Quaterback Help

Question
Hello, my name is Jason I'm a freshman this year and i live in Minnesota. This is my second year playing quarterback and i have all the physical skills. We run a spread offense and i seem to have trouble making quick reads on the field. if you have any tips for this that would be great. As well i don't know why this happens but alot of times in games when I'm trying to throw the ball deep it never works it goes way high and has a horrible spiral but in practice i can throw that perfectly.

Answer
Dear Jason:
Your accuracy is off due to poor mechanics. You are rushing your throw, your release is too high, and you have little or no follow through. Make sure that you release the ball off your finger tips. The palm of your hand should never touch the ball only your finger tips.

You need to have a coach look at your motion and correct any flaws he might see.

The best way to read the defense is to watch the corner backs. Corners are the quarterback's best friends, when it comes to giving away the most tips about the coverage.

Here are a few simple reads for you to make; Study the corner back, look to see if he his eyeing the receiver or you.

If he is eyeing the receiver he is in some type of man coverage.

If he is eyeing you he is going to play zone coverage.

If he is line-up outside the receiver he is he is going to play zone coverage.

If he is line-up inside the receiver he is going to play man coverage.

If he is line-up in a low focus position he is in man coverage.

If he is standing tall he is going to play zone coverage.
IF HE IS LINE-UP INSIDE AND LOOKING IN TO THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE HE IS COMING ON SOME KIND OF STUNT. Make sure you have someone pick him up or he is going to hand you your head.

One of the best books on the market today, which covers reading the defensive backs, is:

"Winning Football with the Air Option Passing Game"
By Homer Rice & Steve Moore

A lot of the tips about reading the corner-backs came from this book.

Please let me know if you have anymore questions. I will be more than happy to help you in anyway I can.

Your friend, Coach Louis