This weekend I will host a Quarterback Camp at our HS for QBs from all over the state. I started hosting these back in the summer of 2002. The one this weekend is set to get QBs ready as they go into spring practice.
The drills we do are very basic. I would describe most of them as alignment, footwork, and throwing with your core. Very simple stuff, but sound & incredibly effective. I know this for a fact, because these drills “saved” me.
The summer before my sophomore year of HS, I attended Phil Simms’ QB Camp at Morehead State University. The year was 1980. I was awful…but I made up for it by being incredibly unathletic. The only thing I had going for me is that, as the son of a football coach, I knew the game fairly well. After that, it was a stretch to find positives.
That week at camp we did the same drills over and over. I had to change the way I threw. The transition made me throw the ball even worse, as impossible as that may sound. But, as the week progressed, I finally started to get a handle on the new way I was throwing the ball.
My release had been awful. The camp had me able to throw over the top, which was great since I was going to usually have at least a couple of guys in my face on most throws. It was 1980 and our team was struggling. We had to spend our time on run blocking and I understood that.
I had a weak arm, or to be more accurate, my lack of athleticism meant that I had trouble using what few, weak muscles I did possess in my core and lower body to throw the ball. The drill work that week helped me to harness every ounce of strength in my body to throw the ball. I didn’t have much strength, but everything I had was going into each throw.
I returned to the camp in 1981. By 1982, my senior year, it was no longer the Phil Simms QB Camp, but I did return and began to get a little confidence.
When I was finally our starting QB my senior season, the drill work from camp had made me into a competent HS QB….which was a huge accomplishment considering where I had started. We struggled, but we had an effective passing game that helped to keep us in games we had no business being in, and even helped us win 3 games. Our passing game was simple but effective versus defenses that were sold out to stop the run.
I wish I had been a more talented player. But, the struggles I had made me appreciate what little bit of success I did have as a player. It helps me understand and coach the guy that shows up to play football that has no coordination and no other coach of any sport in our school would want on his team.
I also think those struggles made me a much better coach. I had to learn EXACTLY how to throw a football. Sometimes, guys with natural talent struggle to do the little things right. For me, there was no such thing as something little. If I did it wrong, I was awful. That attention to detail goes a long way in helping you later be able to instruct and explain it to others.
And, I have been fortunate to coach some GREAT QBs like my own Neal Pawsat & Dustin Grutza, or Patrick Towles from Highlands who is now the starter at the University of Kentucky and Clay McKee who lead Scott County to the 6A KY HS Football State Championship in 2013.
After 10 + years of these camps, I will hear from guys that say the drills made them much better. That means a lot to me. My experience playing HS football was a great time in my life. To think I could help another HS QB have that experience after one day of camp really motivates me. Those memories from 1982 are never far from my mind….go ahead and call me Al Bundy….I can take it.
It is after midnight on Thursday night. Camp is Saturday morning. I am up working on camp, ordering T-shirts, and finishing up this blog. I will have some talented kids roll in here Saturday morning. I will have some guys walk through the door that will be worse than I was. But, for all of us, we will be getting ready for the incredible experience we call Friday night HS football. It would be great if I could be in their shoes on one more Friday night. But, if I can be a small part of making their Friday nights a little bit better, maybe help add a couple of memories that will last a lifetime, I will know my time was well spent and in a small way I will get to be that guy in the red helmet, September, 1982….one more time.