Submit your question to Coach Bass.

Note: Coach Bass receives nearly 100 email questions every week from NFLHS.com visitors. Because Coach Bass tries to respond to every question, you may not see your question answered immediately.

Many NFLHS.com visitors have very similar questions. Before you submit a question, be sure to read Coach Bass' columns about getting faster and getting bigger. Also, check out his columns about getting started in high school football.

Devin from Palermo sent the following question:

Hey Coach, my question has two separate parts. I am about 6', 225. I played D End and MLB in High School. I just moved to a new state to attend school and now play on a semi-pro football team. Some of the guys keep trying to push me to play Line (Offense and Defense) but I feel I am much more effective at MLB. Which do you think I would be better at? Also, is there anything specific to work on to ramp up my game to the next level? Anything that can give me the edge over competition would be really helpful! Thanks a ton, Coach.

Hi Devin,

As a compromise you might think of staying at MLB on defense and working at center on offense if you have to go both ways. Knowledge of how to play one position will help your understanding and performance when playing the other. I would certainly try to keep your position at MLB because of your experience at the position.

Besides getting yourself into the best shape possible, I think as a MLB, the more studying you can do to totally understand the entire defense, both versus the run and the pass, the better chance you have on nailing down the position. Visit with your coach and get into your playbook so that you know the responsibility of every player on the defense and not just the MLB spot. Stay positive and go out and have fun. Coach Tom Bass.

Ron from Ohio sent the following question:

Hey Coach, I'm in 9th grade and I'm getting ready for my second season on my high school's J.V. team. Last season I played guard and LB , both on second string. I would like to try out for QB this year. Do you have any tips and how can I show my coaches I would make a good QB?

Hi Ron,

The first thing you need to do is to let your coaches know you have a desire to play quarterback. They may not have any idea that you would like to try out for the spot.

You must realize that you will be starting all over at a position that demands a great deal of responsibility. You must have a complete understand mentally of the entire offense and then, physically, you will have an entire new set of techniques to learn, and many of them will be difficult.

You will have to demonstrate to the coaches that you can manage the team, call the plays correctly in the huddle, get the team up to the line, call the cadence, secure the snap, make all the handoffs and accurately make all the throws. This requires a great deal of extra practice and study away from the field.

The other consideration that I always caution players about who want to play quarterback is that there is only one quarterback spot when the offense is on the field.

I am not trying to discourage you from making the move, I just want you to understand what a tremendous challenge and the level of difficulty it is to play the position. Coach Tom Bass.

Minhaj from Mount Pleasant, Iowa sent the following question:

Hey Coach, I'm going to play football next year when I'll be a senior. I didn't play football my sophomore and junior years because my parents wouldn't let me. I'm not un-athletic. I run like a 4.62 40 yd dash. I'm 5'9 150 lbs. I'm going to be playing Wide Receiver. The problem is that we have a wide receiver that is going D1 to Iowa and the other receiver is an amazing freshman who can dunk it and is huge. I really want to start next year. So what do high school coaches look for the most in wide receiver to see if they should start or not?

Hi Minhaj,

Any coach, at any level, looks for his wide receiver to know how to run great pass routes, to demonstrate they have great hands and make an effort on every running play to get a block down field and spring the ball carrier.

It is going to be very important for you to watch the receiver who is a D1 prospect, learn from how he does things on the field, listen and absorb all the corrections the coach gives to him.

Don't worry about the freshman; he should not be a concern if you are in great shape and out work him on the field. Coach Tom Bass.

Kevonne from Lithonia sent the following question:

Hey Coach Bass, I'm 5"11 165 pounds. I was told by family friends and coaches that I was a great receiver. They said I could easily play division 1 football. I was a starter as a sophomore. But at the beginning of the season I tore my ACL. Then moved to a bigger school. That means more competition. After physical therapy, how can I get back on top of my game.

Hi Kevonne,

You need to really make sure that you are completely healed and have an OK from your doctor to continue your football career.

Since you are at a new school, I would try to get with the quarterback of the team as soon as possible, and start a workout schedule with him so that he becomes comfortable throwing to you. You want him to have the confidence that you will be where you are supposed to be on each route and that you will catch the ball when he throws it to you.

As always, set up a time to visit with the coaches before summer begins, inquire about any summer workout program they may have and let them know that you are very excited to be part of the team. Coach Tom Bass.

Nick from Clinton TWP, MI sent the following question:

Hey coach, I am a running back and I need to get faster. When I bust through the line with one hand on the ball I am fast. But when I carry the ball with both hands through the line I am slow. Any suggestions to get faster?

Hi,

It is very normal to be a little slower when you lose your normal arm action as you run. At the same time, ball security when going through the line is much more important than speed.

Even with both hands on the ball, your thought should be on keeping your legs churning with short steps with high knee action to develop power.

Try to think of bursting through the line and not just running up to the hole. Practice on you own starting with the ball, making a cut up the field into the line, securing the ball in both hands, bursting straight ahead for five yards and then secure the ball in one hand, lengthen your stride and pick up speed for the next ten yards. Go to your right and left, attack inside the tackles, off tackle and then wide to the outside.

You can do all of this on your own and learn to go from power to speed with practice. Coach Tom Bass.

To submit your question to Coach Bass, send an email to "Ask Coach Bass."

"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.

For a personalized autographed copy of "Play Football the NFL Way," plus information on Coach Bass Sport Maps--the new Official NFL Licensed Football Guides to watching, enjoying and understanding all the action on the field, for all fans--please visit www.CoachBass.com.

For information on Coach Bass' In-Depth Coaching Clinics, please visit Coach Bass' Clinics and Consultations.

Copyright © Thomas L. Bass 2007. All rights reserved.