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Making the Catch with the Pat-and-Go Drill

This is an excerpt from Complete Wide Receiver by Jay Norvell.

Making the Catch

Catching the ball outside the framework of the body is an important skill (figure 5.6). One of the biggest benefits to executing the pat-and-go drill every day is that the quarterbacks and receivers learn to throw and catch the ball outside the framework of the body. If players understand this skill, they will finish more big plays down the field over the course of the year. This skill (or lack of it) shows up all the time when teams throw deep. When the quarterback can consistently place the ball away from the defender, more completions will be made. When the receiver learns how to consistently keep his body between the defender and the football, he will either make the big catch or draw a pass interference penalty on his attempt to finish the play.

The back-shoulder throw is one of the most underutilized throws in the game, but the quarterbacks who can throw it effectively can really hurt defenders because it is nearly impossible to defend when thrown properly. The reason the back-shoulder throw is so tough to cover is because it is thrown while the defender has his back turned; he can't see the flight of the ball to defend it. The ball is thrown behind the defender so the offensive player can see it and adjust to it, but the defensive player is late to react. The fact that the defender can't see the ball to react makes this pass almost impossible to cover when executed properly. The pat-and-go drill (page 70) gives quarterbacks and receivers an opportunity to work on these throws daily. Many people work this drill without indicating which specific throws to make. By practicing the specific throws, every player develops the more difficult aspects of the passing game and is able to function at a higher level of execution. The key is to practice the throws on a regular basis. Remember, you get what you emphasize.

Catching the ball on the back hip is my favorite catching skill to drill because it happens so often. Every pass is not perfect; on a crossing route, when the receiver is running across the field on a dead run, the ball is often thrown behind him on his back hip. That receiver has to open his shoulders and his front hip to be able to catch the ball softly in his hands (figure 5.7). This happens often on the football field, and a receiver has to learn how to bend his body to get his hands in position to catch the football.

Spatial awareness is a big part of being an effective receiver. Most complete pass offenses try to attack the whole field, both horizontally and vertically. Some pass patterns are out breaking cuts designed to have the receiver catch the ball on the sideline. These out cuts are timing patterns for the quarterback that are meant to be thrown before the receiver even snaps his head around. The quarterback often throws the ball right on the boundary where no one can make a play on the ball except the offensive receiver. This is where a receiver must become adept at seeing the ball and simultaneously getting his feet down. Working a sideline toe tap is difficult because the player is doing two things at the same time. The receiver is often trying to track a fast-moving ball while running to the sideline, and he must catch the ball while simultaneously making sure that he has his feet clearly in the field of play. In pro football, the receiver must get two feet clearly in the field of play. In college football, only one foot has to be in play when the ball is caught for it to be called a legal catch. When we drill this skill at the college level, we have the players work to get two feet inbounds, because if they can get two feet in, then getting one foot in should be even easier in the game.

Learn more about Complete Wide Receiver.

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