Football Toolbox

Perfect Your QB’s Escape Technique: 3 Bail Drills That Improve Accuracy

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This article was originally posted on the Glazier Coaching Blog.

What drills do you use to teach your QB how to react when the pocket collapses and forces them to bail and make throws on the move? Coach Donnie Kirkpatrick shares three proven drills that will help your QB maintain pinpoint accuracy while escaping pressure, turning broken plays into explosive gains

Coach Kirkpatrick is the former Offensive Coordinator at East Carolina.  He shares six drills in all for developing a quarterback in his Glazier Drive presentation: Developing the QB Through Drills & Footwork.

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The “Bail Drill” helps quarterbacks practice escaping the pocket under pressure. Key points include:

  1. Movement Training:

  • Quarterbacks practice stepping up and escaping either left or right based on hand signals
  • They can either dip under pressure or spin out depending on the situation
  • For left-handed QBs like Holton, they practice escaping to their right more (2:1 ratio) since it’s more challenging

  1. Key Coaching Points:

  • QBs are taught to run toward their intended target rather than running east-west
  • Ball security is emphasized – coaches want two-handed ball carrying when scrambling
  • Players need to learn when to properly leave the pocket vs. staying in
  • The drill evolved to include defensive pressure simulation (though no contact)

  1. Scramble Rules for Receivers:

  • Specific zones are assigned based on depth and quarterback movement
  • Deepest receiver works the deep third area
  • Intermediate receivers work the 5-0 yard area
  • Backside receivers mirror the quarterback’s movement

  1. Practice Implementation:

  • Multiple quarterbacks practice simultaneously
  • Drills start at teaching pace before progressing to full speed
  • They incorporate these concepts into 7-on-7 drills
  • The team reviews game footage to show how drill work translates to real situations

  1. Additional Elements:

  • They practice “bail and pull up” situations where QBs must stop their momentum to throw
  • The team implements bootleg plays with multiple reading progressions
  • Emphasis on connecting practice drills to actual game situations to increase player buy-in