Just because the football season ends doesn’t mean the training stops. Offseason drills and conditioning programs produce a winning edge, turning good football players into champions. While weightlifting and various exercise routines build strength and endurance, football-specific drills should also be employed to reinforce fundamentals and enhance positional techniques.
Quarterbacks
Due to their importance to team success, quarterbacks must be diligent in their offseason programs. Aside from regular throwing sessions, quarterbacks can perform a few simple drills to improve the subtler aspects of the position. For instance, quarterbacks can improve their grip on the football by simply extending the ball away from the body, palm down, and letting it drop only to grab it again as quickly as possible. The offseason also provides a perfect opportunity to develop proper footwork, drilling the three-step, five-step, and seven-step drops over and over.
Running Backs
During the offseason, running backs should focus on footwork, balance, ball handling and blocking. The Square Cut Drill employs four cones placed in a square about 5 yards apart to stress footwork and cutting ability. The runner must dart around the square, making a sharp 90-degree cut at each cone. Participants must remember to stay low, maintain body control and get a strong push off the outside foot.
Wide Receiver
Playing wide receiver requires more than good hands. Receivers must also possess sharp reflexes and quick reactions. A drill to develop these qualities starts with the receiver standing with his back to the quarterback, who’s positioned about 15 yards away. The quarterback yells “Ball!” and throws the pass. The receiver must then spin around, locate the ball and make the catch.
Defensive Line
Often associated with power, defensive linemen must also possess quickness, particularly in their hands. Being able to shed an offensive lineman’s hands creates an advantage on the pass rush. Practicing "hand fighting" during the offseason keeps a defensive lineman’s game sharp. Simply have a player place his hands on the defender the way a blocking lineman would, and then the defender practices chopping and swatting away the blocker’s hands. This can then evolve into other pass-rush drills, with emphasis on footwork and leverage.
Linebackers
Tackling and hitting drills can add unwanted wear and tear over the offseason, but that doesn’t mean linebackers can’t improve their agility, quickness and technique. One simple drill lines five dummy bags on the ground a few feet apart. Linebackers must get into a proper hitting stance, their head up and shoulders square, and then shuffle sideways over the bags. When they reach the end of the line, the participants turn and sprint to another cone.
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