Coach Tom Bass brings more than 30 years of coaching experience to USA Football. Along with answering youth coaching questions, he also receives emails from young players. You can email the coach at NFLAskTheCoach@aol.com.
Taylor sent the following question:
What is the best drill to do for snapping the ball for someone who is new to that position on the offensive line?
Hi Taylor,
You are going to be playing one of the most important positions on the offensive team. Many people think that the QB is the most important, but in reality, the QB can never have success if he does not get a good snap from the center to start each play.
The challenges you face are making certain that you have a good stance, a firm grip on the ball and then practice snapping the ball while you move in different directions, as you will need to do to make your blocks for the various plays in your offense.
During this time before the season starts, you can work on all three areas if you have someone who can help position the ball and take the snap from you.
To get into a good stance, I always asked my beginning center to start with his feet even, about shoulder width apart, to bend his knees so that he can rest both forearms on his thighs and then to reach straight forward with both arms so that his hands are just in front of his shoulder pads. This should put you in a balanced four-point stance with your shoulders even.
From this position, lift up your right hand (if you are going to snap with your right hand) and have someone place the ball on the ground where your hand had been. The laces of the ball should be to the outside and slightly rotated toward the ground.
Grip the ball as you would if you were going to pass it. Your first finger should be near the front point of the ball. Your next two fingers should extend over the laces with your little finger resting on the laces. Your thumb will be located on the top outside panel of the ball.
Next, you want to practice bringing the ball up between your legs and turn it so that the tips of the ball are pointed to the outside, allowing the QB to grasp the center of the ball as you make the exchange.
Once you feel that you are getting the ball up to the hands of the QB and are making a good exchange, begin to make the snap while you are driving straight ahead, stepping to the right and left and finally setting back to pass protect.
Try to get in as many snaps as you can each day. Stay with the procedure until you feel comfortable in your stance, grip and snap with movement. Once you are secure in your snap, you can place the ball on the ground and use a three-point stance if you feel more comfortable.
I hope this gets you started, and I know you will really enjoy playing the position.
Coach Tom Bass
Jarvis sent the following question:
When I moved from Syracuse, N.Y., to Jacksonville, Fla., I saw turf.We don't have it in the South, and I was wondering if it is any different from grass? If so, should my game be changed any?
Hi Jarvis,
The biggest change will be in the type of football shoes that you will need to compete. I would check with the other players on the team at your position and see what type of shoe that they are wearing.
You may find that you will need to go to a solid sole cleat shoe so that you can get the grip you need on turf.
It is also important to be aware of keeping your feet under your hips regardless of your position so that you do not slip on the turf.
Once you get the correct shoes you should spend as much time as you can this summer on the turf so that you have a good feel for what it is like to play on the surface before the season actually begins.
Coach Tom Bass
The following question was sent:
I am a sophomore collegiate defensive tackle, and I am having a terrible problem staying low. Before the play, I visualize myself firing out and staying low but for some reason I consistently stand up out of my stance and present my chest to the offensive lineman. What can be done about this? Are there any specific drills I can practice?
Hi,
Playing defensive tackle is a challenge and puts you right in the center of the action on most plays. I have always taught my DT to think in terms of a natural progression on the snap of starting forward (not up), determining who is blocking you, recognizing the block being used, defeating the blocker and then locating and attacking the ball carrier.
Coming up is a common problem for many defensive linemen. They want to see into the backfield and feel that they need to standup in order to determine where the ball is going.
To correct this situation, your stance may be one area to look at. If you are starting with your feet extended way behind your hips, you will have a tendency to rise up and not go forward on the snap. If one foot is slightly ahead of your hips you can use it as your push foot to start your forward thrust.
Your focus is another area with your eyes leading your body. When you concentrate on the blockers in front of you, you will have a greater chance of keeping your helmet and pad level equal to or below the helmet and pad level of the blocker. Keep in mind that when your head comes up, your body will follow and you will be out of position to defeat the blocker.
If, on the snap, you take a short power step forward, bringing both hands up inside your shoulders and in front of your chin, you should be able to direct them with power into the pad level of the man assigned to block you. On this first step you should be able to determine who is going to block you and, with time, know the exact type of block that they are going to use and the appropriate defensive reaction on your part.
Drills that you can use would be:
*Firing out from a six-point stance (toes, knees and hands) and rolling your hips forward so that you extend forward as far as you can, landing on your stomach, without standing up.
*From a three- or four-point stance, explode forward into a stand up dummy striking the dummy with the palms of both hands below the midline of the dummy and locking out both arms after contact.
*Have three teammates line up and at half speed have them take turns; dive blocking (man in front), angle blocking (man outside), reach blocking (man inside) and pass protection blocking (all three).
At the same time you should work at keeping low, moving forward, determining who is blocking you and the block that is being used, and moving into the blocker correctly with your pads below theirs.
In all these drills you are working at playing your position without any ball carrier, focusing on staying low, first defeating the blocker. Once you are consistently doing this in this drill, you can begin to start trying to locate and react to the ball carrier. I hope this gives you some direction in your practice procedure and thinking when playing defensive line.
Coach Tom Bass
Victor sent the following question:
I want to know if it is bad if a football player isn't planning on going to any of the High School football workouts for the summer. If I want to be a good WR do I need to go to all of the football workouts?
Hi Victor,
I think you realize that it is very important that you go to summer workouts if you really want to be in a position to play in the games this coming season. First, you will be able to get in condition so you don't feel exhausted when two-a-day practice starts.
Second, you will have the opportunity to learn the techniques needed to play WR without the pressure of games or having contact.
Third, this time will allow you the opportunity to become a member of the team. The other players will have the chance to get to know you and see that getting better is important to you. It will also demonstrate to your teammates that you want to be the best that you can be to help the team perform.
Fourth, it will afford you the opportunity to develop a close working relationship with your quarterback. He will see your work ethic, be familiar with how you run your routes and know that you can be counted on.
Finally, you will become familiar with the coaching staff and learn the drills and terminology used by the team. It is important to make the effort every day to take part in the workouts if you really want to play.
Coach Tom Bass
Herman sent following question:
My coach put me at middle linebacker. Is it good to watch the quarterback's eyes, hand motions or the ball when doing zone coverage? Also, when I tackle, I leap before I tackle. Is that good?
Hi Herman,
Congratulations on having the chance to play middle linebacker. You will find that you have the chance to get in on a great number of plays from that position and I know it will be fun for you.
When you play zone defense, one of the most important things you can work on is making sure that you really work hard to drop as deep as you can while the QB is going back to set up to pass. Many young players do not realize that this is the time when the QB can not throw the ball and it is the time when they must run as hard as they can to get to their assigned zone.
Once you are in your zone and you see that the QB is setting up to throw, it is important that you stop getting depth, come to a balanced stance and keep your feet moving with short choppy steps.
Now you need to focus totally on the QB and the direction his body is facing. Once you see him start his step to throw and his passing arm starts forward, you need to lean in that direction with your upper body and roll over the foot on that side bringing your other leg across your body and turn to follow the path of the ball. Always let the ball take you to the receiver. Try to never take your eyes off the ball to look for the intended receiver.
Trying to look at a quarterback's eyes can be difficult especially if you have to turn your body to start to your assigned zone, plus many good QB will try to look off the defense before they actually throw. I found it was much more productive to wait until the backer was set up and then to concentrate on the QB and react to the total throwing motion to direct you to the receiver.
You have a good chance of missing the ball carrier any time you leave your feet to make a tackle. Try to learn to explode off of the foot on the side of the shoulder that you are going to use to make the tackle. This technique will allow you to drive up and through the ball carrier and still be grounded for your next drive through steps.
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/.
