Michael M.

I have been coaching football at the High School level for about 5 years now, but I have been around the game, coaching or playing since I was 8 years old. I began playing football when I was 8 not having a clue of what I was doing, but I was immediately drawn to the game. I am currently a Quarterback coach at Alhambra High School, where I also played for 4 years.

My area of expertise is Quarterbacks. I have played the position from my early years of playing football all the way through high school. I like to focus on the little things, like foot work and throwing motion. Foot work is the most important tool a QB can have. With great foot work and mechanics, it turns a good QB into a great QB. Footwork will be worked with a series of cone, latter and directional drills that focus of the QB drops, rollouts, pocket presence, eluding pressure.

I will also work on the throwing motion. I break down every step of a QB throw, from the grip, ball placement, arm angle, shoulder rotation and release. I will also work throwing on the run along with touch passes.

A typical session will start with stretching and agility's, then move into warm up. In the warm up we start off 5 yards apart on both knees lightly throwing the ball back and forth. Being on both knee's forces you to really have to twist your torso to throw the ball. From there we stand up and move to 10 yards apart keeping our feet stationary, twisting and throwing. And then gradually move into stepping and throwing until prperly warm. After Warm up we will start with footwork. We will start with a brak down of the 3 and 5 step drops from under center. Next work 1 and 3 step drops from shotgun. Next will beging cone and latter drills. These drills incorperate QB drops along with pocket motions and hip and shoulder placement. Once that is done we will go into throwing on the run. QB starts from center, rolls out and throws to a target. We will work getting his hips and shoulders turned towards his target and get him moving towards the line of scrimmage during the throw. And to finish up I will put all foot work and throwing motion drills into one directional drill that involves drops, pocket awarness and throwing on the run.

At the end of each session I like speacing with the athlete to see what he/she thought of the session. Ask where they felt strong and what they think they need to work on. Also let them know that their weak points now will get better with practice. Wrap everything up with things they can work on at home and what we can do next time out.

I started playing football at the age of 8 and have played QB since then with a little Running back, Receiver and Line Backer mixed in here and there. I was a 3 time all-star QB from 6th-8th grade. As a sophomore in High School I threw for ver 1500 yards, 25 touchdowns and only 4 interceptions. That season we went 8-2, 5-0 in league and won the schools first Almont League Championship. I was named most outstanding back and offensive MVP for that season. Junior year I shared time with a division 1 prospect by the name of Dominic Brezele. Won another league championchip, threw for 1000 yards and 10 touchdowns. Did not play my senior year due to injury.

As a private coach, my most decerated player is an 11 year old QB. He plays for the Montebello Indians at the Jr. Midget level. He has played on 2 undefeded teams over the last 3 years and has won division championship the last 3 years. I am currently coaching at Sotomayor High School in Los Angeles, CA. This is going to be the first year of football at this school, so we have had to build the program from the ground up. Have brought our QB's all the way from never playing a down of football to beating teams like Taft and competing with a team like Hart High School.

A typical session will start with stretching and agility's, then move into warm up. In the warm up we start off 5 yards apart on both knees lightly throwing the ball back and forth. Being on both knee's forces you to really have to twist your torso to throw the ball. From there we stand up and move to 10 yards apart keeping our feet stationary, twisting and throwing. And then gradually move into stepping and throwing until prperly warm. After Warm up we will start with footwork. We will start with a brak down of the 3 and 5 step drops from under center. Next work 1 and 3 step drops from shotgun. Next will beging cone and latter drills. These drills incorperate QB drops along with pocket motions and hip and shoulder placement. Once that is done we will go into throwing on the run. QB starts from center, rolls out and throws to a target. We will work getting his hips and shoulders turned towards his target and get him moving towards the line of scrimmage during the throw. And to finish up I will put all foot work and throwing motion drills into one directional drill that involves drops, pocket awarness and throwing on the run.

At the end of each session I like speacing with the athlete to see what he/she thought of the session. Ask where they felt strong and what they think they need to work on. Also let them know that their weak points now will get better with practice. Wrap everything up with things they can work on at home and what we can do next time out.

Sessions will change with the athletes needs.