The Boise State Broncos battle for the WAC Championship against the Nevada Wolf Pack tonight at 8 p.m. Today’s Broncos Challenge is all about the quarterback position. This game is sure to be a duel between BSU’s QB Kellen Moore and Nevada’s QB Colin Kaepernick, two stars who play the same position but with decidedly different styles. Moore is one of the most efficient passers in the nation, while Kaepernick makes headlines for his rushing. Even if you’re not interested in playing quarterback, you can incorporate some of their skills into your workout routine.
The key components of this position are a good arm and good footwork. When it comes to throwing arm strength is secondary to accuracy. Everybody loves the drama of the Hail Mary, but it doesn’t help if the quarterback overthrows his receiver. To make an accurate throw, hips and shoulders should be aligned. For good fundamentals, always keep your eyes focused on your target. Pushing off your back foot helps propel your body forward, while pointing your front foot toward your target helps ensure accuracy. Finally, be sure the shoulder of the non-throwing arm is facing your target for proper positioning. These rules apply to long and short passes. Remember proper alignment in all of your conditioning to prevent injuries.
Although many would think the quarterback is all about the arm, footwork plays an important role in a quarterback’s success. NFL legends like Terry Bradshaw and Jim Plunkett seemed to have all day to find a receiver because their offensive lines kept defenders at bay, but most quarterbacks don’t have that luxury. Once the ball is snapped, the pressure is on. Quarterbacks need to move and change directions quickly as the scramble out of the pocket to look for an eligible receiver. A series of drills using agility ladders or cones are great for developing footwork. These help a quarterback learn to use small, quick steps and change directions when necessary. Crossover steps and shuffles are especially critical for this position.Whatever sport you play, speed and agility will likely help you.
Who will win tonight, and be crowned the WAC Champion: Wolf Pack or Broncos?
Read all of the Broncos Challenge articles
About the Broncos Challenge: Watching the big game doesn’t have to mean plopping down on the couch to eat and drink in excess. On every game day, this column features health-related articles to help keep you moving and eating healthy. So far, we’ve talked about having a healthier tailgate, working some exercise into your game watching, strength training, increasing speed, plyometrics training, increasing agility, how to do burpees, and what it takes to pass the NFL fitness test. Come back each game day for a new article. Go Broncos!
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