Flippy The Quarterback

Flippy The QB

Please welcome today's subject. Flippy the Quarterback. You know him. You all do. He is the QB that as soon as he takes the snap out of the gun, he flips the football around to find the laces. This is a huge problem in youth and HS and even in some college programs. So why do I make this the topic of today's blog post? Lets discuss!

The QB is the only player on the offense who touches the ball EVERY SINGLE PLAY! Ball control and security would be an understatement. Would you let the RB or WR flip the ball around after a catch or hand off? Absolutely not, so why would you with your QB. This obsession and uncomfortableness is problematic to say the least.

Your QB will complain and come up with 500 excuses for why they need to flip the ball. While some may make sense and are valid i.e. I need to feel the laces to throw the ball with a spiral. I need the laces to put power on the ball, etc. etc. While some of these make sense, you wont always get a snap from the center that puts the laces right where they need to be, thus your QB flips the ball as their first movement. Huge problem. Let explore the issues around this problematic habit and then we can explore ways to remediate and help your QB.

PROBLEMS

1: Your QB should have NO unnecessary movement. EVRERY THING your QB does must be poetry in motion not a bunch of wasted motion and bad mechanics.

2: Wasted motion interferes with mechanics and positional execution.

3: Flipping the ball while you are taking a 3 step, 1 step or 5 step drop or trying to sprint out in a boot, etc. is dangerous. Especially if the QB is hit while he is "trying to find the laces". Guaranteed fumble behind the LOS and thats a problem.

4: Flipping the ball distracts from the QB's eyes going through their read progression. Almost every QB that flips the ball, glances down to ensure they have the ball. Almost without question. Some are more obvious, others faster. Regardless, you are wasting motion and execution.

5: Weather can play a major role in the ball being slippery whether it is wet from sweat or rain, hard as a rock in the cold/snow, crappy football, grass field versus turf, etc. All of this makes ball control more of a challenge. Injecting risk like flipping the ball is a recipe for disaster.

6: Wearing gloves can impact how the QB receives and holds the ball. Flipping the ball injects risk.

7: Flipping the ball puts it in motion therefore there is NO ball security. I have seen QB's drop the ball because of this and pick it up to try and salvage the play. NOT GOOD!

8: On a short route set i.e 1 step, 0 step, slants, arrows, screens, etc. flipping the ball disrupts the QB's rhythm and play timing and takes time away from getting the ball in a short window.

9: If you are running RPO and your QB is flipping the ball, not only does it potentially disrupt the timing, but the ball is unsecured and now you have RB or Slot making contact with the QB for the RPO or Speed. I have seen so many fumbles as a result of the QB flipping the football!

10: Did I say mechanics and wasted motion? I am a stickler for efficiency in motion. Whether its the RB taking a false step, or the receivers wasting motion getting off the line or the QB flipping the football!

SOLUTIONS

While I understand the QB wants to get the laces just right, especially for mid to deep routes or when the QB needs to zip it in, but this may not always be possible. Aside from the reasons above as to why this is a problematic habit, here are few things you can do to help break the habit or minimize it.

1: Get a laceless football. Yes, they exists and you can get them on Amazon. Have your QB's take routes on air, indies, etc. with a laceless ball mixed with regular balls. Focus on using the laceless ball on the short and quick routes. This will force the QB to get the ball out faster regardless of where the laces are, because he is not looking for the laces. Take the snap and throw!

2: Every time your QB flips the ball from the snap, point it out and correct. If its bad, remediate with up downs, push ups, or some other punishment to make the point. Be reasonable and positive not negative. It doesn't call for 50 up downs, etc. But just like when a receiver drops the ball and they push out 10 push ups, this works for QB's as well. Maybe more for QB's because they are the captain of the offense and touch the ball every play. They are held to a higher standard. You get the idea.

3: Focus on your short routes and not thinking about the laces. When in a 0 or 1 step route set, help your QB's focus on getting the ball out fast and disregard the laces. Getting the ball out fast is the key not flipping the football! It will be ugly at first, but if you incorporate this, you will reap dividends.

4: Film your practices or use your iPhone to film your QB's during routes on air or indies, etc. and show them what they are doing flipping and not flipping. Be positive, but keep forcing the correction. The key is to minimize this behavior and focus on new more efficient behavior and mechanics.

5: Use your Center's with your QB's. Take snaps out of the gun and have your QB's catch and throw. Quick. NO flipping. Catch and throw. Have them throw to spots where the slant, comeback, corner, out, in, etc. will be. Make sure they are flipping their hips on these! Thats the only thing that should be flipping!

6: Lastly, run the same drill as #5, but incorporate the RB in RPO style handoffs or if you run PRO or I, Power I, etc. work the hand offs. You can still run play action from that.

This remediation is best done over the summer and spring. It may be ugly to start, it will feel very odd for your QB's to use a laceless ball, but I promise you...if you put that work in, it will pay dividends, increase QB ball security, improve play timing and execution and make your QB an elite QB. Its the little things that make players elite. If you are a QB, this is one of those skills.

Coach David Frederick