Subject: Is 7-on-7 helping you win games now?
Date: August 28, 2026

I am not a big fan of 7-on-7 tournaments during the summer. Too many bad habits are created.

Quarterbacks hold the ball too long. Linebackers take their first step backwards with no run responsibility.

And coaches always compete. Instead of using 7 on 7 as the group passing drill it is, many run passing concepts and coverages we’d never run during the season.

7-on-7 has value, though. Used correctly, you get to work on drop back passing concepts. Receivers and Quarterbacks can get the routes and timing down.

You can work your real coverages, too. Many of our coaches use Cover 3 as a base, but have Cover 1 available for better passing opponents.

7 on 7 is the perfect time to focus on that Man-Free coverage. Spot-drop Cover 3 is very effective, but with 4 seconds to throw the ball someone is going to find an open window.

Plus, it’s a chance to compete Any time you get your players out competing against someone other than themselves is a good opportunity.

During the season, 7 on 7 is a regular segment of practice each week. You can focus on running your best coverage beaters for this week’s opponent or shutting down their top passing concepts.

But 7 on 7 is not the only group passing drill your team can use. Just like the run game, you want to build from the 1-on-1 game up to Team Scrimmage.

In this week’s episode of The Football Coaching Podcast, we continue our Practice Planning series with “Group Passing Drills for Game Day Execution.”

Get the tools to tighten up your pass coverage on defense and light up the scoreboard through the air on offense:

Listen or Watch Practice Planning: Group Passing Drills >>

You’ll also find a list of related resources to help your passing game - both sides of the ball - at that link.

~ Joe Daniel

P.S. If you’ve been waiting for Bill Mountjoy’s QB Drills and Mechanics from the Quarterbacks episode earlier this season - you can download them now. Link is below the timestamps.