Timing of the Pass
The most important aspect of throwing: Timing
1. Use a stopwatch in practice. Vs. air this is a no-brainer. Stand in the middle of the field and watch their eyes, especially routes on air and 7 on 7 when they have a full progression (you can cheat on routes on air, and look at the QB with the third read).
2. 1.3 and 2.2 seconds. Know these #s and love them. Learn to watch the play and click subconsciously--someone must be doing this on 7 on 7! 7 on 7 is where the QBs will really learn this, and it is vitally important, even on dump offs. Young QBs and early in the season they will be trying to look at the 2nd read somewhere around 4 seconds--it just doesn't work and this is maybe the best way to make them better QBs.
The role of footwork
We work on drops daily with QBs throughout the season. If there is demand I'll lay out a full QB workout, and then you can see how it would be condensed into daily work.
For receivers we teach steps early in the season, but we are not slave to them. In the spring, when they work out on their own in the summer, and for the first week of practice when it is purely conditioning we focus on purely timing. Receivers run steps, QBs do their drops, coaches drill for mechnicans and technique and we expect to never not complete a pass. Receivers learn the 3 step slant, 5 step hitch, 8 step speed out, 7 step post, etc. However, later we talk almost more about yards for routes once they have had the timing and depth drilled into them.
With press, jam, and roll up corners we cannot focus too much on the concept of steps. However, it is such a useful tool to teach timing that it is how we teach everything initially (since everyone teaches routes vs off coverage to start with anyway), and being so disciplined we are better able to eat these coverages up, thereby forcing them to resort to other tactics that put us in better matchups for running/throwing deep, or simply taking them out of their comfort zones.
The role of the Shotgun:
The gun provides a different set of ups as well as challenges (such as the unfortunate snap over the head that we've all experienced, that seems to only occur on a key fourth down).
I like the gun less than I used to, but it still has a few key advantages:
1. It helps vs blitzes, giving more time, particularly inside dog blitzes up the middle
2. There are certain things in the running game that function better, particularly when you want to get an athletic QB involved as another RB.
3. There is less footwork in the gun. The most obvious example is a 3-step pass under center requires just that--3 steps--while in the gun requires no steps at all.
4. Most importantly of all, some QBs just like it. I can't describe it but some of them get a swagger about them being in the shotgun. Look at Peyton Manning, who may be the greatest shotgun quarterback of all time (though the gun has a long history).
But the question of footwork with respect to timing is of most interest at the moment. It is an interesting argument for the gun if it is often prescribed both for immobile quarterbacks and for mobile, athletic, running quarterbacks. However, I still think that timing is best taught under center off of strict 3 and 5 step drops using a stopwatch, hitting that back foot and stepping into the throw. The gun is a complement to this, and often QBs simply get sloppy. Furthermore, it puts the center into the timing of the pass equation even moreso, and does require that the quarterback take his eyes off the football a bit.
Timing of the pass is often discussed without reference to reading defenses, but really the two are connected. First, the QB must understand his progression and know exactly where to go. Second, he must not wait on a receiver who is covered, expecting him to come open at some later point. Third, he must tie his footwork to his progression, setting his feet as he looks, being able to instantly release if the all-important window or passing-lane opens up. Fourth, he must have simple enough reads and enough practice at making them that there is not complex evaluative thought required or even a question of "is he open?" in other words, it must be practiced a lot. Finally, the receivers must be equally adept at their routes, timing, and reads, and cannot let little interferences (such as being held or pass interfered with) deter them from being where they are supposed to be, when they are supposed to be, and being open.
1. Use a stopwatch in practice. Vs. air this is a no-brainer. Stand in the middle of the field and watch their eyes, especially routes on air and 7 on 7 when they have a full progression (you can cheat on routes on air, and look at the QB with the third read).
2. 1.3 and 2.2 seconds. Know these #s and love them. Learn to watch the play and click subconsciously--someone must be doing this on 7 on 7! 7 on 7 is where the QBs will really learn this, and it is vitally important, even on dump offs. Young QBs and early in the season they will be trying to look at the 2nd read somewhere around 4 seconds--it just doesn't work and this is maybe the best way to make them better QBs.
The role of footwork
We work on drops daily with QBs throughout the season. If there is demand I'll lay out a full QB workout, and then you can see how it would be condensed into daily work.
For receivers we teach steps early in the season, but we are not slave to them. In the spring, when they work out on their own in the summer, and for the first week of practice when it is purely conditioning we focus on purely timing. Receivers run steps, QBs do their drops, coaches drill for mechnicans and technique and we expect to never not complete a pass. Receivers learn the 3 step slant, 5 step hitch, 8 step speed out, 7 step post, etc. However, later we talk almost more about yards for routes once they have had the timing and depth drilled into them.
With press, jam, and roll up corners we cannot focus too much on the concept of steps. However, it is such a useful tool to teach timing that it is how we teach everything initially (since everyone teaches routes vs off coverage to start with anyway), and being so disciplined we are better able to eat these coverages up, thereby forcing them to resort to other tactics that put us in better matchups for running/throwing deep, or simply taking them out of their comfort zones.
The role of the Shotgun:
The gun provides a different set of ups as well as challenges (such as the unfortunate snap over the head that we've all experienced, that seems to only occur on a key fourth down).
I like the gun less than I used to, but it still has a few key advantages:
1. It helps vs blitzes, giving more time, particularly inside dog blitzes up the middle
2. There are certain things in the running game that function better, particularly when you want to get an athletic QB involved as another RB.
3. There is less footwork in the gun. The most obvious example is a 3-step pass under center requires just that--3 steps--while in the gun requires no steps at all.
4. Most importantly of all, some QBs just like it. I can't describe it but some of them get a swagger about them being in the shotgun. Look at Peyton Manning, who may be the greatest shotgun quarterback of all time (though the gun has a long history).
But the question of footwork with respect to timing is of most interest at the moment. It is an interesting argument for the gun if it is often prescribed both for immobile quarterbacks and for mobile, athletic, running quarterbacks. However, I still think that timing is best taught under center off of strict 3 and 5 step drops using a stopwatch, hitting that back foot and stepping into the throw. The gun is a complement to this, and often QBs simply get sloppy. Furthermore, it puts the center into the timing of the pass equation even moreso, and does require that the quarterback take his eyes off the football a bit.
Timing of the pass is often discussed without reference to reading defenses, but really the two are connected. First, the QB must understand his progression and know exactly where to go. Second, he must not wait on a receiver who is covered, expecting him to come open at some later point. Third, he must tie his footwork to his progression, setting his feet as he looks, being able to instantly release if the all-important window or passing-lane opens up. Fourth, he must have simple enough reads and enough practice at making them that there is not complex evaluative thought required or even a question of "is he open?" in other words, it must be practiced a lot. Finally, the receivers must be equally adept at their routes, timing, and reads, and cannot let little interferences (such as being held or pass interfered with) deter them from being where they are supposed to be, when they are supposed to be, and being open.
posted by Chris at
5/18/2005 11:46:00 AM
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