We all know that determining whether a high school or college quarterback will be successful at the next level is an inexact science. Besides the physical tools needed, character, the emotional side, intangibles, and mental state all are part of an athlete’s make-up that will help decide how he performs.
When Ryan Leaf and Peyton Manning came out of college the same season, many NFL general managers thought Leaf would be the better pro quarterback. JeMarcus Russell of LSU, the number one pick of the 2007 draft, was labeled a ‘can’t miss’ franchise quarterback. Everyone knows what happened to both Leaf and Russell. While these are examples of college players becoming pros, the same transition happens yearly as high school quarterbacks become college signal-callers.
Quarterback is clearly the most visible position on the field and, arguably, the most important. Yet no one knows going into a season what will happen. In this issue of GS, David Needs, the Assistant Head Coach and Quarterbacks Coach at Carson-Newman College, discusses their approach to the teaching and development of the quarterback position. ‘Developing the Quarterback with a Macro and Micro Approach’ discusses work on a quarterback’s individual skills before the offense is installed. That way, the quarterback “sees perspective on the field, is equipped with tools to be successful, and is given confidence to execute.”
This issue of GS also includes clinic articles on ‘Coaching Running Back Reads in the Inside Zone’, ‘Defensive Line Play – Setting the Tempo by Attacking and Reacting’, ‘Drills for Outside Linebackers in Today’s 3-4 Schemes’, and ‘Wide Receiver Techniques and Releases.’ Additionally, the strength and conditioning coaches for Catholic University – Brian Zyglocke and Kevin Barger – detail a complete summer position-specific conditioning program.
Coaches Zyglocke and Barger explain that conditioning players should be specific to their on-field movements. Conditioning drills for O-linemen are different than those for a linebacker. The skill set for each position includes sprints, various lateral movements and change of direction running.
We welcome your comments and hope you enjoy this issue of GS.
Respectfully,
Rex Lardner
Managing Editor