mentor skills session

This video, from a coach from Harvard University football, reviews the base skills and techniques required to cover a Wide Receiver:

• Stance
• First Step
• Back Pedal
• The Weave – allows you to adjust to change in direction of the WR
• Open Technique - allows you to cover deep (vertical) routes (7, 8, 9).  Note that the coach goes over two details here, but they are part of the same skill
• Drive Technique - this allows for cover of shorter routes (1-6)

THE WR STANCE

Now that you know the route tree, let ensure you start your route with a good stance.  This video gives you the fundamentals of a good WR stance.

FOUR CONE ROUTE RUNNING DRILL

This is an easy drill to help with the short and medium routes (#1, 3, 4, 5, 6)

SIDELINE AWARENESS DRILL

In Mentor Flag Football, you only have to have one foot in bound to make a legal catch.  This is a good drill to help practice this skill.

QB DROP BACK

One of the things we see most often is the lack of separation between the QB and the steamboat counter.  Without this separation it is difficult to see down field and throw over the steamboat counter.

This video demonstrates the 5-step (for longer developing plays) & 3-step (quick plays) drop back.  The first step(s) "drive" you to where you want to go, the last step(s) settle you to throw.

Repetition is the best practice.  Use a line to ensure your drop back occurs in a straight line.

QB ROLL OUT

A QB roll out can be used to get the QB closer to their receiver target.

This video that focuses on technique as well as a simple drill which will require 4-5 cones / markers which outlines the path of the roll out for the QB.

Remember, the throwing position for a roll out is different from the position for the drop back.  The QB will need to square their shoulders to their receiver (ie: face the receiver) and step forward with the opposite leg of the throwing arm and then throw.

This video focuses on what the QB needs to do in a Hand-Off.  It covers both snaps from scrimmage and in the shot gun formation.

This video focuses on what the RB needs to do during the Hand-Off.  It focuses on three things a RB needs to do properly: 1) Mesh Point, 2) Pocket and 3) Posture. The video also reviews things that can go wrong during a hand-off involving the Pocket and the RB reaching for the football during a hand-off.

This video provides focus on what the RB needs to do post Hand-Off. The RB needs to  focus on 1) Ball Security, 2) Vision, 3) Finish. The video also provides a couple of drills for the RB:  1) Jump Cut Drill and 2) 3-Step Weave.

This final video provides instruction and drills on How to Make Sharp Cuts. Notice that the RB cuts with the leg opposite the direction in which they want to run. Finally, the drills show a number of people that are required to conduct the drill, however, you do not need these people.