One of the most important players – if not the most important player – on any football team is the quarterback. He’s certainly the guy that gets the credit when the team plays well and he’s the guy that gets the blame when the team plays poorly. The ball passes through the quarterback’s hands on every offensive play regardless if it’s a run or a pass.
But the most important job of the quarterback is to pass the ball. Quarterback’s are sometimes required to throw the ball downfield so that the offense can pick-up chunks of yardage. All different types of throws will be required of a quarterback throughout a game. That is why football quarterback drills are so important. They help teach a quarterback how to make every pass.
Many people think that all a good throw requires is a good arm. But this isn’t true. In fact, to throw the ball consistently well, a quarterback has to have the proper footwork. So, this is where most football quarterback drills should begin.
To be a good quarterback it’s important for that quarterback to drop-back in the pocket and to get his feet set with a solid base. Most of the time quarterbacks take a three, five, or seven step drop-back. Each play calls for its own specific drop-back.
Once the quarterback has a solid base – feet shoulder width apart – he is ready to throw the ball. He should not be standing flat footed but rather be on the balls of his feet. Then when he throws the ball he should step into the throw with his front foot and follow-through with his back foot coming off the ground.
Regardless of the type of the throw a quarterback is making – a slant, a screen, a deep out, a quick out, a bomb, etc – he should always try to step into the throw. Throwing off balance or off his back foot is the quickest way to throw an interception.
Many hours will be spent on the football quarterback drills that simply help a quarterback get the feel for dropping back, surveying the field, and then throwing the ball. It sounds basic and it is, but if this simple football quarterback drill isn’t practiced then the quarterback won’t be able to move onto the more complex throwing drills.
Often at the lower levels of football – youth football and high school – a quarterback with a lot of talent can get away with having poor footwork. He may even be able to get away with it in college. His arm strength allows him to complete passes. But once that quarterback runs up against quicker players, any waiver in his throw will be exploited. Therefore, the football quarterback drills that work on footwork should always be taught regardless of the level and the talent of the player.
Quarterbacks may be the most important players on a football field at any one time. They certainly receive the majority of the blame or the praise for whether their team wins or loses. So, to help his team and to always play as well as possible, every quarterback should always perform football quarterback drills in practice. And the place these drills should begin is with footwork.
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