The drill pits two players face mask to face mask. At the whistle they tussle and jostle until one is on the ground.
It's not really meant for quarterbacks, particularly not 5-foot-10 quarterbacks like Reece Butler, who was a master at avoiding contact when he threw for nearly 2,000 yards and led Wheaton North to an 8-3 season as a senior last fall.
His replacement, junior John Peltz, has not been taken down yet.
"He's about 6-2, 215," Wheaton North coach Joe Wardynski said. "We match him up against defensive linemen in the contact drill, and nobody has gotten the better of him."
Wheaton North fans fell in love with their little-quarterback-who-could last fall when the Falcons put together their best season in nearly a decade. They're likely to have a similar relationship with Peltz.
Teammates believe Peltz is ideally suited to help the program take the next step and win the DuPage Valley Conference for the first time since going 12-1 and reaching the 8A semifinals in 2002.
"He's a running and throwing quarterback," senior receiver Johnny Daniels said. "He can put the ball up there, and he's big enough to run through defensive linemen."
The just-turned-16 Peltz lacks varsity experience that can't be attained in summer workouts.
But Peltz expects the transition to be smooth with an all-senior line that includes three returning starters protecting him. Not that he needs protection.
"Our offensive line has done well," Peltz said. "It is a heck of a lot of help, their leadership. We have progressed so much throughout the summer. Right now, we're looking good."
Falcons at a glance
Last season: 8-3, 5-2, 3rd in DuPage Valley Conference; lost 44-0 to Wheaton Warrenville South in 7A second round.
Playoff history: 18 appearances, 3 state titles ('79, '81, '86).
He's back: Johnny Daniels, Sr., 6-3, 200, WR, (28 receptions, 273 yards); Landon Bruni, Sr., 5-9, 210, OL; Patrick Sharp, Jr., 5-9, 170, RB (441 yards rushing, 6 TDs); Mike Swider, Sr., 6-1, 210, LB; Christian Hollinger, Sr., 6-0, 210, OL.
He's gone: Reece Butler, QB; John Bloss, DB; Rafe Kiely, OL; Montrell Williams, DL.
He's new: John Peltz, Jr., 6-2, 215, QB; Jonathan Chapman, Jr., 6-2, 200, DE.
Big names: Daniels is the biggest recruit. He has an offer from Ball State. Peltz could quickly make a name for himself.
Big game: Every Wheaton North-Wheaton South game is big, but this one means even more to North, which lost after twice to South last season. The two meet Oct. 21.
Big question: Will the defense be good enough to catapult the Falcons to the top of the DVC standings? Only one full-time starter returns.
Breakdown: Peltz passes the eye test with such flying colors that it's not hard to envision him becoming a major impact player in a short period of time. The offense should be tough to stop, giving the Falcons a legitimate chance in what appears to be a wide-open DVC race this season.
FYI: Wheaton North's defense will be tested by Division I quarterbacks the first two weeks of the season as the Falcons open up with nonconference games against Bartlett and Geneva.