June 13, 2025
Independent 7on7 leagues—teaming up with your friends to create “dynasties.” Traveling statewide to compete against teams from every corner of Florida. It’s a new football culture—like the AAU basketball scene I grew up watching, only now it’s cleats, gloves, and custom drip on turf fields.
And man, do the kids love it.
Players, families, refs, and spectators all gather to engage in what’s become the hottest offseason activity around. It’s fast-paced, fun, competitive—and way better than sitting on the couch playing video games all summer. But for quarterbacks especially, it should come with a warning label.
Just like the message on your car mirror— “Objects in mirror are closer than they appear”—7on7 can distort reality. It creates a false notion of progress. No pass rush. No pocket. No real sense of timing. Receivers freelancing routes. Defenses sitting in artificial coverages. On the surface, it looks like football. But without real game conditions, the growth often stays surface-level.
Yes, 7on7 has value. You can build confidence, rep basic concepts, and develop chemistry with your teammates. But don’t mistake it for true quarterback development.
In real games, you don’t get to pat the ball three times and throw to receivers after they break. You can’t stand flat-footed while your receivers run zig-zag backyard routes. The real game is about timing, decision-making, pocket presence, awareness, and understanding what the defense is trying to do to you.
With that said, 7on7 can be a powerful tool—if you approach it the right way.
If you’re a quarterback, take pride in doing things the right way, even if nobody else is. Take a drop, even if there's no rush. Why? Because footwork develops proper timing, and timing builds accuracy. Turn on an NFL game—the average snap to throw time is 2.5 seconds. And speaking as someone who never had the biggest arm, I learned to win by playing ahead of the clock.
Being a successful quarterback isn't about highlight throws. It's not about waiting for someone to get wide open. It’s about:
If you’re serious about becoming a Friday night starter—or a scholarship-level QB—then treat your 7on7 reps like game reps. Work with your coach to run real concepts, not just streetball routes. Lead your team. Play on time. Study coverages. Use this platform as a chance to get smarter and sharper.
Because at the end of the day, your offseason work has one purpose:
To prepare you to be that guy—the QB who jogs out of the huddle with total command when the lights come on in the fall.
You only get one shot to do it the right way. So, lock in. Be the best version of yourself. Treat every rep like it’s a critical moment in the 4th quarter—and every SEC coach is standing on the sideline, watching how you respond.
