COACHING THE QB FROM GOOD TO GREAT

1. COACHING THE QB FROM GOOD TO GREAT JEP IRWIN QB/OFF. COORD. PELHAM H.S. (AL) TF SYSTEM SEMINAR 2007

2. COMMON QB PROBLEMS • LOCKING ON TO ONE WR OR TAG • FORCING BALL INTO COVERAGE • SEEING RUSH • SCRAMBLING TO LEFT AND THROWING ACROSS BODY • NOT THROWING BALL AWAY • LITTLE FEEDBACK FROM QB TO COACH • WAY UP OR WAY DOWN MENTALLY

3. 2006 SEASON • 2nd YEAR IN TF SYSTEM FOR SCHOOL • 10-3 STATE QUARTERFINALS (6-5 IN 2005) • QB JOSH THOMASON – 486 RUSH, 10 TD

4. GREAT SYSTEM QB: • LOOK FOR GRASS AND ADJUST ACCORDINGLY • CANNOT BE RATTLED – HAVE SHORT MEMORIES • DON’T MAKE FATAL MISTAKE • MISS SMALL AND MISS IN RIGHT PLACE • HAVE GREAT FOOTWORK • KNOW DOWN, DISTANCE, AND GAME SITUATION • KNOW WHEN AN INT. IS BETTER THAN A SACK • ARE SELF-STARTERS, NEVER SATISFIED, EVEN-KEELED • LOVE PRESSURE AND WANT THE BALL – LOVE BLITZ!! • WANT TO KNOW WHY • ARE HIGHLY ACCURATE ON EASIER THROWS • KEEP TEAM AHEAD OF STICKS • WILL THROW TO BACKS – GET BALL OUT

5. QB OFFSEASON PREPARATION • WATCH GAME FILM & SEMINAR DVDs • WATCH HIGHLIGHTS OF GREAT QB • DRAW COVERAGES/PLAYS ON BOARD • I.D. COVERS FROM FILM (SEE BLITZ) • MAKE HIM VERBALIZE READS OFTEN • DEVELOP A QB DRILL CHECKLIST • TAKE SNAPS & DROPS DURING WINTER • ALWAYS REP A PLAY & DROP • TROY SUMMER CAMP A MUST • WEEKLY FILM AND BOARD SESSIONS

7. GETTING FEEDBACK FROM QB • ASK HIM QUESTIONS CONSTANTLY • “WHEN IN TROUBLE?” (FIND A BACK) • “WHO DO YOU READ ON A POST TAG?” (FS OR PS SAF) • “WHEN DO YOU THROW DEEP?” (EARLY) • “WHAT ARE THE EIGHT NEVERS?” • NEVER THROW LATE OVER MIDDLE • NEVER THROW BLINDLY • NEVER TRY TO THROW CORNER ROUTE OVER A SINKING DEF. • NEVER PASS UP OPEN RECEIVER (3rd DOWN) • NEVER GO BACK TO A PRIOR READ • NEVER THROW ACROSS YOUR BODY • NEVER MISS AN OUT ROUTE INSIDE • NEVER UNDERTHROW A POST ROUTE • “WHAT IS THE PROGRESSION ON SHALLOW?” • WHAT DID YOU SEE?

8. BUILDING CONFIDENCE • MUST TREAT QB DIFFERENTLY THAN OTHER PLAYERS – HIGHER STANDARDS, LESS FIRE • DON’T WANT HIM TO FLINCH • USE “ALWAYS” AND “NEVER” WHEN YOU CAN • MUST ACT LIKE “HE’S THE MAN” • PRAISE HIM IN FRONT OF TEAM • RIP IN PRIVATE OR AFTER GAME/SERIES • JOB #1 – PROTECT THE FOOTBALL • JOB #2 - GET BALL TO PLAYMAKERS • LIST OF HIS TOP TEN PLAYS • SUMMER 7 ON 7 – LET HIM FORCE BALL SOME – PLAY GREAT COMPETITION

9. MORE CONSIDERATIONS • MOVE POCKET, LET HIM RUN BALL • FOOTWORK, DECISION-MAKING VITAL • HAVE HIM FIX EYES, VISUALIZE PATTERN • BE CAREFUL ABOUT TAGS • BLITZ/P.U.P. PERIOD IS MUST • START OFF WITH SCREENS & SAFE THROWS • CAN’T MAKE CERTAIN THROW, TAKE IT OUT • WHAT CAN HE DO CONSIST. UNDER PRESS.? • THERE MUST BE PRESSURE IN PRACTICE • FIGHT URGE/SUGGESTIONS TO ADD MORE PLAYS

10. PRACTICE PRESSURE ON QB • DO YOU LIKE SURPRISES IN A GAME? • COACH EVERY REP AND THROW • PREACH CONSISTENCY • RELATE MISTAKES BACK TO DRILLWORK • HAVE A CONSISTENT APPROACH • MUST WORK AGAINST BLITZ/PRESSURE • MUST BE “ON THE CLOCK” IN 7 ON 7 • FORCE HIM TO SCRAMBLE/THROW IT AWAY • CONSTANT VERBALIZATION AND QUESTIONING

11. READING DEFENSES • PRE-SNAP READ SPEEDS UP RELEASE • MUST UNDERSTAND COVERAGE AND FIND GRASS • MAN COVERAGE – FIND BEST MATCHUP • ZONE COVERAGE – WHAT ARE THEY GIVING US? WHERE’S THE GRASS? • COVER 2 – POST AND CORNERS • COVER 3 – FLATS AND SEAMS • COVER 4 – EVERYTHING SHORT • BEWARE OF TOO MUCH 7 ON 7 IN-SEASON

12. DAILY TEACHING TIPS • GRADE EVERY THROW IN PRACTICE • DEMAND PRECISION – SMALL TARGET • SAME STANDARDS AS RB/WR • DON’T SETTLE FOR A “GOOD DAY” • ASK, “WHY WAS THAT THROW _____?” • EVERY MISTAKE IS A CHANCE TO TEACH • MENTAL ERRORS ARE MOST COSTLY • USE DOWN TIME FOR INDIV. DRILLS • ALL DRILLS CAN BE DONE IN 10 MIN. • MEET WITH QB ON FIELD AFTER PRACTICE • BACKUP QB ALWAYS RIGHT BY QB COACH

13. CONTACT INFO JEP IRWIN c/o PELHAM H.S. 2500 PANTHER CIRCLE PELHAM, AL 35124 606-224-6622 cell 205-682-5562 field jirwin@shelbyed.k12.al.us tydlover@yahoo.com