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.
Thomas sent the following question:
I am in the eighth grade, and this year I made my school football team as a tight end. I like playing tight end. But next year I am going to go to high school, and I would love to convert to quarterback. Is there anything that you can help me with to give me a stronger arm and be able to become a good quarterback in high school? Or should I just stick to tight end or wide receiver?
Hi Thomas,
If you really want to try out for quarterback, than you should go for it. You are going to be starting over at a completely new position, so you should expect some setbacks in the beginning regardless of how hard you work in the off-season.
My feeling in this type of situation is that it is always good to meet with the coach who will be your coach next season and talk to him about the move. Let him see how you move and throw.
After watching you, he will be in a much better position to advise you on what you should consider doing. The one thing you should try to avoid is spending enormous amounts of time learning to be QB on your own, working to strengthen your arm and then find out in the fall that the position is already taken.
Get some information and feedback before making your decision. Once you have weighed everything, you can decide which path you want to take and have time to work on making the decision a success.
Remember, regardless if you play QB or TE, the important thing is that you play the position where you are likely to get the most playing time during the games.
Coach Tom Bass
Justin sent the following question:
What is harder to play - offense or defense?
Hi Justin,
Many people think it is harder to play defense because the offense has the advantage of knowing what play they are running and when the play will start. The defensive team must sit and react to the start of the play and the movement of the offensive players.
At the same time, the offensive players usually have to learn many more plays than the defense has to master.
There is also the need to consider particular positions. Quarterback, because of all the things that he must do, is one of the most challenging positions on the team.
On defense, playing defensive corner offers the same type of challenge.
I think in the end, both sides of the ball are equal in difficulty to play and a lot depends on the type of player you are inside.
Coach Tom Bass
Arney sent the following question:
I'm a defensive lineman (interior), and a problem I have is getting through double teams. We do many drills in practice, which involve dropping down to a knee and splitting the double team. It doesn't really work for me. What can I do? I have not gotten a sack, and I don't want to upset the coaches because I'm a starter. I need to get through the offensive line - what can I do?
Hello Arney,
It is possible you are having trouble because you do not quickly see if it is a double team block for a run or for a pass play. On a running play, your primary job against the double team is to make a pile and to not be driven off the line of scrimmage so that the linebackers can move freely behind you.
You will not usually get penetration across the line on a play like this. This is the time when you want to drop your outside knee on the side of the double team, turn your body sideways so that your back is to the outside blocker and your chest is to the inside blocker. Using this technique, the two blockers end up pushing against one another and you create a pile that forces the ball carrier to change his path.
When you face a double team on a pass play, it is often best to change the path of your charge so that you are attacking the outside shoulder of only the outside blocker or the inside shoulder of the inside blocker of the two but always try to get back into your assigned rush lane as soon as you can.
There will be times when you feel that neither blocker is really committed to the block that you may be able to slip through the block and get penetration by lowering your outside shoulder and ripping your outside arm up and through between the two blockers.
When you make the ripping motion make sure that you are stepping at the same time with your outside foot and that you have your shoulder pads lower than the blockers pads.
Keep working on what the coaches are teaching you and stay positive. Playing defensive line, especially against a double team can be a real challenge but do not give up.
Coach Tom Bass
Josh sent the following question:
I play sixth grade football in a small town. I play FB and MLB, and I'm actually pretty good. I was wondering if it is hard to get a football scholarship to a big school playing in a 4-A school?
Hi Josh,
It may be more of a challenge to get a football scholarship offer coming from a small high school as opposed to a bigger one. At the same time, it is easier to be a stand out performer on a smaller team than for a big one where they may have prospects at three or four positions.
What can you do to increase your chances of being offered a football scholarship? First, in order to attract college interest you have to become a dominating player at your position - this means in every practice, every off-season workout and every competitive game.
Second, it is very important that you start right now and begin earning good grades. When you start high school it will be important that you know and take the courses required for you to receive a college scholarship. Having good grades is equally important as being a good player.
If at all possible try to attend a summer camp each year given at a college you may have a desire to attend. By attending a summer camp, you will have an opportunity to meet the coaches and see the college. At the same time, you will have the chance to get your name in front of the coaches and to demonstrate to them your ability to play the game.
Try not to set your sights on only one school. I like to suggest to players that they chose five different schools that they feel they might like to attend; one Division I, one Division I-AA, one Division II, one Division III, and I NAIA school. If you live in an area that has a good junior college football program, always keep that as an option.
As you go through your years in high school, your coaches and teachers will be in an excellent position to help you find a good school.
Coach Tom Bass
Nick sent the following question:
I'm a 5-foot-8, 145 pound 10th grader who plays safety and I want to play varsity next year. What can I do in the off-season to become a great safety like Ed Reed?
Hi Nick,
Right now concentrate on the games for this season. Make sure that you are getting better and better each practice and game. This is a valuable time for you to start your preparation for next season.
In the off-season, concentrate on your class work, start a lifting program, establish a running program, spend time working on your safety techniques and ask the coaches if you can watch video from the varsity games.
When you are watching the video of this season's games against next year's opponents, make a list of their favorite plays and start a notebook on each team. Try to see if you can guess what the next play will be based on the way the offense is lining up.
As you can see there is a lot you can do to prepare yourself for next season. Take a couple of weeks off after the end of this season, rest and allow your body to heal. Then write out a daily schedule that organizes your day so that you can get everything done during the week. You will be busy, but the time you spend will be well worth it.
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/.
