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left knee and is likely out for the season. “It looks like now we’re not going to have him back,” Harbaugh said.

How to Quarterback for a Football Team

Article from www.wikihow.com

Quarterback is the greatest position to play. You handle the ball every play, and every play begins with you. It's also a tough position, because there's so much to remember. Here are some tips to help you throw more touchdowns.

Steps:

1. Study up. Quarterbacks have to be smart on and off the field. A quarterback has to remember every single play in the playbook and do it correctly.
2. Develop your leadership skills. Quarterbacks need to control the game. There is no room for error in a football game so quarterbacks need to keep their heads up.
3. Build up your arm strength -- you'll need to throw the ball far.
4. Do your homework on defenses as well. You must be able to read coverages, and see mismatches.
5. Work on your timing. You must make your throws before the receiver makes his break/cut so that the ball gets to the receiver as soon as he gets open.
6. Learn to create space for your receivers by looking off the safety and not telegraphing who your are throwing to.
7. Follow progressions and have bailout options in case of a blitz or broken protection. If you're not as fast as Vince Young, do not try to dance around in the pocket. Hit the open receiver or get rid of the ball.
8. In the QB position, you must have strong legs. The stronger leg you have, better footwork, more accuracy passing, and even more throw power.
9. Do not panic and throw one up for grab when the protection breaks, throw it away to a safe area, or just wrap the ball and take the sack.

Work in the offseason. Get a lot of reps in the offseason so your better then ever the next season. Build your endurance and you can excel at any level.

• How to Catch a Football
• How to Take a Snap in Football
• How to Juke or Dodge a Defender in Football
• How to Enjoy Football

2008 NFL Draft: Andre Woodson Is a New York Giant

by John Fennelly (Senior Writer)

Don't listen to these draft pundits. I keep telling you. Joe Montana didn't have the size and the arm. Tom Brady was backup material. Phil Simms would never make it. Dan Marino would wash out in Miami. Tony Eason was the best of the Class of '83. Jeff Garcia and Tony Romo weren't even drafted, and Andre Ware and Akili Smith were labeled as "can't miss."

On draft day, the 6'5" Kentucky QB Andre Woodson got no love from NFL teams. He had a great senior season playing against some of the nation's best defenses.

He had a 154.5 QB rating while passing for 3515 yards with 31 TDs and 7 INTs. He threw six touchdownss against Tennessee, five versus Florida, four versus Louisville, four versus FSU and three against National Champion LSU. In addition, he had respectable numbers in games against defensive powers Georgia and Vanderbilt.

But that wasn't enough to sell scouts and NFL executives on Woodson. Let me remind you that many of these teams adhere to what the pundits are saying players rather than doing the heavy lifting themselves. That is whay so many franchises in the NFL can't get out of their own way.

Because Woodson had so-so Senior Bowl, his stock fell. That doesn't mean anything to me. And didn't mean anything to one of the games' best GMs—Jerry Reese of the New York Football Giants, who adroitly snatched Woodson up in the 6th round.Woodson is possibly as good a prospect as last year's #1 overall pick, LSU's JaMarcus Russell. The only difference is Russell is being asked to turn the Raiders around. Woodson will be asked to hold a clipboard, take in the tutelage of Kevin Gilbride and Chris Palmer and watch Eli Manning take snaps until 2010.

The Giants did not gloat about the pick, however. Its not something they do. In fact, the words used to describe Woodson have all been said before about him, but the tone was a very positive one.

"This was just too good a pick for us to pass up," Head Coach Tom Coughlin said about Woodson. "This is a guy that was rated highly on our board. We found ourselves in a position where we felt like he was a guy we wanted to bring in as a young quarterback who could work in our system and be a guy who we could develop as we went forward."

Should something befall Eli or should the Giants not want to re-sign him, they will have Woodson waiting in the wings.

"For years we have talked about bringing in a young quarterback and developing him in our system. Let him grow up here," Reese said. "This guy has got a strong skill set. We like a lot of things about him. He is very productive playing for Kentucky. He has a lot of production over his years there as a quarterback. He has the arm to make all of the throws. He is a pretty good athlete for that position. So there are a lot of positive things about him down there in the draft room. We are going to bring him along and see if he can challenge for some of our backup quarterback spots."There you have it.

Published from bloggingthegiants.blogspot.com

Packers: Brohm out to prove himself

Dennis Punzel — 5/03/2008 8:45 am

GREEN BAY -- The irony didn't escape Brian Brohm. As an avowed "big Brett Favre fan," Brohm would've liked nothing better than to play on the same team. But he also knows that if Favre was still with the Packers, Brohm probably wouldn't be.

"That is kind of funny," said Brohm, whose new locker is just two down from Favre's vacant locker. "When I saw him retire I was disappointed. You never want to see a legend go out and stop playing. It never crossed my mind when he was retiring that I might end up in his roster spot, so to speak."

With Favre's retirement, however, the Packers were in the market for a quarterback and used one of their second round picks in last week's NFL draft to select Brohm. He's among the class of rookies here this weekend to begin the pro football careers.

And before he even thinks about following in the footsteps of Favre, Brohm wants to prove he's capable of backing up starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

"I just want to get the offense down and show the coaches what I can do and let them make all the judgments," said Brohm, a three-year starter at Louisville. "My goal right now is to be ready so that if I'm called upon I can go out there and execute the offense."

Brohm finished his career at Louisville with a Big East Conference record 10,775 passing yards and led the Cardinals to a 24-9 record as a starter. As a senior he completed 308 of 473 passes for 4,024 yards and 30 touchdowns.

However, it proved to be a costly season for Brohm, as many draft analysts figured he would've been an early first round pick had he entered the draft after his junior season. Instead, the Packers got him with the 56th pick.

But the Louisville native whose father and two older brothers all played football at Louisville, doesn't regret his decision.

"I just wanted to go back for my senior year," he said. "I loved playing for the University of Louisville. You only get one senior year and I wanted to go back and see what I could make happen. It obviously didn't go the way I wanted it to, but I wouldn't trade it for anything.

"Nobody knows where I would've been taken if I had come out a year earlier. It's all speculation."

After leading Louisville to a 12-1 record in 2006, the Cardinals finished a disappointing 6-6 in Brohm's senior year. Along the way, scouts began to second guess their once glowing reports on the quarterback. They called him "robotic" and knocked his arm strength, mobility, durability and leadership skills. Still, he was projected by many to go late in the first round or early in the second.

Through it all, Brohm tried to ignore the scrutiny as much as possible.

"I really didn't listen to a whole lot of that," he said. "I just went out and tried to show teams what I had and I tried not to pay too much attention to the talk. I knew that was going to happen. They pick apart every player, trying to find holes in everybody.

"Once you get drafted it's all about playing football. All those other things the 40 yard dash times and whatever you can throw them out the window."

As for Brohm's leadership skills, at least one of his new teammates can dispel any doubts. That would be one of his old teammates, offensive tackle Breno Giacomini, who played with Brohm throughout his career at Louisville.

"Brian is a quiet leader," said Giacomini. "But all he has to do is step in the huddle and you zone in and listen to what he has to say. He's a great quarterback."

While Brohm is excited about being at Lambeau Field and starting his new career, there's a part of him that would like to be at another of America's sporting shrines -- Louisville's Churchill Downs.

"I'd rather be here, of course," he said. "But missing the Kentucky Derby is tough. I've gone every year for as long as I can remember. It's a big deal and a great tradition, but there's no place I'd rather be than here."

Even if one of his heroes is no longer around.

Henne's work ethic may help him solve Dolphins' QB woes

By EDGAR THOMPSON

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Thursday, May 01, 2008

Each day at 7 a.m. sharp, 14-year-old Chad Henne showed up ready to make himself into a better quarterback.

For 45 minutes, while classmates scrambled to finish their homework, Henne fine-tuned his footwork and throwing mechanics. While older teammates roamed the halls in their letter jackets, the freshman, who would lead them on the field, finished up wind sprints.

"I joke with him once in awhile - I might not have been his favorite person some days," said Jim Cantafio, Henne's coach at Wilson Senior High School in West Lawn, Pa. "But the great ones are special and they will make a special commitment to be good."

It didn't take long for people to realize Henne was special.

But Henne, who took every snap during four record-setting high school seasons, was never satisfied.

Even when he had established himself as the best quarterback in a state that had produced Joe Namath, Joe Montana, Dan Marino and Jim Kelly, Henne didn't skip his Monday-Thursday morning sessions with Cantafio.

Henne's deep-rooted passion for football made him an easy choice for Bill Parcells when it was time for the Dolphins to make the No. 57 selection in last weekend's NFL Draft.

If Parcells, the team's head of football operations, was going to use his first Dolphins' draft to solve the franchise's long-standing quarterback woes, Henne fit the profile.

"He's perfect for Bill Parcells," Cantafio said. "He's a no BS guy. He's a tough guy who'll work his buns off.

"Once he gets there, he'll have his nose in the playbook."

Henne, a 6-foot-2, 225-pounder who also started for four seasons at Michigan, will begin studying the Dolphins' system today with the opening of a weekend rookie mini-camp.

Henne, 22, is expected to compete with second-year pro John Beck and journeyman Josh McCown for the starting job.

General Manager Jeff Ireland said last weekend the quarterback job is wide-open and Henne's place in the pecking order "is up to him."

Given Henne's history, Beck, 26, and McCown, 28, had better be ready. Henne isn't easily intimidated.

In 2004, Henne became the first true freshman to start at quarterback for the Wolverines since Rick Leach in 1975. By the end of the season, he had tied the school record with 25 touchdown passes.

"We talked about how this kid is going to have to line up in front of 110,000 people, with millions watching at home," recalled Terry Malone, the Wolverines' offensive coordinator during Henne's first two seasons. "The way he practiced and went about his work, I made the comment either he's not bright enough to understand what he's about to get into or he's as tough a guy as we've had here.

"After that season, we decided he was tough enough to be a great quarterback."

Before he worked with Henne, Malone coached Brian Griese, Drew Henson and Tom Brady at Michigan.

Henne has as much talent and as many intangibles as any of them, Malone said.

Unlike a lot of quarterbacks entering the NFL, Henne also has been groomed for this moment. While many college quarterbacks are playing in the spread offense, Henne learned a pro-style passing offense at Michigan.

"I've always thought Chad would make a better pro quarterback than he was a college quarterback," said Malone, now the tight ends coach with the New Orleans Saints. "Chad is really trained to be a thrower."

But Henne, who is second in Big Ten history with 87 touchdown passes, still has a lot to prove.

His senior season was supposed to include a national championship run and a Heisman race, but ended with only 17 touchdown passes and a career-low 58.3 completion percentage.

Henne's injuries made for a tough year.

He hurt his knee and ankle in Week 2 during a 39-7 loss to Oregon. He needed a painkiller injection in his throwing shoulder to even play against Ohio State - a 14-3 loss that dropped Henne's record to 0-4 against the Buckeyes.

"He had to deal with a lot of injuries, but he stayed positive, he never gave up, he never quit," said Michigan lineman Adam Kraus, who signed a free-agent contract with the Baltimore Ravens.

Henne eventually redeemed himself with three touchdown passes to earn MVP honors in Michigan's 42-35 win in the Capital One Bowl against defending national champion Florida.

"He's all the things you look for in a passer," said Gators coach Urban Meyer, who coached '07 Heisman winner Tim Tebow. "He gets the ball out quickly and he's accurate."

Two more touchdown passes and a strong week of practice at the Senior Bowl strengthened Henne's case for a high draft pick. But Henne had to sweat it out on draft day, with ESPN cameras checking in throughout the day as he continued to slip in the order until late in the second round.

While Henne suffered, ESPN's draft analysts reviewed his shortcomings, including a long windup delivery and limited mobility.

The Dolphins, meanwhile, like Henne's size, strong arm and competitiveness, including his nine fourth-quarter wins at Michigan.

"In the NFL, you study someone so much that sooner or later you're going to say, 'What's wrong with him?''" said longtime college coach Gerry DiNardo, who's now an analyst for the Big Ten Network. "In college, he had all the tools that gave him a chance to be a winning quarterback. He also did all the things you want a leader to do.

"That's why I think things are going to work out with the Dolphins. It's the round peg in the round hole."

On Day 2, QB Brennan Among Seven Picks

The Redskins went into the NFL draft expecting to take a quarterback in the later rounds. Team officials followed through--but were able to draft a quarterback some had projected to go in early rounds.

The Redskins drafted Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan with their final sixth-round pick, at No. 186 overall.

Brennan was regarded as among the top quarterbacks in the draft and had a record-setting season last year, but he fell due to a poor performance in the Sugar Bowl and injury concerns.

Brennan is the owner of 21 NCAA records. Last year, he set a record with his 34th consecutive game of throwing for at least 200 yards. His 20 games with at least 400 yards in total offense also set an all-time mark.

His average of 387.8 yards per game in total offense and a pass completion percentage of .712 are just some of the other notable national marks he set at Hawaii.

Brennan ran the classic run-and-shoot offense, a pass-happy scheme devised by former Hawaii head coach June Jones.

Brennan was a third-team All-American choice last year. He completed 359-of-510 passes--a 70.4 completion percentage--for 4,343 yards, 38 touchdowns and 17 interceptions.

His junior season was even better. Brennan completed 406-of-559 passes--a career-high 72.6 completion percentage--for 5,549 yards, 58 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

Brennan, who grew up in Irvine, Calif., expects to make a quick transition to the West Coast offense run by Jim Zorn.

"It's what I grew up in our here in southern California," he said. "I have some background in it. I really can't wait to get back in it. I know I can run it. I'm just grateful for the opportunity."

Brennan decided to undergo hip surgery this offseason, so he might not be available to work with the team in mini-camp and OTAs.

Asked about his health, Brennan said: "I'm doing great. The doctor said that I'm on the path to full recovery. The surgery was a complete success. I'm about six weeks to being 100 percent.

"Basically, I can't wait to get out there and let their doctors and staff get me through the rehab process."

He expects to be fully healthy ready for training camp.

Brennan was ecstatic when he learned he was drafted.

"To be honest, as the day was progressing I was really thinking, 'Maybe I'm a free agent guy, maybe I'm a seventh-round pick,'" he said. "When I got the phone call, I couldn't have been more excited. I'm just so excited to be a Washington Redskin."

Ryan Gives Falcons Hope, New Identity

By Pat Yasinskas | ESPN.com

It doesn't really matter if Matt Ryan turns out to be the next Peyton Manning or the second coming of David Carr. He's already done a lot for the Atlanta Falcons.

In the seconds after commissioner Roger Goodell announced the Boston College quarterback as the No. 3 overall pick, Ryan put on an Atlanta hat, held up a jersey and smiled.

When's the last time you saw an Atlanta quarterback smile? When's the last time you saw anybody with the Falcons smile?

"It's exciting to be a Falcon,'' Ryan said. "I was pumped up when I received the phone call and I just can't wait to get to Atlanta.'' It's hard to find precise records, but it's believed those exact words have been uttered only once before in history -- by Steve Bartkowski, 33 years ago. This franchise never has had a lot of good days, but the past year has been particularly brutal. Franchise quarterback Michael Vick went to prison on dogfighting charges. Coach Bobby Petrino jumped to Arkansas in the middle of the night without telling his players. Cornerback DeAngelo Hall talked his way out of town, and running back Warrick Dunn and tight end Alge Crumpler -- about the only two remaining Falcons who would be recognized in an Atlanta mall -- were part of an offseason salary purge.

For the past few months, the Falcons were a franchise without a heart, a soul or a face. Now, they've got all three. Now, the healing can begin. That's what this pick was all about. From a pure football standpoint, there might have been better short-term alternatives. Maybe defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey could have stepped right into new coach Mike Smith's defense and made a more immediate impact. Or maybe just about any of the offensive tackles in this draft could have opened holes for new running back Michael Turner and been a Pro Bowler for the next decade. And maybe the Falcons could have stayed mediocre for another decade while Atlanta continued to ignore them and focus on the Braves and Georgia Bulldogs. Yeah, it still could play out that way, even with Ryan. But that worst-case scenario is a lot of interceptions and a few years down the road. For the moment, Ryan brings hope to what was a hopeless situation. No other player in this draft could create as much optimism as Ryan. He is, after all, a quarterback, and quarterbacks are the first players people think of when they think of a football team. "The Falcons absolutely have to take Ryan,'' a general manager for another NFC team said the day before the draft. Ryan has more ability than any quarterback in this year's draft. He's got prototypical size (6-foot-5, 220 pounds), a strong arm and all the apparent intangibles. The Falcons, who also traded back into the first round to draft Southern California offensive tackle Sam Baker to protect Ryan's blind side, no longer have to try to convince their fans (and probably some of their own players) that Chris Redman or Joey Harrington can be starters in the NFL.

But this choice wasn't just about taking a passer who broke some of Doug Flutie's records and won a bunch of games.

This was also about erasing the bitter memories of Vick and Petrino. Anyone who thought Vick might return to the Falcons after he's released from a federal penitentiary now can forget it. As a highly drafted quarterback, Ryan's going to face big expectations, although he's probably going to get a pretty significant grace period. But most importantly, Ryan's going to start with a clean slate. So are the Falcons.

Within minutes after the selection, the Falcons were selling Ryan jerseys on their Web site (No. 8 for $78.50). They'll sell some tickets down the road, too, and that had to factor heavily into that decision.

"To get a quarterback and a left tackle, I'm sure they're excited in Atlanta,'' Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden said. "They should be.'' This spring, excitement -- instead of indictment -- is the buzzword suddenly surrounding the Falcons. You've got to believe that's what Falcons owner Arthur Blank wanted, and needed, more than anything. Throughout the hiring of Smith and new general manager Thomas Dimitroff, it repeatedly was made clear the new tandem would have final say over football decisions, and that's a wonderful thing. It never came close to reaching the Daniel Snyder or Jerry Jones level, but Blank had been accused of getting too involved in football matters in the past. Drafting Ryan was a decision Smith, who has a defensive background, and Dimitroff, who was part of a New England front office that got franchise quarterback Tom Brady in the sixth round, had a huge say in. Smith and Dimitroff knew what they were getting into when they took their jobs. They knew they had to get better football players. They knew they'd have to win some games and they knew they'd have to win back their fans. They knew football and business decisions would go hand in hand. Forget about final say for a second. The first big decision Smith and Dimitroff made really was the only one that made sense.

No flameout: Flacco a surprise at 18th pick for Ravens

By Jim Corbett, USA TODAY

NEW YORK — Joe Flacco was at the center of a more memorable draft-day drama than most. And that wasn't pre-draft smoke the Flacco family and the neighbors were sniffing.

A surprise trade up by the Baltimore Ravens to select the strong-armed Delaware passer with the 18th overall pick wasn't the only excitement.

DRAFT DAY: Day one analysis

PHOTOS: Draft scenes around the country

Hundreds of friends and relatives packed the Flacco household in Audubon, N.J. Then, a morning fire broke out in the nearby elementary school where Flacco and agents Joe Linta and Tom Kleine had scheduled a press conference after the player's selection.

CHRIS LONG: A near-miss as No. 1 pick for Dolphins

Eight fire trucks responded and firefighters wielding axes had to break down doors and walls, according to Linta. It looked like the fire would cause the news conference to be moved to the Flacco front yard. But then firefighters found one big room unscathed so things went according to near plan — with a couple of wild twists.

After the Atlanta Falcons selected Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan third overall, the Ravens traded down from No. 8 overall to acquire Jacksonville's No. 26 pick and two third-rounders. They then leveraged a third- and sixth-round selection to trade up with Houston for the 18th overall pick to select the strong-armed former Blue Hen whose arm and game have been compared favorably with Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and Denver's Jay Cutler.

"It was just crazy," Flacco said of the fire. "It made the day more interesting."

Flacco talked to Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome, coach John Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Cam Cameron on the phone.

"They said, 'Are you ready to come be a Raven and be the quarterback we want you to be and you can be?'

"Being picked by Baltimore is a great situation," he said. "I felt really comfortable with their coaches. It's a great organization and it's close for my family."

With incumbent and inconsistent Kyle Boller entering the final year of his contract and last year's fifth-rounder Troy Smith competing, Flacco won't have the burden of heavy expectations coming in.

Flacco threw for 23 touchdowns with five interceptions last year in leading Delaware to the Division I-AA championship game.

"I'm out to prove the Ravens made the right choice," Flacco said. "I want to go in there and compete for the job and show I'm ready to lead the Ravens organization into the future."

Bill Parcells' Quarterback Commandments

QB Tips from The Quarterback Combine

http://www.qbcombine.com/QBTIPS.html

1. Be a leader
   
2. Keep a nice punch.
   
3. Keep the throwing elbow up a little.
   
4. Keep your non-throwing elbow as a scope
   
5. Be consistent and have no fear
   
6. Quick feet and explode away from the center
   
7. Be smooth, focused all the time, head steady, head looking down field
   
8. Good attitude: your teammates and coaches will react to that
   
9. Accuracy: practice, practice, practice
   
10. Warm up: warm up gradually and do not rush
    
11. Practice the art of a winning attitude and never ever give less
    

PERSISTENCE: Grit, the greatest quality of a true achiever is
not natural talent or acquired skill, but the person who has the raw will to keep
going when the “WAY” grows hard.

The TRUE ACHIEVER never gives up when difficulty comes.

CONSTANT WINNER: is the quality of inner persistence within
one.

ATTITUDE: make a positive difference and pass it on. We can
not change our past, but a positive and honest attitude can
change our future. Attitude is what happens to me everyday
and how I react to it. You are in charge of your attitude and
respect within yourself.

QUARTERBACK: a raw TRUE LEADER in which persistence is a
way of life. A leader in which he installs persistence in all his
teammates and gains their confidence to lead. Whether in
victory or defeat, the teammates truly believes a battle
was won or lost with the right leader.

RESPECT: respect your coaches evaluations and learn how to
turn any negative into a positive.

WINNER: says: I’m good, but not as good as I ought to be
LOSER: says: I’m not as bad as a lot of other people

WINNER: listens
LOSER: just waits until his turn to talk

WINNER: changes a negative into a positive
LOSER: points the finger

WINNER: respects the superior athlete
LOSER: resents them

WINNER: lets the talent do the talking
LOSER: talks & makes excuses to cover up

WINNER: acknowledges his mistakes
LOSER: says, it wasn’t my fault

TRUST: acceptance of and belief in people/ teammates. Believe
what coaches say and their teachings. You must trust to
achieve. You must trust in your fellow athletes to accomplish
the ultimate task.

QUIT: never ever quit at anything. PERIOD!

DESIRE: The “W” in your heart is defined as “WANT”. You have
to put it there and keep it there at 100%level all the time. Heart is only what
you display on the practice field, game field and anytime you set foot on a grass
field to compete. Don’t ever loose this and always show it.

TRASH TALK: only shows weakness in any athlete.

QUARTERBACKS:
The spirit and morale originate from the quarterback
position...

Poise: quick and smooth...
Take charge in a position way...
stand tall...

Concentrate: know where all your players are
feel the rush...
make good decisions...
Overcome bad throws...
be confident...
work hard...
never give up!

Coaching Points for the Option Quarterback

by Larry Beckish | Article Link

Decision-Making

The essence of a quarterback, whether an option or passing quarterback is his ability to make decisions. Teaching the quarterback a decision making process is essential for an offense, regardless of style to be successful. Indecision is a offense killer.

The key for a quarterback consistently making correct decisions in an option offense is for him to make one-way decisions. One-way are pre-determined in the huddle or at the line of scrimmage. This simple, logical, consistent process is easy for young quarterbacks to understand.

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Southington, Connecticut | 9:00am – 12:00pm

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In-Season Quarterback Strength Training

BY John Balano ACSM USAW

Head Strength and Conditioning Coach
City College of San Francisco Football
2001 National Champions

http://www.compusportsmedia.com/main/articles.asp?StoryID=58

One of the most (if not the most) important individual on a football team is the Quarterback. Their overall health is often times of great concern and importance for the coaching staff. As a Strength and Conditioning Coach, you have to delicately and judiciously determine the commitment of the football program to having the quarterback participate within the in-season strength and conditioning curriculum. I am fortunate at City College of San Francisco that George Rush is a firm believer in 100% participation for all players in our season long strength and conditioning program. With that in mind, let me share with you my thoughts on the type of specialized program for the Quarterback during the season.

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Developing A Championship Quarterback

By John Bond Offensive Coordinator/QB’s Coach
Northern Illinois University

http://www.americanfootballmonthly.com/Arena/sections/staffrep/04oct/quarterback.html

I have been a collegiate football coach since 1986 and have been coaching quarterbacks since 1991. During that entire period of time, I have never been at a place where we had our pick of the “blue chip” or top quarterbacks. Whether you are in the NFL, college, or high school, I feel that there are certain processes you must put your quarterback through daily in order to bring him to a point where he can help you compete for your conference championship. We all know that from Pop Warner to the pros, you must have a quarterback in order to have a chance to win championships.

Developing a quarterback starts during the evaluation process. There are two musts that we look for when trying to find our difference maker. There is one thing that some people overlook when recruiting a quarterback, but I feel is the most important factor when evaluating one. That factor is toughness. I want our quarterback to be the toughest guy on the field, both physically and mentally. When you start talking about the greatest quarterbacks ever, you think of Unitas, Marino, Montana, Staubach, etc. Every single one of those guys are tough. They are men who can “rally the troops.” They are guys who can will their teammates to victory just by their sheer presence. The second factor that is of paramount importance is that we want a guy who is competitive. I want a guy who wants to win at cards, pick-up basketball, or tiddly-winks. Get a guy who has to win and can't accept anything else.

When you start talking about the physical skills we look for, I think we must all understand and appreciate that there are many ways to “skin a cat.” I feel that as fast and as athletic as today's brand of football has become, athleticism is the first and most crucial factor when recruiting a quarterback. Michael Vick has and will continue to revolutionize the game. In my mind, this trend to a more athletic quarterback has been going on now for the last several years. We want a guy who can create. Defensive linemen are so fast and athletic that when the pocket collapses, we need a guy who can pull it down and go. I know that defensive coordinators lay awake at night when they face a guy who can beat them with both his arm and his legs.

Another factor in a championship quarterback is vision. The ability to see the field is so under appreciated and yet so critical. A guy with great vision can see a vertical route out of the corner of his eye and turn an incompletion or short gain into a touchdown. The ability to see is innate, in my opinion. I don't think you can coach a guy to be able to see. It is the same thing with great runners. The superstars can see the next cut before it happens. In the same sense, a great quarterback can see and visualize the play and defensive structure and be able to turn the routine play into the spectacular.

The last thing I look for is a quick release. I like a player who can get it out of there. There are drills one can do to enhance a quick delivery and I use them all. If you have a guy who can flat get rid of the football, you have just reduced the number of sacks and negative yardage plays, gaining hidden field position yards.

The things that I have just mentioned are things that in my mind are easily detected during the evaluation and recruiting process. If you watch enough tape of a guy, you will be able to tell if he is tough and competitive. You will also be able to see if he is spreading the ball around and finding people in seams making you say “Holy Cow, how did he see that?” Lastly, you can tell if a guy has one of those long, slow releases or one that just explodes out of his hand.

Now, for you guys who are not in the NFL or a top 10 program in college, you might have noticed that I did not mention a 40 time. I did not mention a strong arm. I did not say anything about being 6'4.” High school stats are not important, either, and you certainly do not need a recruiting guru to tell you he is the next Joe Namath. The best quarterback I have ever coached or seen in person was 5'9” on a good day. He ran a 4.8 forty, but boy he sure could create. If anybody was open, he would find them and he could get that ball out of there in a hurry. He made play after play after play.

After we get our quarterback to campus, there are certain things we teach that are of critical importance to the development of your championship quarterback. I will list them point-by-point:

1. We tell them to never take a sack.
2. Never say: “Don’t throw an interception.”
3. Scramble to throw.
4. Throw against the blitz every day.
5. Protect your quarterback inside out.
6. Know who to throw to on the blitz.
7. Teach the quarterback to deceive with his eyes and actions.
8. Demand that your quarterback coach the wide receivers.
9. Put him in adverse situations in practice.
10. Force him to make throws in practice.

One thing that we do that I feel is somewhat unique, is script one scramble situation a day in our pass skel or 7-on-7 drills. We force our players to understand the importance of this situation daily, as you can gain huge chunks of yards. When this occurs, I think it is the best play in college football.

Another thing that has helped me tremendously over the years is the fact that my head coach does not make me coach special teams. When it is time to work that group, I get an extra 10 or 20 minutes a day with the quarterbacks to work on things like off-balance throws or looking defenders off. It allows me the time to make him completely aware of his progress. I feel this extra time really helps me prepare our quarterbacks to the maximum of their abilities.

Lastly, I do not think I can overstate the importance of a great relationship with your quarterback. If he knows that you really care about him off the field as well as on, that will go a long way toward building the trust that is necessary for you both to succeed. You must be able to be 100% honest with each other. When I ask him: “What did you see?” I need an honest answer. He also has to know that you will always have his best interests at heart, no matter what the situation or circumstances. To sum up a great quarterback-coach relationship, he has to know that 1) you really care about him, 2) you must have a mutual trust with each other, 3) you both have to know that you are always going to be honest with each other, and 4) he has to believe that you always have his best interest at heart.

Developing a championship quarterback is an on-going process. You must “believe what you see” when recruiting. Then you have to not only work the physical skills that are necessary, but you have to make sure that your relationship with your quarterback is rock solid. Make no mistake about it: if there is not a mutual affection at that critical position, it is tough to make your player as good as he can be over the long haul.

Best of luck in your quest to develop your championship quarterback.

Football 101: The Quarterback

by Mark Lawrence

http://football.calsci.com/Positions4.html

When the quarterback steps up to the center and prepares to start the play, he has a lot of work to do. His first job is to look at which defensive players are on the field and where they are, and try to deduce what the defense is going to try to do. He may see signs that the defense is lined up perfectly to stop his play. In this case, the quarterback will call out an "audible." He will shout out code words that tell the other players on his team that he is changing the play. Most often there is a special code word, chosen that morning, to tell the players that the play is changing. Perhaps the code word will be "blue," so to change the play the quarterback might shout out "Blue 23, Blue 23, Blue 23." If the quarterback is not changing the play, he still wants to confuse the defense, so he might shout out "Green 17, Green 17, Green 17." The other offensive players hear "green" and know to ignore this, but the defense doesn't know the "hot" color and has to wonder.

Frequently, the quarterback has what is called an option play. He has effectively called two plays at the same time, and as he steps up to the center he will read the defense and decide which play has a better chance of working. The most common form of this is what is called a "play action pass." In this play, the quarterback will take the snap of the ball and step back three steps, where he will meet the running back. He will then put the ball in front of the running back. If the quarterback has determined that the defense is aligned to stop a pass, he will give the ball to the running back who will run with it. If the quarterback has determined that the defense is aligned to stop a run, the quarterback will fake giving the ball to the running back, then as the running back continues on as if he is running with the ball, the quarterback will pass the ball to a receiver. No one on either team knows in advance which the quarterback will choose.

Another popular trick of the quarterback is called the bootleg. In this play the quarterback fakes a hand off to a running back, then sprints out in the opposite direction, looking to run or pass. If the entire offensive line moves in the same direction as the running back, leaving the quarterback unprotected and with a completely unbroken view of the field, this is called a "naked bootleg."

Another important trick of the quarterback is called a "screen pass." If the defense is rushing with great success and causing him a lot of problems, the quarterback will use several screen passes to slow down the defensive rush. In the screen pass, a couple of the offensive linemen will pull away from the line and run out to one side of the field. This will often be the center and a guard. The running back will also run to that same side of the field, perhaps ten feet behind the offensive linemen. Because the two linemen pulled, there is an unprotected path to the quarterback and there will almost certainly be a couple of drooling and slathering defensive linemen running unabated at the quarterback, visions of ambulances dancing in their heads. The quarterback's job is to backpedal as quickly as he can, drawing these two linemen and hopefully a linebacker or two in his direction. Just a fraction of a second before they can hit him, the quarterback will toss the ball to the waiting running back, who can now lumber up the field with 700 pounds of offensive linemen in front of him to protect him. This play, if executed well, will often go for a 15 to 30 yard gain, which is a big black eye for the defense. After a couple of these plays, when the defensive linemen break through the offensive line they will hesitate and look to their sides to see if they are being tricked. So the screen pass is a useful tool to slow down the pass rush.

Different quarterbacks have different skills. Dan Marino was a pocket passer. He had a very strong and accurate arm, and an incredibly quick release - when he decided to throw the ball, it was gone that instant. However, he was not at all fast, so no one ever thought Dan would try to take off and run with the ball. Marino required very large and stout linemen to protect him. Steve Young and John Elway were very good passers, although perhaps not quite as accurate and quick as Marino. However, Young and Elway were also fast and powerful runners, so the defense always had to be wary of them taking off with the ball and running for five or ten or more yards. With Young or Elway as quarterback, the team could afford to use smaller, faster and more athletic linemen who were better at opening holes for the running game. If their pass blocking was less than perfect, Young or Elway could most likely evade a defensive player on their own. Finally, Kordell Stewart was a phenomenal runner, although not nearly as accurate a passer. Kordell could call what was effectively a play action run - his offensive line and running back would be all set up to run one direction, perhaps to the left. If Kordell saw that the defense was stacked heavily on the left, he would fake the hand off, keep the ball, and run himself to the right, perhaps throwing the ball after a second if the defense reacted well. If the defense was more evenly distributed, he would hand off.

If the play is a pass, the quarterback will take the snap of the football, and drop back a few steps. He drops back so that the receivers have a bit of time to get out into their running routes, and so that he has a bit of time to watch the defense develop. The quarterback will generally drop back either three, five, or seven steps. A three step drop back means the quarterback is going to throw the ball almost immediately, before the defense has a chance to figure out what is going on. He will attempt to find a receiver who has run out only about three to seven yards, and get the ball to him. If the quarterback takes five steps backwards, he's giving his receivers time to get ten to fifteen yards down the field, but he's also giving the defense more time to read his intentions. A seven step drop usually means there will be a couple of receivers streaking at top speed towards the end zone, and the quarterback hopes to complete a pass for twenty or more yards, gashing the defense for a big play. Whatever drop the quarterback uses, it's the job of his offensive linemen to keep him safe for as long as he needs.

Quarterbacks have their own book of tricks to use on the defense.

Quarterbacks have to be at least about 6'1" just so they can see over all these very tall linemen in front of them. It helps if the quarterback is a relatively big guy, perhaps 230 pounds or so, so that he can absorb a hit if the pass protection breaks down. And it's good if he's quick enough to outrun a defender for at least a few steps, buying time to complete the play. The quarterback is the only player on your team who will touch the ball on every single play. Because of this quarterbacks are often the highest paid player on the team, making as much as $15M per year.

Coaching Quarterbacks

By Todd Krueger

http://ezinearticles.com/?Coaching-Quarterbacks&id=813082

#1. Coaches never want to second-guess them or make them look bad in front of their teammates. if you do it makes very difficult for them to be the leader in the huddle. It is vital for the qb to have huddle leadership!

#2. Even in bad situations, find things the quarterback does right. Such as made a good throw bad made a bad read.

#3. Encourage your quarterback to take chances and to force throws in practice. This tests there ability to get the ball into tight spaces. If he does not do it in practice he will never know if he can make that throw in a game. It does not matter if he throws an interception in practice, this is how he finds out what he can get away with as far as forcing the ball into tight spaces.

#4. In terms of dealing with the press, take the blame for a bad game as much as you can. You can say such things as " We didn't help our qb out very much. I could have called a better game for him.

#5. If the quarterback senses a lack of confidence by the coach he will play the way he feels! All coaches must show confidence in their qb or he will know it.

#6. You can never do enough quarterback footwork and vision drills.

#7. Always stress speed in setting up on the pass drops and the release of the football. The longer he holds the ball the more the pass rush will come.

#8. Make the quarterbacks write down their 5 favorite pass plays. Don't be afraid to use those plays. If you get in a key situation and your qb is struggling, you can call one of his favorite passes?

#9. It is hard to teach the quarterback to throw the before the receiver is open! Again have your qb try to do this in practice.

#10. The quarterback must think like his coach. If you are calling the passes and the plays, he must think like you. You and your QB must spend time in meetings and in the film room talking about football game situations so he can get a feel of how you call the plays.

What you do in your meetings and what you do on the field all tie in with these 10 points.

Good Luck and if you have any questions you can email me at playqb@cox.net

Todd Krueger is a former 8th round draft pick in 1980 with the Buffalo Bills and also played with the Houston Oilers and Minnesota Vikings and the Arizona Wranglers in the USFL. He runs a football coaching website at http://www.footballtools.com and offers football coaching products such as NFL Football Playbooks, Youth Football Practice DVDs, Quarterback Training DVDs, Football Scouting Software, Football Playbook Software, Free Quarterback Drills, Football Special Teams DVDs, Football Workout DVDs, Football Practice DVDs, and a free football newsletter at http://www.footballtools.com and http://www.playqb.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Todd_Krueger

How To Throw Like a Pro - Article from The Wall Street Journal

Former NFL QB Phil Simms on the secret mechanics of hurling a football
By Reed Albergotti -- December 8, 2007; Page W1

The Wall Street Journal Online

Take a kidney bean, blow it up to the size of an eggplant, shave both ends to a point, cover it with slick leather and fill it with 75 quarters.

Now go outside and try to throw it accurately.

This is, in rough terms, the challenge millions of Americans will face this holiday season during ritual backyard football games. Never mind that footballs weren't meant to be thrown in the first place (the sport was derived from rugby, a game with no forward passes) or that no two coaches seem to agree on how this skill should be taught -- the ability to throw a spiral remains one of the most unforgiving litmus tests of American manhood.

It's also one of the toughest to fake. Physicists say a football needs to spin to be gyroscopically stable, but as soon as it's airborne, wind and gravity will try to knock it from its axis and make it wobble like a slow bicycle. That a quarterback can throw one of these things 60 yards and hit a moving target "is just amazing," says William Rae, professor emeritus of aerospace engineering at the University at Buffalo.

For those who want to master the skill, Phil Simms, the 52-year-old former New York Giants quarterback, agreed to share his secrets on technique at his home in Franklin Lakes, N.J. Though he won a Super Bowl with the Giants in the 1986-1987 season, Mr. Simms says it wasn't until about 1993, when he retired and started teaching his two sons to throw, that he immersed himself in the mechanics of passing. Since then, Simms has become an NFL color commentator for CBS and emerged as an expert on passing technique. He has written a book called "Phil Simms on Passing" and tutored several promising quarterbacks (at no charge) from nearby schools. If he'd known what he knows now while he was still playing, he says, "I would have set records."

Until 1906, football was a running game. The forward pass was foisted upon it when university presidents became outraged at the number of deaths on the field, which hit an estimated 18 in 1905. College football's rules committee, which included legendary coach Amos Alonzo Stagg, created the pass to spread the game out. It didn't become popular until the 1930s when the NCAA and the National Football League adopted a standard ball size.

Since then, the popularity of the forward pass has grown to the point where it's hard to imagine football without it. Today, about 56% of NFL plays involve passing.

Current NFL quarterbacks aren't always the best passing role models. Among the league's 32 starters, there are 20 different ways of throwing the ball, Mr. Simms says, few of which approach anything close to perfection.

Mr. Simms says he first started to rethink his own passing technique when Jim Fassel came to the Giants as an assistant coach in 1991. Under his tutelage, Mr. Simms says he started clasping the ball with two hands, which reduced fumbles. He held the ball low at his chest instead of up near his shoulder, which improved his release time. By keeping his arm and body relaxed, his throws became more accurate. After retiring, he took his study further and created drills that reinforce specific aspects of his passing technique.

The first thing he tells students is to take a deep breath and relax. Tension and a too-tight grip on the ball can be the downfall of a passer. Tight muscles inhibit movement at the joints, he says, causing the arm to work as one object, like a catapult. When it's limp and the joints move, the arm acts as a whip.

Ball grip is a matter of preference, he says. Holding it over the laces helps add spin, but holding it without using the laces is OK, too. One grip has the middle and ring fingers over the laces and the index finger just behind them. But someone with smaller hands can grab the ball closer to the point, where the circumference is shorter.

Most people throw by drawing the football back behind their ear and pushing it forward. But pushing the ball makes it difficult to impart spin, Mr. Sims says. Instead, the arm should whip, with the help of torque created at the waist.
Another misconception is that a spiral can be achieved only by launching the ball as hard as possible. Softly thrown balls can have spin, too.

Some of the drills Mr. Simms has come up with to teach these principles are unorthodox. So much so that a few coaches have refused to let their young quarterbacks train with him for fear he'll ruin them.

Tom Martinez, who began coaching New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady when he was 13 and now heads up the quarterbacking branch of an invitation-only camp for gifted players, says he doesn't share the Simms philosophy. Instead of teaching one rigid technique, Mr. Martinez says he works with a thrower's existing style and tries to make it more consistent and repeatable.

Those who think they have a good handle on the spiral would be well served by standing on the receiving end of the Simms version. After licking his fingers to get a better grip and setting his feet, he uncoils a series of identical passes that cover 40 yards with alarming speed, delivering a sting to the palms of anyone not wearing oven mitts. "I've thrown over a million," Mr. Simms says, modestly.

Quarterback: Hand-Off Technqiue

Here is a great video for quarterbacks on handing off the football.

Resistance Training for Quarterbacks

Here is a video demonstrating resistance training for Quarterbacks, which is an etrememly productive training regiment given you have the proper equipment. They use a great term in this video, "the pop", which refers to the quick pop step at the end of the drop. That's a very good way to balance your body at the end of the drop, as well as develop slight movement upfield towards your target. It's a very quick and efficient way to finish both your 3 and 5 step drops. The drills make use of the BulletBelt (www.bulletbelt.com), a resistance training tool.

Quarterback Tips

Great Quarterback Tips from http://www.football-plays-and-drills.com/.

1. The quarterback must exude confidence and take on a leadership role.
   
2. Confidence will come from many hours of study to completely understand the both his offense and the opposing defense.
   
3. Handoffs are the responsibility of the quarterback. Be sure to put the ball underneath the running back's inside elbow and don't let go until the back has a good hold on the ball.
   
4. Develop the ability to control the ball quickly at the snap. Bring the football into the body, ready for the handoff or pass.
   
5. Practice your pitch-out until you can always "lead" the running back so he doesn't have to break stride to catch the toss.
   
6. There should never be a fumbled center/quarterback exchange. Put the time in to make this as automatic as getting out of bed in the morning.
   
7. Practice passing from the pocket, rolling out, backpedaling to avoid the rush, sprinting out, throwing while moving in the opposite direction from your throwing arm, etc. Be prepared for all game conditions.
   
8. Practice getting the ball to moving receivers and over, under and between the defenders.
   
9. Release the ball near the ear.
   
10. Your follow-through should be like that of a free-throw shooter. No round-house motions!

Coach Evan Bowen on HBO: Real Sports Episode

October 23, 2007 -- Quarterback Coach Evan Bowen, Co-Founder and Director of the Elite Passing Academy in Connecticut appeared in a documentary by HBO: Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel on private quarterback lessons and it's increasing popularity. Coach Bowen was regarded as one of the 40 private quarterback coaches in America.

Nike Gridiron Quarterback Drills - Work the Pocket

Great Quarterback Drill provided by Nike Gridiron. The drill is call "Work the Pocket".

Nike Gridiron Quarterback Drills - Windows

Great Quarterback Drill provided by Nike Gridiron. The drill is call "Windows".

Self-Diagnosing the Throwing Motion

Ninety nine percent of all throwing errors and bad balls can be attributed to one or more of four common but fixable problems. Teaching quarterbacks to understand and recognize which of these four problems they are prone to will help them self-diagnose and correct bad balls faster and easier.

Problem #1: Over Striding

Over striding (stepping out too far) makes it difficult to impossible for a quarterback to throw over his front foot. This causes the release point to be closer to the ear, turning the throw into a “push” that results in high and wide balls. Over-striding also makes it nearly impossible to follow through as the ball will release well before the hand and shoulders can do their work.

The Fix: 1. Practice throwing with feet parallel and 2. throwing with very short or no strides. Both will enable the body to follow over the front foot. This will help release the ball at a higher and more forward point, enable a smoother and better follow through resulting in tighter and more accurate spirals.

Problem #2: Locking/Squaring the Opposite Shoulder

Keeping the opposite shoulder in a locked or square position also causes the release point to be closer to the ear and will significantly impact velocity as the arm is now forced to throw with little to no shoulder and body help.

The Fix: Practice pushing the ball back with the opposite arm to where the front shoulder points at the target. This creates more natural should action enabling the QB to practice rotating his opposite shoulder back farther to allow a higher and more forward release point. Another effective drill to increase should rotation is to have the opposite hand reach behind on each throw as if to slap a hand directly behind the quarterback. Improving shoulder rotation immediately impacts ball velocity as well as accuracy.

Problem #3: Breath Holding

Breath holding is a surprisingly common yet often overlooked problem. Breath holding causes the chest area and shoulders to tighten, restricting the shoulders from rotating properly. This causes the same problems as locking and squaring the opposite shoulder.

The Fix: Practice exhaling on each and every throw, including warm-ups, practice and in games.

Problem #4: Follow Through

A proper follow through is more than a pretty hand motion after a throw; it is a natural and smooth deceleration of a successful should rotation and hand pronation (finishing with the index finger and thumb pointing downward – opposite a curve ball throw). It is nearly impossible to throw a spiral without a good follow through as the hand will have to push the ball rather than rifle it towards the target.

The Fix: Exaggerate good follow through motions on every throw, including warm-ups, practice and in games.

High School QBs Most Complex Position to Evaluate

By Tom Luginbill
Scouts Inc.


The most important position in all of sports when it comes to winning and losing is the quarterback. It is also the most complex position to evaluate for players coming out of high school and college, because there are so many factors that can determine success or failure, and often many have nothing to do with physical traits.

Click Here for Article

No One Can Rival a QB's To-Do List

By Pat Forde
ESPN.com


Back in the day, there was a U.S. Army slogan that boasted, "We do more before 9 a.m. than most people do all day."

It should be rewritten for today's college quarterback. They do more in a single play than most guys do all game. Consider this 30-second to-do list:

Click Here for Article

Throwing Motion Tip: Pushing the Ball Back

Pushing the football back to the ear: QB's must always think "chest-ear-throw" while throwing the football, keeping the elbows relaxed by the side, shoulder width apart, avoiding tension and strain throughout the upper body. Pushing the football back to ear at the start of the motion will allow for the opposite shoulder to face down field in a perpendicular position. This results in better shoulder rotation, generates a more consistent release point and adds more torque to the throw.

Throwing to Both Sides of the Football Field

Throwing the football to both sides of the field is extremely difficult to do without proper footwork. Many quarterbacks have the tendency to open up their front/lead foot and front shoulder to quickly when throwing to the arm side of the field. This can cause the body to be too far out ahead of the arm and throwing motion causing the QB to sail the football and lose accuracy. Quarterbacks also have the tendency to stay too closed while throwing to the opposite side of the field (not stepping at the target), causing them to throw the football across their body.

Proper footwork the end of each drop (3, 5, or 7) is the key to preventing these two common errors from happening at. On the final step of the drop, the Quarterback should angle his foot and body towards the side of the field he's intending on throwing to. This will prevent the QB from having to take an additional gather step to re-direct the body. This also gives the QB the opportunity to deliver the football quicker if need be, since he's already in a "ready" position to throw.

Points to focus on:

1. On the final "plant" step of the drop, angle the feet and body towards the side of the field you intend on throwing too.
2. Do NOT open your shoulder to quickly, QB's should be able to look on a straight line over the front shoulder at the target receiver.
3. The front/lead foot should be facing the side of the field you intend on throwing to.
4. Do not lose momentum; keep a forward lean on the final step and keep the feet moving (“crushing pebbles”) until you are ready to throw.
5. Do NOT throw across the body.

5-Step Drop

The 5-step passing game consists of much longer developing pass plays and deeper routes than the quick, 3-step game. The routes that accompany a 5-step drop are skinny/deep posts, comebacks, deep-outs, streaks, digs, curls, out-and-ups, etc.

For the 5-step drop, the quarterback will be adding an additional two-steps (one cross over and one big step) from the 3-step. On the final big step, the QB must plant with the back foot and shuffle forward slightly with a gather step to gain momentum and get a hair closer to the line of scrimmage. The QB needs to be at least 7-yards deep, no longer, no shorter. On most 5-step drops, there will be a wait because the receiver needs a little more time to get into the route. While waiting, the QB must keep the feet moving (as if "crushing pebbles"). This keeps the QB from becoming flat-footed which kills momentum and technique. It also gives the QB the ability to deliver a quality throw to both sides of the field because his feet will be in the proper ready position to step wherever needed (right or left). Avoid getting too close to the line of scrimmage. The lineman will be creating a pocket, which the QB should be delivering from.

Points to focus on:

1. Proper depth of the 5-step drop (7-yards).
2. Drop on a STRAIGHT line, do not drift to the right or left (end up in the arms of a DE).
3. Stare down field or away from your receivers at all times. QBs should be able to recognize defensive back movements and coverages and use peripheral vision to see receivers.
4. Big step - crossover - big step - crossover - big step - plant on final step and shuffle forwards.
5. Shuffle forwards but still try to keep as much depth as possible.
6. Keep the feet moving - "crushing pebbles".
7. Deliver the football.

Throwing the Long Ball

Focus on a few main points when throwing the long ball:

1. Exhale before you throw, releasing any tension and tightness in the upper body.
2. Create slight momentum (small shuffle steps forward) going towards your target. Beware - Even though you need momentum forward, try not to take too much depth away from your drop; try to stay as far away from the line of scrimmage as possible.
3. Short stride, allowing yourself to get over the front foot.
4. High release, in front of your body (as if your throwing over a bar).
5. Finish by following through all the way to your hip - don't be afraid to over-exaggerate.

DO NOT muscle the throw, stay smooth and let it fly.

Throwing on the Run

Throwing on the run may be one of toughest things to do as a quarterback. A quarterback's accuracy decreases dramatically while throwing on the run however it is a strategy that can really opens up offensive options and stress a defense.

The quarterback needs to place great emphasis on depth while rolling out, especially to the side opposite of his throwing arm. Depth will help the quarterback to achieve proper shoulder rotation, left shoulder facing down field (right handed QB) or right shoulder facing down field (left handed QB). Pull the opposite shoulder out of the way while throwing so you get the proper throwing rotation and release the football out in front. Quarterback's need to OVER emphasize the follow through after throwing, and continue to run AT the target. This will make the throw much, much more accurate and pretty.

Note: If a defensive end or linebacker shoots downfield in a contain position, try to set up and throw rather than try and get around him. Eyes should be down field recognizing where the defensive backs are in relation to receiver routes.

Focus On:

1. Proper depth, always looking down field.
2. Opposite shoulder facing UP field.
3. Pull the opposite shoulder out of the way while throwing, so you get the proper throwing rotation, releasing the football out in front.
4. Emphasis on follow through.
5. Continue to run AT target for accuracy.
6. Run FULL SPEED, slowing down will cause your body to be out in front of your arm.

Throwing the Fade

Quick notes on throwing the fade ball:

1. Do NOT over stride, always take a short, controlled stride while throwing.
2. Pretend you are throwing over a bar, release the ball out in front of your body, and emphasize a long, proper follow through (hand finishing at the inside of opposite hip).
3. Do NOT muscle the football, keep the upper body relaxed and let if fly.
4. Following through is going to give the football the proper "drop in" motion.
5. Do not throw at the receiver, lead him, dropping the ball in over the shoulder closest to the sideline.
6. Throw the ball from the numbers and out, anything inside the numbers gives the safety an opportunity to come over top and make a play.
   

Note #1 on Dropping Back - Looking Down Field

Quarterbacks commonly stare at the ground while dropping back (3-5-7 and even rolling out). This is a terrible habit because it prevents the Quarterback from looking down field and seeing what's going on in front of him (defensive coverages and shifts, receivers routes, blitzes, etc.).

Quarterbacks: Always look down field...Stare at Safeties is a great habit – making it difficult to determine which side or what pattern you are throwing too.

1. While dropping back, stare at the defender and force him to make decision on who or where to cover.
2. If it's a run play, stare at safety before the snap of the ball, don't give anything away.
3. Make your read and deliver.

3-Step Drop

3-step drops are normally high percentage pass plays. Routes are much quicker and much shorter than 5-step routes. It's critical for the QB to deliver the football at the proper moment because receivers are only open for a short time during the quickly developing patterns.

3-Step Drop:

• Big step with lead foot, staying on a straight line.
• Crossover step, as far as possible.
• Big step, balancing weight as you land.

On the final step, quarterbacks shoulder be balanced (with a slight lean towards their target) and ready to deliver the football. Never take a shuffle step forward at the conclusion of the drop because it is crucial to get as far back from the line of scrimmage as possible. 3-step drops should ideally be 5 yards deep to prevent any collision with offensive lineman and provide room to step and throw. Quarterbacks should count in their heads as you take your drop - think 1-2-3-balance and throw. Think quick and make sure you get your depth.

Holding the Football While Dropping Back

Over and over again I see Quarterback's drop the football from under the chin to the stomach prior to throwing the football.

I'm a firm believer in keeping the football up under the chin at all times, whether your dropping back, rolling out or simply having a catch.

The quarterback also needs to keep both hands on the football, for ball protection and to keep proper throwing mechanics (proper rotation, proper balance of shoulders and proper arm momentum).

Finally, this technique makes you look like a real quarterback!!