There are the drills I like to use with my quarterbacks.

 

Wet Ball

In this drill we get the ball wet by having a manger run a wet towel over the ball so that the ball is slightly damp. I do this drill so that I can get the QB used to using a wet ball in case we have to play in rain, or damp conditions.

 

Bad Snap

In this drill I have the QB in the shotgun and another person snaps the quarterback balls that he will have to adjust to. This drill gets the QB ready to adjust to a poor snap in case he gets a poor shotgun snap.

 

Drops

In this drill the quarterback just takes his normal three, five or seven step drop. He does not throw the ball in this drill since we are concentrating on dropping back. We do this so the QB gets used to taking his drops.

 

Rush Avoidance

In this drill the QB drops back in the pocket and avoids tennis balls being thrown at him. This drill helps the quarterbacks get used to moving around in the pocket in case he is forced to move away from a defensive player in a game.

 

Drop and Wheel

In this drill the quarterback takes a 5 step drop and sets up in the pocket. Coach then says wheel and the QB rolls out of the pocket, like he would if he was escaping pressure. The quarterback then throws the ball to a player downfield while he is rolling out. This drill works on the QB's drop and rolling out of the pocket.

 

Wave Drill

In this drill the quarterback takes his drop, and then the coach tells the QB to go in a direction and the QB moves that way. To finish the drill you raise your hand and the QB throws the ball to you. This drills gets the QB used to moving in the pocket.

 

The Box (warm up drill)

In this drill you have four cones and you line them up in a large square. Then you have the quarterbacks do different steps to each cone. The quarterback starts off taking long steps, once he gets to the second cones he does short steps, on the third cone he runs sideways to his left, and on the final cone he runs sideways to his right. This drill will allow the quarterback to work on his footwork.

 

The Z Drill

In this drill you have cones set up in a Z shape with the front and back cones being separated by 7 yards. The QB then takes his 5 step drop and then sprints to the next cone and then takes another 5 step drop. Make sure you work both sides like you do for all of the escape drills. This drill works on dropping back and running with the football.

 

Distance Drops (warm up drill)

In this drill I blow my whistle and have the quarterbacks start dropping back, they continue dropping back until I blow my whistle the second time. This allows the quarterback to get used to the drop-back motion, while warming up for practice.      

 

Hold Drill

In this drill the QB takes his normal 3-step or 5-step drop (this drill should be done at full speed) and when he reaches his final step the QB plants his back foot and never lets his front foot touch the ground, and instead "holds it" up a foot or so off the ground, and he just sits comfortably waiting for the coach's signal to throw the ball. On the coach's signal he will step and throw. If this drill is done correctly it will allow the quarterbacks to be balanced on their final step of their drop, and they won't have to take a hitch step.

 

Shuffle Clap

In this drill the quarterback takes his drop and stays in the pocket, when the coach claps his hands the quarterback throws the ball to the coach as fast as possible. This drill allows the QB to work on his drops, staying in the pocket, and being ready to throw the ball as fast as he can.

 

Rapid Fire

In this drill the quarterback has to catch a ball and release it as quickly as he can. He then gets the second ball, and does the same. You do this drill until the QB gets five balls, and the quarterback should complete at least four of the five passes. In this drill you are working on getting rid of the ball quickly.

 

Scramble Drill

In this drill I have the quarterback practice scrambling to his right and throwing. Then I have the quarterback go to the left and throw the ball. I also like to have three different receivers for this drill one at a short depth, one at a medium depth, and one deep. The quarterback should practice throwing to the receivers at each depth. This allows the quarterback to get used to throwing moving to both his right and left. This drill also allows the quarterback to get used to throwing to receivers at different depths while he is on the run.

 

Straight line drill (warm up drill)

In this drill two quarterbacks lineup 10-yards apart. The first quarterback runs straight at the second quarterback, and throws the ball while he is running towards the second QB. The QB then goes back to the starting point, and the second QB runs towards the first QB, and throws the ball. This helps the QB get used to throwing on the run.  

 

Up and Over

In this drill I line the quarterback up behind the goal post, and have him throw the ball over the goal post to a waiting receiver. This drill forces the quarterback to have a high release point.

 

Slap Drill

In this drill the quarterback holds the ball like he would in the pocket and a partner takes a swipe at the ball to try and knock it out. It is the quarterback's job to move the ball so the partner can't hit it. This jobs works on the quarterback moving the ball so the defender can't hit the ball, it all helps the quarterback with his grip due to the fact when the partner does hit the ball the QB has to hang on to the ball.

 

Raise the Hand

In this drill you run a regular play, but before the play you tell one receiver to raise his hand once he makes his break. The quarterback must throw the ball to this receiver within 2 seconds after the receiver raises his hand. This drills help the quarterback improve his field vision.

 

Find the Window

In this drill you have five defenders and one receiver. You start this drill by having a QB act like he is taking the snap, and by taking a drop (3, or 5). While he is doing this the WR runs his route and the defenders take a big step in one direction (any direction they want). Then the QB finds a window to place the ball in between the defenders. This drill works on finding the passing lane.    

 

 

Throw over the defender

This drill you do when you are working on screen passes. You have the quarterback drop back and then he has to throw a screen pass over a defenders head (can be a coach). This drill works on throwing the ball over an unblocked defenders head for a screen pass.

 

Pitch Drill (Warm Up drill)

This drill works on the quarterback pitching the ball. In this drill the quarterback stand 5-yard apart in a good pitch relationship. They work their way down the field (or across on a yard marker) and pitch the ball to each other. You do this both way and the QB's alternate pitching the ball. This is an old ICCC Drill.   

 

If you have any questions on any of these drills feel free to contact me.