Last updated on October 27th, 2023 at 05:17 pm
A quarterback in College Football, Canadian Football, or the NFL is the leader of the offense. They are the ones that hear the play call from the offensive coordinator via their radio helmet and then relay that info to their teammates in the huddle. Not only that, but the QB needs to understand each play entirely, so they need to learn the playbook during practice before every game.
Before the QB takes a snap from the center to begin the offense, they survey the defense. If the QB determines a mismatch where the defense can stop the offensive play from generating positive yards, they will call an audible. An audible is when a play (offense or defense) changes to a different play formation at the last second.
Once the ball is snapped from the center to the QB, the QB needs to pass the ball, hand it off, or even run with it themselves. They need to time their pass to an eligible receiver perfectly to generate positive yards on the play. During a running play with a halfback, they need to hand the ball off, and when they run, they need to make sure they don’t get injured.
What is the Role of the Backup Quarterback Position?
A backup quarterback has a few primary responsibilities. First, they take the same drills as the QB during practice to understand the playbook and substitute for the starting quarterback if anything happens during a game. For example, the starting quarterback might get injured during a game, so the backup needs to come in and continue the starting QB’s strategy.
Second, backups are usually watching the game in real-time with what the QB is doing. For example, you might see the backup QB sit with the starting QB when the offense is on the sidelines. Having the QB look at the replay video with the backup QB can uncover their mistake on a play or see how they could be effective on a specific pass. There is a lot of communication between the two players since the backup is watching the QB and giving them instant feedback during the game.
Third, backup quarterbacks are usually part of special teams via the field goal attempt. They are the ones who catch the football from the long snapper and then need to place the ball on the ground for the kicker to kick. Teams have them as the holder on a field goal attempt because they can pass on a trick play, which means the holder now becomes the QB and can pass the ball.
What Makes for a Good Quarterback on a Football Team?
A good quarterback in high school, college, or the NFL needs to have a few things. First, the QB needs to be a leader who can command the respect of their team. The QB needs the players to trust them on their play calling.
Second, a QB needs to read what the defensive players are doing and counter their defense with an audible if required. For example, the head coach might call a running play, but the QB sees the defense blitz as they line up on the line of scrimmage. If that is the case, the QB can quickly call an audible for a screen pass to a receiver to counter the blitz.
Third, a QB needs to be accurate with their passes to eligible receivers. For instance, Aaron Rodgers led the league with a 70.7% pass completion rate and led the league with 48 touchdowns in 2020. Meanwhile, Drew Lock had a 57.3% pass completion rate and led the league with 15 interceptions in 2020. Not throwing the ball inaccurately to receivers can lead to more interceptions, hurting the NFL team trying to win the game.
Fourth, a QB needs to be mentally and physically tough. While this football position doesn’t get hit as often as a running back, for example, they still might get knocked down on throws from defensive backs. A strong QB needs to be mentally tough to take a hit and physically tough to recover from being hit to the ground multiple times throughout a game.
What Quarterback has the Most Super Bowl Wins?
Tom Brady has the most super bowl rings in his career, with six coming with the New England Patriots and one with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Below is a list of the QB’s with the most rings in their career. If you want the complete list of players, you can visit SI.com.
- Tom Brady: 7 Super Bowl Rings
- Joe Montana: 4 Super Bowl Rings
- Terry Bradshaw: 4 Super Bowl Rings
- Troy Aikman: 3 Super Bowl Rings
- Eli Manning: 2 Super Bowl Rings
Conclusion: What is a Quarterback in Football
In summary, a quarterback is one of the most important offensive players on the field. The QB needs to be in sync with their head coach and run the offense the way they want for that game. Not only does the QB need to be the leader on the field, but they need to throw the ball accurately on every play and give their team the best chance to score on offense with last-second play calling.
Similar Posts:
What is the Heisman Trophy in College Football?
How Many Players are on a Football Team?
What is the Two Minute Warning in Football?
What is an Interception in Football?
How Many Points is a Touchdown in Football?
What is a Tight End in Football?
What is the Red Zone in Football?
What is a Running Back in Football?
What is a Wide Receiver in Football?
What is the Pocket in Football?
Greg Kristan, owner of The Stadium Reviews, LLC and TM Blast, LLC, brings his extensive experience visiting over half of the MLB ballparks, along with numerous MLS, NHL, NBA, and NFL venues, to provide in-depth coverage on the bag policy, food options, and parking. He has also been interviewed about his experiences on several sports podcasts.