Handoffs

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Proper footwork is vital on every hand-off. Improper steps can result in the quarterback not quite reaching a ball carrier on a handoff. The result can be an insecure handoff, or the quarterback may miss the handoff completely and find that he has the ball and nowhere to go. It is the responsibility of the quarterback to get the ball to the ball carrier property. Once the handoff has been executed, the ball carrier assumes the responsibility for making certain the ball is secure.

Because a variety of offenses are used these days, the numbers and types of running plays have increased greatly. The basic steps needed for the running plays found in most offenses will be detailed here. If some other style of footwork is desired by a coach, the quarterback should learn the desired footwork and incorporate it into his practice routine. But no matter the offense, foot-work, carefully choreographed and meticulously practiced, ensures that the quarterback is in the best possible position to hand the ball to the ball carrier on each running play.

Learning footwork does not require a running back or a center in the drill. In the beginning, it is best if the quarterback works alone, or with just his coach. The quarterback's steps and the body movement he needs for each running play should become relaxed and automatic before the running back enters the drill.

Initially, the quarterback can grasp the ball as if he already has received it from the center. Because physical techniques and skills are learned much better when the drill focuses on only one technique, the quarterback should not concern himself with taking the snap or actually handing the ball to the running back when he is concentrating on his footwork.

Drill: Shallow Handoff Footwork

If working with a coach, the coach will tell the quarterback which way he wants him to move--either to the right or to the left. By lining up on the side of the quarterback's movement, the coach can observe the footwork. He also can make certain that the quarterback has turned his head around and is focusing on the spot where the running back will originate his movement.

On the command "Hut!," the quarterback should take a short cheat or lead step with his foot in the direction in which he is moving. This step need not be more than six inches.

The quarterback should hold the ball in both hands, belt high and close to his stomach. It must be emphasized to the quarterback that he must protect the ball at all times, that it always should be securely grasped in both hands, and that it should never be away from his body until he is ready to give it to a teammate.

The next, more elongated, step with the far foot should be down the line of scrimmage, bringing the quarterback to a point at which he can extend his arms and his hands, plus the ball, away from his body in preparation for the handoff.

While he takes the second step, the quarterback should be certain he has turned his head and located the position of the coach. Later in his development, the quarterback will be focusing on the running back who is to receive the ball.

After simulating the handoff, the quarterback can take three steps away from the line of scrimmage, then continue to the outside.

Drill: Deep Angle Handoff Footwork

A two-step movement by the quarterback also is required prior to a deep angle handoff. The difference is that the handoff now takes place away from the line of scrimmage, in the offensive back-field.

For this handoff, the coach is aligned seven yards deep and closer to the quarterback than he was in the previous drill. This positioning allows the quarterback ample area to move, in addition to giving him an area to focus on and a good idea where the running back will be coming from to receive the ball.

nce again, the quarterback's first step is a short cheat step with his foot in the direction in which he is going. Because the quarterback is moving away from the center, the length of the first step should be cut down to ensure that the snap is executed correctly. More than anything else, the first step establishes the direction of the quarterback must go to execute the handoff. This step takes the quarterback away from the line of scrimmage. It also opens his hips so that the second step allows him to move farther from the line, at an angle to his right or left.

On the second step, the quarterback turns his head and shoulders around and focuses on the coach. As he completes the second step, his arms and hands and the ball can be extended to simulate a handoff.

Once the quarterback has finished the motion of the handoff, he should return the ball to his stomach and continue to move to the outside.

This type of deep handoff is most common on I-Formation tailback plays in which the objective is to give the running back an opportunity to cut in either direction after receiving the ball.

Drill: Far Back Handoff Footwork

In this exchange, the quarterback comes almost straight back from the line of scrimmage to hand off the ball. The cheat step will be taken by the foot opposite the direction in which the quarterback is going. The slight step guarantees that the quarterback will be able to take the snap from the center.

The quarterback should turn his body away from the line of scrimmage to take a longer second step, putting him in position to make the handoff as the back comes across the backfield.

The quarterback's head and shoulders should be turned so that he sees the coach instantly. On the second step, the quarterback should extend the ball as if handing off. After extending his arms, the quarterback may take two more steps away from the line of scrimmage, then continue to his right or left.

Drill: Reverse Pivot Handoff Footwork

The quarterback actually pivots away from the center for this type of handoff. The cheat step is a short step up with the foot in the direction that he desires to go. This ensures that the quarterback will not separate too quickly from the center (when the center is incorporated into the drill).

The quarterback then pivots on the cheat step foot, bringing his hips and body around as he takes a second step with the far foot. The quarterback actually will be turning his back to the line of scrimmage briefly as he pivots and takes the second step.

Because the quarterback is pivoting and not opening up directly to the side of the ball carrier, it becomes more important than ever that the quarterback turns his head around as quickly as possible. The quarterback must focus on the coach as soon as he can.

As soon as he completes his second step, the quarterback extends the ball in the motion of the handoff. After the quarterback has made the movement, he pulls the ball back in and continues moving to the outside.

This type of footwork is used when the quarterback gives the ball to a fullback who is lined up directly behind him.

Drill: Reverse Pivot Pitch Footwork

To pitch the ball instead of handing it off, the quarterback uses the same footwork he used on the previous drill. The difference is that instead of extending the ball away from his stomach to make a hand-off, the quarterback now moves the ball more to his hip on the side of the pitch and forcibly extends his arms to simulate the movement he will use when he flips the ball underhanded to the running back. After simulating the pitch, the quarterback should quickly drop straight back, away from the line of scrimmage.

This technique is used when the ball is pitched in single-back formations or to I-formation tailbacks on wide running plays.

As in all the drills, the quarterback's speed in locating and focusing on the coach or running back is critical. The coach must be certain that the quarterback turns his head around quickly and that he is not looking out into space.

Because the footwork used by option quarterbacks varies greatly with the actual style of option offense being run, it is not included in this book. Should your team be an option team, it is essential that you understand and practice the footwork desired by your coach. The manner of pitching the ball on the op-tion pass also will vary, but it is similar to a chest-high basketball pass, with the ball pitched back by the hand that is farthest from the line of scrimmage.

Once the quarterback feels comfortable with the basic footwork, the center should be introduced to the drills. The quarterback and the center then should practice all of the handoff plays together.

Once the quarterback-center exchange is taking place correctly, a coach can stand in the position of the ball carrier. From this position, the coach can observe the movement of the quarterback, making certain that he is focusing quickly and is using the proper footwork on each play.

At first, the quarterback may feel that he is slow in his movements. But, as he and the center work together more and more, his speed of movement should increase.

In this center and quarterback practice, it is imperative that the center go through his normal blocking motion. By moving as he would in a game, the center gives the quarterback a feel for actual game conditions. This movement also forces the quarterback to stay under the center and not pull away too soon. The emphasis, even in practice, is on the quarterback always securing the ball before moving away from the center.

"Play Football The NFL Way" is the first Instructional Manual for Football Players and Coaches ever published by the NFL. It is the ultimate position-by-position guide of techniques and drills for Offense, Defense and Special Teams. Author Tom Bass is a former NFL coach with more than 20 years of experience with the Cincinnati Bengals, San Diego Chargers, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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Copyright © Thomas L. Bass 2006. All rights reserved.