Now is the time to seriously start thinking about and preparing for next football season. If you have any questions that you feel I can help you with, please e-mail me at www.USAFAskCoachBass.com. I will try to answer as many as possible each week.
Stone sent the following question:
I will be going into eighth grade next year, and it will be my first time playing football.I want to play quarterback, but I am tall and I think the coach will put me at the line and not even think about quarterback. How far do you have to throw to be aquarterback in the eighth grade? I can throw pretty far, but I have never measured. I have good accuracy and am also left handed so will that help me in a game?
Hi Stone,
Accuracy is the most important skill that a quarterback can have, much more important than the strength of your arm. You can be sure your coaches will not ask you to throw any passes that require greater arm strength then you have at present. This is an attribute that will develop the longer you play the position.
It is really important that you talk to your coaches right now about your desire to try out for the quarterback position. Do not wait until the start of fall practice when they might already have another player penciled into that spot.
As you start your football career, try to keep in mind that the most important goal you should have is to be on the field and play as much as possible and help your team to have success regardless of the position. It is one of the jobs of the coaches to place players where they feel they are best suited to play and where it will make the team stronger.
Try to always be receptive to any suggestion your coach may have in this area, as he will be in the best position to evaluate your ability at the present and your potential to become outstanding at a position. Football is a team sport and every position is important if the team is to have success.
Being a left hander is not going to hurt or help you. Your ability to master every phase of the position will be the most important. Start out with an open mind, be positive, work hard to be the best wherever you play and above all have fun and enjoy your football experience.
Coach Tom Bass
Johnny sent the following question:
I am a freshman starting spring football on May 2. I’m very nervous because I’m not as big as the other boys on my football team. I’m very skinny and not that tall, so what position do you think I should play? I don’t know that much about football, although I am hoping to learn.
Hi Johnny,
It really does not matter which position you start out playing. Many players will end up moving from one position to another in their career.
The key in the beginning is to first focus on learning all the individual techniques that are needed to play the position. Next, you can start to learn the techniques of the player playing across the line from you. When you know what you are to do and understand what your opponent is trying to do, you will become a better player.
Listen to your coach, work hard in practice, write up everything you can remember about the practice every night in a notebook and above all, relax and have fun.
Coach Tom Bass
Alex sent the following question:
What is the ROB position on the football field? What are the best drills to use in practice (non-contact)?
Hi Alex,
In making player designation often ROB will stand for right outside backer. There are also teams that designate their strong safety as a “robber’” position, so they may elect to use the ROB for this spot.
When you are out of pads or having non-contact drills, the best drills are ones that focus on teaching and developing the individual techniques needed to play each position.
Starting with learning a proper stance to more advanced techniques, players can get a good workout without contact. In the beginning of the year, I like playing five-man flag games across the field, rotating every player so everyone gets to play every position. This gives each player the opportunity to run, pass and catch the ball without anyone getting hit.
As a coach, I was quick to realize that contact and competition were the two greatest detriments to players practicing good football technique, so they need to be held to minimum in your practice schedule.
Coach Tom Bass
Mike sent the following question:
I just started football and whenever I have to do a five-step drop, I am immediately pressured off the snap, either by an impending lineman or a blitzing linebacker. This prevents me from addressing the pocket and forces me to scramble or throw off my toes. We run rather long routes as well. What can I do to speed up my drop back and quicken my passes?
Hi Mike,
A successful passing game requires three things to happen at the same time. One, the pass protection must be sound and give you the time to throw the ball. Two, the receivers must run at full speed and break their pass routes at the correct depth. Three, you must take the snap, secure the ball, sprint away from the line of scrimmage, set up properly and deliver the ball to the open receiver.
As a quarterback, you cannot control one or two, but you can work on number three. You may want to get someone with a stopwatch and see how long it takes you to take the snap, set up and make the throw. You can increase your speed by practicing making your drop.
Focus on pushing back with your foot opposite your passing arm, taking good long, quick strides and making sure you are setting up a good 7 yards from the line. Then check that you have the ball held chest high and in a position to immediately go into your throwing motion. Work on speeding up the things you can control, and be ready to make adjustments if and when the pocket breaks down.
Always remember to tell your blockers when you have time to throw and to compliment your receivers when they run good routes. All three areas must work together to have success.
Coach Tom Bass
Judeneick sent the following question:
As a running back, what can I do to get by the defense and make yards when it runs a 3-4?
Hi Judeneick,
Getting by a 3-4 defense is just like getting by any other defensive front with the exception that with four backers in the game, you usually will have a bubble to attack. The bubble is the area occupied by a linebacker when he is lined up off the line.
Often you will be able to follow a blocker (lineman or back) into the hole and cut opposite the direction that the backer decides to move. You have to be looking to see how your teammate is going to block the backer and then at the last moment, you should cut to the other side going behind the offensive man’s body as he makes his block.
If the team you are playing does not have good disciplined pursuit lanes, you will often be able to cutback against a 3-4 team, especially if the linebackers start to move laterally to the sideline as you move in that direction.
Look for the bubble, have control when you hit the hole, be prepared to cut off the offensive man’s block, always look for the cutback lane and I am sure you will be fine running against a 3-4 defense.
Coach Tom Bass
Coach Tom Bass, the technical writer and advisor for USA Football, is a 30-year NFL coach who has also authored several books, including "Play Football the NFL Way" - the first "how to" book ever authorized and published by the NFL. Coach Bass is happy to personally autograph his books to you. Book ordering information can be found on http://www.coachbass.com/.
