How to Be a Drop Back Passer

Quarterback drops are the number of steps you take back from the line of scrimmage as a drop back passer before you set up in the pocket to throw the pass. Each of your passing plays will require you to make different drops. As a quarterback you want to ensure you take the correct number of strides for the timing between you and your receivers. To execute the both long and short passing plays, you must take the right number of backward strides to have a successful drop back passing game.

The drop back passing techniques are the three-step, five-step and the seven-step. Using the three for the quick hitter passes the five-step for the medium to long ball and the seven for long passes.

Each of the three drops use basically the same footwork, the three has you taking one long stride starting with the foot on your passing arm side, followed by two shorter quick steps. The second step being a cross over with the opposite foot and the final stride is your plant step, setting you up to throw the pass. You will use the three for quick short timing patterns.

Drop back passing in the five is very much like the three, the difference being your footwork requires 5 steps. Take three long backward strides, and like in the three, you are crossing over on the second back step. The first three steps are followed by two quick steps, the last step being your plant step to deliver the throw. The five uses more time allowing the receivers to run their medium and longer routes.

Seven follows the same pattern as the three and five drops. You take your first backward step using the same foot as your passing arm, taking 5 long backward steps, crossing over on the second and fourth steps, followed by 2 shorter quick steps, the last one being your plant step. You will be using the seven for the long passes, the seven steps giving you and your receivers the timing needed for that longer routes.

In conclusion, being a drop back passer requires you know the footwork for each of the three drop back patterns your offensive scheme requires. Each footwork drill is similar and used for different passing patterns. The three-step drop for short timing patterns, the five-step for medium and longer passing routes and the seven-step drop back for the long passing patterns.

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