THE MIND of a Quarterback: Getting Ready for the Game

Playing the quarterback position is probably one of the hardest positions to play no matter, what sport you name. Does a pitcher have read a defense in a matter of seconds? Then while throwing the ball have to worry about getting smacked? No! This is what makes playing quarterback so hard you have to been mentally sound, then on top of that you have to have the physical gift. Now I have talked about some of the things to do as far as getting your body prepared to play the position. (See Quarterback workout)Now it’s time to go over some of the areas that make your mind ready for the game. Because there is no doubt about it being a quarterback means your mind has to be ready to react to anything at any given time.

Pressure

Alright imagine you’re in the game and your team is down but 5 points and where are you on the field? The seven yard line, with 1:42 on left on the clock, now for added drama this is the last game of the season for your team if you don’t get the 6! This is the exact situation that decides if the quarterback position is for you or if you need to pick another position or perhaps leave the game of football for good. The game is for men and men only so whenever you practice give yourself a pressure situation tell yourself if you don’t hit a certain amount of reps a certain amount of times you’ll lose! You can only play big in pressure situations if you practice that way. In the game of basketball what does jump shooters do well anyone you don’t even have to be a jump shooter, you take the ball dribble and count 10, 9, 8, this is what it takes to be a champion and ready to make the shot, the game of football is no different, every time you suit up or get ready to work out put some pressure on yourself with every throw every drill you have to beat yourself up because if you don’t someone else will! Why not let it be you? Many quarterbacks get boo’ed out of stadiums why not beat yourself up so that you prevent others from doing it. Once you have got it down to put pressure on yourself the next thing to do is work on the timing of your throws and decision making skills.

Timing

The qb position is based off timing on avg you have less than four seconds to get off the ball, more like 3 ½ play and do everything 3 ½ seconds at a time. Get come receivers at least two and have them run routes no matter what practice releasing the ball before the four seconds always have the timer in your head, if you have enough guys for the receivers to be covered than first off I would like to say you’re lucky to have so many friends around! Secondly have the receivers get covered and still practice this, practice until you make seven completions in a row, or perhaps you want to put the pressure on yourself to do even better do so! Always push yourself to the limit try getting rid of the ball sooner than 3 ½ seconds, however certain routes take sooner to develop so don’t be foolish launching a ball sixty yards deep and expecting someone to catch it. In the beginning you want to go through the motion focusing on your technique while you count in your head, after about two or three weeks of practice you’ll be a natural stop watch. Play once again with pressure if you don’t get the ball off before the mental clock then no matter what it’s an incomplete pass. Another great way to work on this timing drill is to create a pocket for yourself have two different receivers and three defensive players one for each receiver and then have the other guy line up thirty five yards away from your line of scrimmage, on hike let the guy come for you! If you don’t have pads on I don’t recommend he tackle you however we all played tackle without pads before, but I would recommend he just try to disturb your pass jumping in front of it and swapping at it just to play safe remember SAFETY IS PRICELESS. After timing the next thing you have to do is prepare.

Preparation

Preparation comes after pressure and timing to me because if you don’t have the timing or if you can’t handle pressure then you can prepare all day once you hit the field you’re going to fold like a mother doing laundry. However if you put pressure on yourself and work on timing preparing after all of this will only make you act better under pressure and help your timing improve with accuracy. How does a qb prepare? Well you have to watch as much football as possible, great players don’t just play they study the game. Every time you see a defense READ IT! Study it, analyze it know that being a quarterback means you’re only as good as your ability to figure out what the defense is doing. Read blitzes read whether they are in man or zone, figure out what they are doing, if you do this often enough you will become better and faster at it. Also note some of you may be reading and saying I’m not a pro I’m not even in college well I’ll say this SO! The sooner you start practicing and thinking like one the sooner you’ll be one. Once you learn how to read what the defense is doing then you need to figure out what routes give you the highest chance of success. After you have prepared well there is only more thing to do learn to wear a mask.

Disguise

If there is one thing that makes a difference between a good quarterback and a great one it’s being able to disguise what you’re doing. Many defenses will try to fool you, which is why you prepare but as a qb you need to be able to fool a defense. Many defensive players will attempt to read your eyes and your body language so use this to your advantage, learn to look off a defensive player, meaning look in one direction and then throw into another. Also work on pump faking then throwing the ball in the same direction or in another work on doing it all! Sense you have already worked on timing you should now try to throw a disguise in without disturbing that timing. This is important if you’re going to continue in the success of your timing don’t try to add or do a lot before actually getting the ball off. It will only lead you to getting sacked or maybe even worse fumbling. Whatever you do however don’t be known as the guy who throws to the first place he looks even if you know where you’re going to go practice hiding don’t get to excited to make a big play you give away the hot route.

In conclusion there are a lot of things you have to do in order to get your mind right for the quarterback position you first must get your mind set on the fact playing qb means pressure. Then you must work on the timing of your throws and drop backs getting the ball off quick and accurate. After you have accomplished this prepare, study for the game in which you supposedly love. Always look to perfect your craft. In last and probably the most important disguise your actions many quarterbacks have the timing but they give away where they are going and the great defensive players will key on this. Remember good offense beats good defense so you have to thing bigger and greater than the defense you go against. Be not good but be great and always strive in Excellency.