Playing quarterback is the most important job in football. While the quarterback can't play well if the other players around him don't block, run and catch passes, the quarterback handles the ball on nearly every play and must know what to do with it and have the physical ability to execute the game plan. Quarterbacks can do drills and exercises to improve footwork, throwing accuracy and throwing distance.
Rope Drill
The quarterback needs to be balanced and quick when he drops back to pass. He must take specific steps -- he should not cross his feet -- when he moves seven steps back and locates his position in the area of the field known as the pocket. Running through the rope ladder drill can help a quarterback with his feet. Set up a rope ladder that is two squares wide by 12 or 14 squares long. Have the quarterback sprint through the rope ladder by picking his feet up high so he is not impacting the ropes. When he is done sprinting through the rope ladder, he should go back to the start and jump through the rope ladder to build leg strength.
Sprint Out Drill
Defenses often make pressuring the quarterback the most significant part of the game plan. If the defense can sack or harass the quarterback, it can seize control of the game. To combat this, the coach will often put the quarterback on the move. This is called sprinting out of the pocket and it forces the quarterback to throw on the run. In this drill, a right-handed quarterback takes five steps back and toward the right, then sprints 10 yards before throwing the ball to a receiver stationed 15 yards downfield. This is one of the basic throws in the game and this drill will help the quarterback complete this bread-and-butter pass. Have the quarterback throw this pass five times in practice.
Passing Accuracy
Set up passing targets at the 10-, 20- and 30-yard marks. Position the quarterback seven yards deep in the pocket and have the coach toss the quarterback the ball. The coach will call out "1," "2" or "3" to let the quarterback know which target to throw to, with "1" being the closest target and "3" being the most distant. The quarterback must release the ball as quickly as possible. Have the quarterback do this drill five times to build accuracy.
Medicine Ball Workout
The quarterback can build arm strength by working out with a medicine ball. At the conclusion of practice, have all of the team's quarterbacks pair up and stand back to back. One quarterback will hold the medicine ball and spin to his right while the other quarterback will spin to his left to take the hand-off. The second quarterback then spins to his right and the first quarterback spins to his left to take the medicine ball again. Do this for two minutes at a time to build chest and shoulder strength, which are vital to throwing with velocity. Take a one-minute break and repeat the drill.
References
- "Play Football the NFL Way"; Tom Bass; 1991
- "Inside the Helmet"; Peter King; 1993
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