Mastering Scrambles and Coverage Adaptations: The Scramble Drill
The Scramble Drill is a dynamic exercise designed to refine both offensive and defensive skills in the face of a broken play. This drill simulates situations where the quarterback is forced to scramble due to pressure, requiring receivers to adjust their routes and the defense to adapt their coverage assignments.
Purpose
- Offensive Scramble and Receiving: Provides a platform for quarterbacks to practice their scrambling mechanics, pocket presence, and on-the-run throws. Receivers learn to adjust their routes based on the scrambling quarterback and find open space for potential receptions.
- Defensive Coverage Adjustments: Teaches defensive backs and linebackers to recognize a collapsing pocket, communicate adjustments, and adapt their coverage assignments to account for the scrambling quarterback and potential new receiving threats.
- Decision-Making and Communication: Encourages both offensive and defensive players to make quick decisions based on the developing play. Offensive players need to communicate potential scramble scenarios and hot routes, while defensive players must communicate coverage adjustments to maintain coverage integrity.
- Realistic Game Situations: The Scramble Drill replicates the chaos and uncertainty of a broken play, preparing both sides of the ball for success in real game situations where the quarterback scrambles.
Description
Drill Setup
- Personnel: This drill utilizes a “skeleton” defensive alignment to focus on pass coverage adjustments and reactions.
- Defense:
- Secondary: Align a basic secondary formation (e.g., Cover 2, Man coverage) with defensive backs positioned across from the offensive receivers.
- Edge Rushers: Position two additional defenders as edge rushers on either side of the line of scrimmage.
- Offense: A standard offensive formation with a quarterback (QB), running back (RB) (optional), and wide receivers (WRs) is sufficient.
Drill Execution
- Offensive Formation and Play Call: The offense lines up in a designated formation, and the quarterback verbally communicates the play call at the line of scrimmage (LOS).
- Snap and Initial Dropback: On the snap, the quarterback executes his dropback as the receivers run their assigned pass routes.
- Defensive Reactions: The defensive secondary players react to the offensive receivers based on the called coverage scheme. Edge rushers aggressively pursue the quarterback to simulate pressure and force a potential scramble.
- Scramble Simulation: At least one of the edge rushers must intentionally over-pursue the quarterback, collapsing the pocket and forcing a scramble drill. The other edge rusher continues to chase and attempt to tag the quarterback.
- Offensive Adjustments: Upon recognizing the collapsing pocket, the quarterback initiates a scramble drill by moving out of the pocket and avoiding the rush. Simultaneously, receivers adjust their assigned routes based on pre-determined scramble rules (e.g., breaking off deep routes, running towards open space behind the scrambling quarterback).
- Defensive Coverage Adjustments: Defensive backs and linebackers must communicate and adjust their coverage assignments based on the scrambling quarterback and the newly emerging receiving threats.
- Drill Repetition: Repeat the drill from various offensive formations, field positions (midfield, goal line), and both hashes, utilizing different pass plays to challenge both offensive and defensive players.
Coaching Points
- Balanced Approach: Emphasize that the Scramble Drill benefits both offense and defense. Offensive players work on scrambling mechanics, on-the-run throws, and receiver adjustments. Defensive players focus on recognizing pressure, communicating adjustments, and adapting their coverage assignments.
- Realistic Scrambles: Instruct edge rushers to realistically simulate collapsing the pocket and forcing a scramble, but avoid simply chasing the quarterback without any initial pursuit effort.
- Decision-Making and Communication: Stress the importance of quick decision-making for both the quarterback and receivers. The quarterback needs to identify pressure and decide when to scramble, while receivers must recognize the scramble and adjust their routes accordingly. Defensive players need to communicate coverage adjustments to maintain coverage integrity.
- Scrambling Mechanics: Coach the quarterback on proper scrambling mechanics, including footwork, pocket awareness, and throwing on the run.
- Receiver Adjustments: Instruct receivers on pre-determined scramble rules, such as breaking off deep routes and finding open space in the scrambling quarterback’s sight.
Equipment
- Footballs
The Scramble Drill offers significant advantages for developing offensive and defensive preparedness in broken play situations:
- Improved Scrambling Skills: Provides a dedicated environment for quarterbacks to refine their scrambling mechanics, pocket presence, and on-the-run throws.
- Enhanced Receiver Route Adjustments: Allows receivers to practice adjusting their routes based on a scrambling quarterback, fostering better improvisation and creating open opportunities.
- Sharpened Defensive Coverage Adaptations: Teaches defensive backs and linebackers to effectively communicate and adapt their coverage assignments in response to a scrambling quarterback, preventing big plays and potential touchdowns.
- Preparation for Real Game Situations: By simulating the chaos of a broken play, the Scramble Drill prepares both offensive and defensive players for real game situations where the quarterback is forced to scramble. Offensively, players gain confidence in their scrambling and receiving adjustments, while defensively, players develop the communication and recognition skills necessary to maintain coverage integrity.
Overall, the Scramble Drill is a valuable tool for any football program looking to develop a well-rounded offense that can capitalize on broken plays and a suffocating defense that can adapt to contain scrambling quarterbacks.
Originally contributed in 2007 by Coach Mike Emendorfer, Head Coach at University of Wisconsin at Platteville – he retired in November 2021 after the conclusion of the 2021 season – The Platteville Pioneers are playing in the NCAA III – Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
|
|
|
