Mancuso Quarterback Manual

Mancuso Quarterback Manual

2006

Introduction –

This manual is to serve a three fold purpose:

1. Broaden the knowledge of opposing defenses.

2. To help a quarterback handle the pressures of playing the position.

3. Aid in the development of quarterbacks physical and mental skills.

A QUARTERBACK MUST BE AN EXTENSION OF THE HEAD COACH

A QUARTERBACK MUST ACCEPT THREE FACTS THAT GO WITH THE

POSITION:

1. Quarterback, as a position, is more important then any other position in sport.

2. Quarterbacks will be subject to more criticism and second guessing then any other

player or coach.

3. Knowledge, repetition, and concentration lead to consistency. Preparation is the only

way to develop into a championship QB.

Rules a Quarterback Must Follow:

1. Know who is in the huddle.

- count your men, know who is and isn’t in, and do not allow the huddle to break

with too many men. If you need to send someone off, hold the huddle until they reach

the sideline.

2. Survey the field prior to the snap.

- identify middle backers / try to identify defense, especially those players that

will be playing underneath coverage, identify receivers with soft coverage.

Mancuso Quarterback Manual 2

3. Throw the ball away.

- if no one is open the first option for a QB is to run the ball. If this option will

not gain yardage a QB needs to throw the ball away safely.

4. Manage the Game.

- a QB must know and identify situations during a game.

a. when he cannot take a sack, and when it is better to take the sack.

b. when to stop the clock; whether through spiking, throwing away, or

getting out of bounds. He must also remind his teammates of

these things in the huddle.

c. when and how to slow the tempo down and let the clock run.

5. Throw the ball away.

- for most QB this will only become instinctive through repetition, hence the

repetition of the rule.

6. Take care of the ball.

- in all situations take care of the ball. Never be sloppy/careless with the ball. Do

all you possibly can to avoid turnovers.


Correcting Throwing Inefficiencies:

Symptom Causes

Inaccuracy ………………………………………… Initial step not on target – throwing

across body – poor concept

of receiver’s routes – step too

short/long – releasing

ball too early/late

Lack of velocity …………………………………….Weight not transferring from back

foot to front foot – poor hip

and shoulder rotation – not

following through

No Spiral ……………………………………………not pronating wrist – throwing

across body – improper

release – jerky motion – elbow

too wide – grip too far forward

or too far back on ball

Recognizing Defensive Techniques

Equally important to identifying coverage is the ability to identify individual technique

played by defenders.

1. Retreating zone corner – outside leverage and backpedaling.

2. Retreating man corner – inside leverage and backpedaling.

3. Rolled Corner – squatted corner trying to engage the receiver.

4. Cat Corner – tight squatted corner playing inside and underneath the receiver.


Tip offs for coverage’s -

1. Check the eyes of the corners. If they are looking in at the QB or in at the ball it is a

tip off for zone coverage. If they are looking straight at the receiver it is a tip off for

man to man coverage.

2. Horizontal alignment. If they corners are shaded to the inside it is likely man to man.

If the corners are shaded to the outside it is likely zone coverage.

3. Posture of defender – crouched lower if man to man – more erect if zone

4. Depth – may line up closer if man to man – deeper if zone.

Use of motion to determine coverage (pre-snap)

1. No adjustment – zone

2. Outside LB’s (defensive ends) widens and/or deepens – zone

3. DB’s widen – zone

4. LB or DE runs with motion – man to man

5. DB runs with motion – man to man

6. DB runs with motion, but he or other DB’s widen and/or deepen – zone

QB Tips vs. zone coverage –

1. Understand where the LB’s (and underneath coverage people) are, they are the

intercept people. The WR should beat the DB’s, but the LB’s (and underneath

coverage people) try to take away the throwing lanes.

2. Use your eyes / head / shoulders to influence the drops of the defenders.


QB Tips vs. man to man coverage -

1. You must be ready to throw, anticipating the receiver making his break.

2. Know your personnel and who has the best chance to beat their defender.


Concepts

Offset Throwing Concept –


Window Concept

1. Receivers will be covered at some points in their routes, a quarterback must anticipate

when they will open up and hit the receiver in the holes of the zone.

2. At times the QB will need to shuffle in the pocket in order to find the passing lanes.


Drills –

1. Carriage Drill –

- get on a line

- emphasizes the natural carriage of the ball on a drop

- emphasizes length on strides

- fairly good conditioner

2. Throwing Sequence Drill –

1. Right Knee

2. Left Knee

3. Parallel Standing

4. Correct Shoulder

5. Wrong Shoulder

6. Spin to Throw


3. Progression Drill –

- mental drill, not strenuous

- play is called, QB takes proper drop back, then goes through progressions.

- continue drill until QB has thrown to each receiver in the progression.

4. Window Drill –

- QB takes drop

- finds receiver in holes in the zone


5. Flush Drill –

- emphasis on shuffling in pocket, while keeping shoulders in line for throw.

- coach points right or left for shuffle direction, then QB throws to that side after

shuffle.


6. Warm Zone Drill –

- QB takes drop, hits receiver in hole

- hit receiver in warm zone, don’t lead him into defenders

- work on timing so receiver doesn’t get killed


7. Scramble Scoring Drill –

- QB must scrabble away from defenders

- throw ball away safely and legally, do not take sack

- need several demo players to chase QB

- Vary the pass play calls


8. Beat’em Drill –

- this drill emphasizes a full speed drop with quick release principles.

- QB takes full speed drop and eyeballs the defender, who is positioned at middle

cone.

- the defender breaks to one of the outside cones on QB last step

- the idea is to get the ball completed to receiver before the defender can deflect it.


9. QB Shuffle Drill –

- this drill stresses sifting in the pocket and quick release principles

- QB takes full speed drop and settles

- coach directs QB to move right, left, forward, or backward

- all movement is initiated with back foot, so when coach directs QB to throw it

will already be established as a base foot.


Documents

Mancuso Quarterback Manual