In this edition of “Inside the Helmet” we break down the Running Back position with former All Pro Running Back Fred Taylor!

In this edition of “Inside the Helmet” we break down the Fullback position with All-Pro Vonta Leach of the Baltimore Ravens.

In this edition of “Inside the Helmet” one of the NFL’s fastest players gives us the Skinny on how he approaches the game and offers advice for young players coming into college and the NFL!

Inside the Helmet kicks off with our first edition which covers the Tight End position. Hall of Fame Tight End, Shannon Sharpe sits down with us to break down the position that he mastered for so many seasons in the NFL!

The first thing to consider when throwing a football is grip,Everyone has a different grip. Its all about what is comfortable. Start by putting your thumb under the football so that other fingers can grasp the laces. Use the laces of the football to throw a good spiral. Put your ring finger on the second lace from the top and your pinky should be on the fourth lace from the top,Your ring finger is critical. That is what puts the spin on the ball. Spinning the ball is usually what kids have the most trouble with in the beginning. Be sure to use an age appropriate football. Beginners should use smaller footballs so they can learn to properly use of the laces.

Before throwing, keep two hands on the ball and make sure your shoulders are parallel. Hip and shoulder movement should occur at the same time in order to get the proper torque on the ball.

You want to step into the throw with your legs and be sure to get your shoulders around You want to transfer the energy off your back foot to the front foot. Essentially, your back foot comes off the ground as a part of your release. Think about it like a boxer hitting a punching bag. Energy is transferred from the back foot in one motion as the shoulder moves forward and the hand hits the bag. That movement creates torque and a stronger punch. Throwing a football is similar. You want to use the entire body, transferring weight from the foot to the shoulders so you can move all that energy forward in your throw.

Having the strongest arm doesnt necessarily translate into being a great quarterback. The position takes years to master through consistent practice. The technical aspects of the position are vital, but another critical component is simply experience throwing the football. The more one throws, the better they understand how the ball moves in the air, timing of pass catchers and the important aspect of touch. When you have the right touch on the ball it becomes a lot easier to catch and thats important for the people you’re throwing to. There are times when you need to put zip on the ball and times when you float it there. A quarterback must master all types of throws and to do that, you must throw and throw often.

SECURE THE BALL:
As a running back, you have to take care of the ball. That means keeping it high and tight so that defenders can’t get their hands or helmets on it. And if they do, you want to have it tucked so securely that the ball never pops loose. Remember, the point of impact is the most crucial time to have the ball fully secured.

GET UNDER THE TACKLER:
This is all about winning the leverage battle. If you get lower than the man trying to tackle you, you’ll be able to drive him versus him driving you. Getting under the tackler also negates any size advantage he may have. Stay low at the point of contact with your feet under you, and it’s going to be very tough for him to take you down.

DRIVE THE LEGS:
It’s critical that you keep your forward momentum, even after absorbing a hit. Don’t allow yourself to be stood up. Stay low with a strong forward lean and keep your legs driving at all times. When your legs stop, the play stops so you always want to keep them pumping. It’s the effort you give after a hit that gets you those extra yards.

FOREARM BLOW:
Remember to use your whole body when trying to gain yards after contact. This includes giving the tackler a strong forearm blow to keep him from wrapping up. This extra jolt could be the difference between getting stopped and getting free, so make sure you bring it. At the very least, it’ll buy you some extra inches to keep the chains moving.

GET DOWNFIELD:
After you’ve secured the ball, you want to make sure to get your momentum going down field. This forces defenders to react to you and your progress, versus them coming up and making a play on you. You basically want to put them in a defensive posture. Once you’ve turned downfield you should also get your speed up and gain as much positive yardage as possible.

SQUARE DEFENDER’S FEET:
When a potential tackler enters your path, you want to approach him at an angle that puts his feet square to you. If his feet are square to you, it gives you the freedom to make your move to either side right or left. If his feet are angled one way and he’s forcing you in one direction, you won’t have as much of that freedom. Best to keep him squared up in your approach.

SWITCH HIS HIPS:
The key to getting a tackler out of position is making him adjust his hips. If you fake inside or outside and get him to turn his hips that way, you can quickly cut back and force him to turn his hips again. Now you’ve forced him to turn his hips twice, which is very difficult to recover from. Once his hips are switched, you can either cut back with a quick step or spin off him.

BLOW PAST HIM:
Once your defender’s off-balance and you’ve got that step, it’s time to turn on the jets. A quick burst of speed will prevent the tackler from recovering, and your speed will make it more difficult for the next defender to get his hands on you. Remember, after you’ve blown past a tackler, keep your eyes up field and see where the best path for maximum yardage is.

 

What is the most important factor in catching a football?

Vincent Jackson: It’s all about your eyes. If your eyes are not focused properly on the ball, your hands won’t get into the best position to receive it.

What part of the football should the eyes be focused on?

 
Vincent Jackson: The cross hairs. When you look at a ball, especially one that is coming in your direction, you should be able to see the two crosshairs, the seams at the tip of the ball coming at you. By focusing on that tip of the ball, even more specifically the crosshairs of the ball, you improve the chances that your hands will be positioned properly, increasing your chances of catching the ball.

What is the proper position of the hands?

Vincent Jackson: The easiest way to visualize this is by grabbing a football. Take the tip, crosshairs, and point it to your face. Now, form a triangle with your index fingers almost touching each other and the same with thumbs around the tip of the ball. Then place the rest of your fingers on the ball following the angle of the football. Another important thing to remember is that your fingers should be the only thing touching the ball, not your palms. Now drop the ball and maintain the same hand position and you will have the proper hand positioning to catch a football.

What is the most important aspect of hand placement?

Vincent Jackson: Catching it with your fingers and not your palms. Your fingers have elasticity in them, so when the ball hits your fingers it naturally takes away some of the balls energy (speed). If you try to catch a ball with flat hands, the ball will hit your palms, which is a harder surface and the ball will be more likely to bounce out of your hands.

Any other thoughts about catching the ball?

Vincent Jackson: Yes. The best way to learn to catch as a youngster is to use your hands. But there are times when I will have to take a big hit and that is when I chose to let the ball into my body and almost cradle it a little. However, this is a skill and it has taken years for me to learn how to do this without the ball bouncing off my body. Also, the technique we’re talking about is hand position for balls above your waist. You need to have your hands placed differently for balls coming at you below your waistline.

Nnamdi Asomugha, cornerback for the Oakland Raiders, discusses how to play man-to-man coverage, with off coverage technique, in just four steps. Nike Football Pro Moves is a great resource “to be the best, learn from the best”. This football training video offers a valuable perspective from Nnamdi Asomugha.

Start Deep:You want to start 7 yards deep and give yourself a little gap to be ready. That means stay low and loose as the receiver comes toward you. Keep your eyes focused on your hips and watch for the turn where he’s going to try to get past you. You’re not going to let that happen.

Turn On Time:The turn is all about the timing. You want to turn about 3 or 4 yards ahead of him, so you’re not completely sold in case he wants to run by you. Your 3 or 4 yards is your cushion, and you want to turn before the receiver breaks that cushion. If he breaks it, you might lose either way.

Break Underneath:When he’s ready to break, you’ll know it. Watch his hips and watch them turn towards his new destination. Get between the receiver and the ball and beat him to the ball. You have the angle and the speed to get there when he does. If not before.

Upfield Hand:There’s a lot of ways to break up a ball, but here’s the right way. Use the upfield hand to reach and swat it away, and leave your other hand to take him down in case it gets past you. You are securing the tackle, and securing the ball at the same time.