Air One Quarterback Academy

Passers get stats, QB's get results

jcharles@aironefootball.com (John Charles) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 03:47:49 +0000

There's a difference between a great passer and a great quarterback. We've seen this difference time and again throughout football history. But often football fans confuse the two. We are guilty at times of confusing great passers with great quarterbacks, routinely measuring quarterbacks only by their passing statistics. These numbers make for easy-to-digest comparisons. Better quarterbacks often put up better passing stats. But there is more to the position than tossing the ball all over the field. Here's the difference: A great passer is a guy who puts up great passing numbers. Winning is merely coincidental. A great quarterback is a guy who gets his teammates to believe in him, who helps make the entire team better and who consistently puts his club in a position to win. Posting great passing stats is merely coincidental. A great quarterback is, in other words, a great leader.

Air One Kickoff!

jcharles@aironefootball.com (John Charles) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 01:17:24 +0000

It is hard to believe that 2012 is here and no doubt it is time for the best to get back to work. For all sports, including football, that means it is time to sharpen the skill set and knock the dust off and try and find a fit for the athletes of the Pacific Northwest.

OregonPreps.com, WashingtonPreps.com, and Rivals have teamed up with Air One Football Academy in an effort to bring the best opportunities to Quarterbacks and skill positions in the Pacific Northwest.

Our goal this year is to showcase up and coming quarterbacks and skills position players. We will continue to send the message that becoming a better quarterback is not just about throwing the ball further or more accurately. A quarterback is a team leader, someone who leads by example, as well as, by calling the plays. A good quarterback will focus on the mental aspects of being a QB as well as the physical. Quarterbacks that spend time on increasing their ability to see the entire field, anticipate the movement of players, and make split second decisions is one that is going to build their total QB skills. High repetitions and attention to detail is what will set a great quarterback from a good quarterback.

If you want to start working on your goals, Air One Football Academy welcomes you to it's weekly Group Sessions to get high repetitions and attention to detail training from the staff.

To be the best you MUST out work the rest!

Let's Go!

John Charles

Top 10 Tips

jcharles@aironefootball.com (John Charles) — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 08:32:34 +0000

1. Be a Leader: Leaders are players who make good decisions on and off the field. They motivate their fellow teammates to give their all. They are passionate. When two players have nearly equal skills, coaches will always give the opportunity to the player with stronger leadership. Aside from statistics, college and NFL scouts look for prospects with an incredible work ethic and good character.

2. Warm-up Gradually: The shoulder and the elbow joint are extremely susceptible to injury. Don't assume your arm is warm simply because the body is warm. Reduce your risk for injury by warming the shoulder with slow controlled movement including circumduction to promote the production of synovial fluid and improved range of motion for the rotator cuff.

3. Improve your grip: Next to an interception, the worst thing a quarterback can do is fumble the ball causing an unnecessary turn-over. Quarterbacks with "sticky" hands practice releasing, gripping and grabbing the ball.

4. Quick Feet: Jumping rope, carioca, quick footwork and drills which improve foot speed are essential for quarterbacks. Footwork is the foundation of a solid drop.

5. Explode away from the Center: On all drops, explode away from the center with speed and confidence and purpose. Practice various drops as often as you practice your pass - daily!

6. Head Steady/Eyes Focused: While you certainly don't want to broadcast to your defender where you plan to throw, once you've located your man, zero in on your target. Keep the head steady, eyes focused and make the pass.

7. Keep Your Throwing elbow Up: One of the most common habits of untrained quarterbacks is to drop the elbow of the throwing arm. This causes the ball to be thrown "side arm". Throwing the ball side arm creates tremendous torque on the elbow joint and makes it more difficult to throw the ball with accuracy. Work to keep the elbow above the shoulder through the release.

8. Practice Accuracy: Accuracy should be your number one goal with every throw. Regardless of whether you're warming up or throwing the long ball, always strive for a precise target. Practice drills which test and improve your accuracy for all types of throws.

9. Strengthen the Core: The secret to a strong ball is not only a strong arm, but core strength. Activities which enhance the strength of the abs, oblique, hips and gluts will help put velocity on your ball. Quarterbacks can improve the explosive strength of these muscles by combining medicine or weighted balls with throws, rotations and abs work.

10. Good Attitude: Respect your coaches and fellow teammates. While privately you may not agree with your coaches’ approach, never openly challenge his technique. Remain positive. Use body language that says you're a winner, alert and open to constructive criticism. Ask your coach what you can do to improve your game. A player with a good attitude and outstanding work ethic will always have a better opportunity to start.

John Charles Bio

jcharles@aironefootball.com (John Charles) — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 08:00:00 +0000

John Charles - Founder of Air One

Mr. Charles is recognized as one of the West Coasts utmost authorities on the quarterback position. His success as a quarterback, combined with personal relationships he developed as a player and coach, have provided his students a greater chance of getting to the next level.

High School Career:

Mountain View High School (California): John is a 1989 graduate of Mountain View High School. As a sophomore and junior, he helped shepherd the Spartans to the 1987 and 1988 Santa Clara Valley Athletic League championships where Mountain View posted impressive 10-0 season records…Outstanding Offensive Player of the Year as a junior…Santa Clara Valley Athletic League All League player…his center was, Charles Huang, the creator of Guitar Hero.

As a senior, he was nominated for honorary award recognition with a biography published in Who’s Who Among American High School Student Athletes…Nominated for a membership in the Outstanding High School Student Athlete’s of America…Max Emfinger’s Super Scout Scouting Service selected him as one of the top football players in the region for National High School Football Magazine…mentioned in the Pre-season All-Regional Team for the Summer/ Fall magazine…Recognized as a possible Collegiate Sports of America Blue Chip All-American…For his career, 30 Varsity Starts, he completed 60 percent or 341 of 568 for 4,360 yards and 50 touchdowns with only 23 interceptions.

Also lettered 3 years in baseball, it was during his senior year that he led the Spartans to win the 1989 Santa Clara Valley Athletic League Baseball championships…was 9-1 with a 1.90 ERA…topped out at 89 mph…He earned All-League, Peninsula and State honors. He was a top 10 finalist for the 1989 Times Tribune Athlete of the Year Award.

College Career:

Foothill Junior College: As a freshman starter…second in the state in passing…completed 57 percent or 210 of 366 for 3,000 yards exactly and 19 touchdowns with a 131.9 rating…averaged 300 yards per game…First team All-Conference in 1989 (the other QB was Jeff Garcia)

As a sophomore, he broke the national community college career passing yardage record by throwing for 5,925 yards in his two seasons…went 22 of 30 passing for 452 yards and 4 touchdowns to break the old records mark of 5,448 yards set by Tim Green of El Camino…was 37-64 with 485 yards and 3 touchdowns vs San Jose…helped the Owls get to the Lions Bowl where he completed 30 of 43 passes for 375 yards and 3 touchdowns…named MVP of the Lions Bowl game…rated the top-ranked junior college player…Region 1 California All-State selection…Coast Conference North Division Offensive Player of the Year…named to the 1990 All-America Community College team…honored as the 1991 Times Tribune Male Athlete of the Year…the 1991 Athlete of the Year for the Greater San Jose Sports Association Awards. Past recipients for the award include Jim Plunkett, and Ronnie Lott…For his career, he completed 60 percent or 419 of 702 for 6,300 yards and 45 touchdowns.

Portland State University: As a junior, he took over in the 5^th game …broke the single-game yardage mark by throwing for 592 yards and 8 touchdowns in 3 quarters of one game vs Cal Poly…For the season, he completed 61 percent or 201 of 331 for 3,527 yards and 41 touchdowns and only 11 interceptions…he finished the season ranked second in passing efficiency… named player of the year with just 8 games. Chosen as part of a National project, known as the, “Spleen Project, Athlete’s Who Care”. Spear-headed by Heisman Trophy winner Ty Detmer, middle-school aged kids across America corresponded with athletes from all levels of collegiate play.

As a senior, he led the nation in total offense averaging 338 yards…completed 194 of 281 for a school record 69 percent, 2944 yards, 24 touchdowns and only 8 interceptions to rank second in the nation in pass efficiency with a 181.3 rating for the second straight season.

In his 2 years at Portland State, he completed 63.9 percent of his passes and went 326 of 510 for 5,389 yards and 65 touchdowns against only 19 interceptions. He finished his Portland State career with an efficiency rating of 183.4…The first player in Western Football Conference history to be named player of the year twice… Completed 33-40 passes with 444 yards and 3 touchdowns to upset 16^th ranked Boise state University…first player in conference history to be named player of the week four times in one season, three weeks in a row, seven times in two seasons…named Sports Illustrated national player of the week in 1991…named national player of the week twice in 1992 with USA Today and Sports Illustrated… honored by NCAA for winning total offense national title in 1992…passed for three touchdowns or more in 17 of 18 starts the past two seasons, three or more touchdowns in every game… Oregon Banquet Of Champions finalist two years in a row…finalist for the prestigious Harlon Hill Award (Division II’s equivalent of the Heisman Trophy). Despite wrist injury and 8 games, he finished third in balloting with 106 points and 13 first place votes…completed a perfect sweep of NCAA All-America First Teams by being selected to the USA Today All-America Team, Kodak/American Football Coaches Association, and Associated Press All-America Teams…He was one of five National Jefferson Award winners for Public Service in 1993. Winners receive a Bronze medallion from the Franklin Mint in Washington, D.C. and also published with the American Institute for Public Service in Washington, D.C.

Professional Career: Was invited and attended the NFL combine in 1993, but due to the previous injury to his throwing wrist, he was selected as free agent in the 1993 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. Played in preseason... In 1996, he played one season for the Arena Leagues, San Jose Sabercats. A shoulder injury forced him to retire.

Training and Coaching experience: 23 years (1988), trained with Raymond Ferris (Trainer), Jerry Rice, Roger Craig, Barry Sanders, Ricky Waters, Jaime Williams, Greg Baty, Glen Milburn, Darrien Gordon, Kenyan Branscomb, James Hundon, Sam Adams, and Barry Bonds for 2 years. Our Hill (“The Hill”) workouts were known as the toughest in America.