Know Your Trainers: 612_Qs
This is a new feature to Prep Redzone Minnesota. As there are so many positional trainers across the state of Minnesota, we wanted to start a little segment on each trainer, what they are all about, and what their goals are for their kids!
We start with 612_Qs led by Augsburg alum QB Quinn Frisell who has in a short time built a brand at the quarterback position that kids are already flocking towards, and he features some of the best up and comers that the state of Minnesota has to offer. We caught up with Quinn on what he’s trying to build, what makes an average QB vs. a great QB, and much more!
Q: 1. Introduce yourself and the football training you are offering to the kids.
Frisell: My name is Quinn Frisell, and I recently graduated from Augsburg University, where I was a two-year starter at quarterback and captain. Before Augsburg, I attended Robert Morris University in Chicago, IL, and Itasca CC in Grand Rapids, MN. After I finished my senior season, I wanted to try to find ways to stay active and involved with the game. I created 612Q’s in the spring of 2020 with the goal of offering quarterback-specific training focusing on the physical fundamentals and mechanics, but even more importantly, the mental aspect that comes with the position, all for a very affordable price. When I was coming up through school, I was fortunate enough to have my dad as my head coach, so I was able to learn a lot at a young age through him by being around his teams and practices. But for those kids, that may not be able to afford that luxury, I want to give anyone who wants an opportunity to get one, and I want that opportunity to be productive and realistic and all be able to transition over to game scenarios.
Q: 2. What is your biggest goal of working with QBs and WRs?
Frisell: My number one goal with working with quarterbacks is to build a great relationship with each one of them and always be someone they can come to when they need advice, whether it’s related to football or not. Football is a special game, and it can bring people together from every background, and I think that’s what I enjoy most about the sport. I think by building relationships with these athletes that the rest will come. Obviously, when it’s time to get to work, my goal is for the athletes to give their best each rep and really try and understand what we are doing, why we are doing it, and it will translate to Friday nights.
Q: What are some things that make a kid an average QB1 vs. an excellent one?
Frisell: Some things that I believe that separates a great quarterback vs. an average one have a lot more to do with their mental qualities over the physical ones. The way a quarterback carries himself around his team, school, and community is so important! With the nature of the position, QB’s are oftentimes the spotlight of situations, and all eyes are on you and the way you carry yourself can make or break a situation. Being able to lead in challenging situations and become an extension of the coach is essential as well. Having a sense of integrity and doing the right thing when others aren’t watching will take your character to the next level and allow others to trust in you and be their leader. In our sessions, I always like to find out the guys’ “Why?”. Why are they doing what they are doing, what is making them come out and throw routes in 30-degree weather in December? I think it’s incredible to hear the in depth answers they come up with and show me their dedication and what they are looking to get out of the game.
Obviously, there are many physical skills that a QB must possess to be great, but the mental aspect of this position is unlike any other in sports, and at the end of the day, the physical skill sets don’t matter as much without understanding the mental side of it.
Q: As far as travel and locations, how much of Minnesota will you cover?
Frisell: I originally planned on just keeping in the Twin Cities area hence the name “612Q’s” Minneapolis’ area code. I have had guys from the out-state area reach out about trying to set something up, and I am more than open to that. As I said, I am trying to provide everyone who wants one an opportunity at affordable, productive, and realistic quarterback specific training.
Q: What do your workouts with QB and WRs consist of? What are the key points to growing them to be better players?
Frisell: If the QB’s bring WR’s which we always encourage them to, we start separate for the first 40 minutes. I have a couple of former WR teammates who come and help out with those guys. During that time we are separate I take the QB’s through a warm-up without a football and work with a med-ball and band work. We then progress to a warm-up with a football. Once the drills start, I specify each lesson to the QB’s needs/wants. I do not have set lessons that I do with each athlete, I make sure to specify it, so they are getting out of it what they need to get out of it. I am big on focusing on synchronizing the lower body with the upper body and practicing that in game-like situations in the pocket, on the move, as well as escaping the pocket. During the various drills, we incorporate concepts from the QB’s team’s playbook so that everything can transition back to their high school/college team. At the end of the session, we end with what I like to call the “be perfect” drill, where QBs will come together with their WRs, and we will work on their concepts and timing.
Q: Who are some up and coming MN QBs you are currently working with that should be on Prep Redzone MNs radar?
Frisell: I’ve been offered the opportunity to work with a great group of guys, and I hope to continue that relationship with them and watch them grow over the off-season and Into the 2021 season.