reads

Question
hi, i was wondering how to read a defensive before the snap and after the snap. I was how to read all coverages and know where the weak spot is in the coverage.
                       thanks,
                          gary

Answer
Dear Gary,
Thank you for writing. Your question is, how do you read the defensive coverage?

Being able to read a defense is not hard. All you have to do is, do your homework.

A coach, much like the quarterback, must know what type of coverage his opponent is going to run against him. How many zones? What type of man coverage? What type of blitz?

To do this, you must watch game films and ask yourself, what does your opponent like to run on first down?, second down?, third down?, do they play run on the first two downs?..... And so on?br>
Corner backs are the quarterback's best friends, when it comes to giving the most tips to the coverage. Here are a few simple reads for the quarterback; Study the corner back, look to see if he his eyeing the receiver or quarterback.

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

If he is eyeing the quarterback he is in zone coverage.
If he is line-up outside the receiver he is in zone coverage.

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

If he is standing tall he is in zone coverage.
IF HE IS LINE-UP INSIDE AND LOOKING INTO 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 defense, is:

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

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


Your friend, coach Louis