qbs reading coverages at the line of scrimage

Question
I would like to teach my high school quaterback how to read coverages at the line so he can make the right desicion when throwing  

Answer
Felix -

Thanks for the question.  Well my friend, this is not an easy task, for several reasons.  Also, it isnt something I can tell you how to do in concrete terms for several reasons.  But I will do my best to get you started and guide you through the basic process.

OK, first off, it is hard to give you a set of rules / guidelines because each offense calls for different "reads" for the QB.  In one offense, the QB might be reading short routes first and in others, the deep routes might be first.  So for that reason, I cant tell you which is right for you QB.  Also, play calls and play designs will greatly affect your reads, and because I do not know your offensive calls, I cant really help in that either.

But there are some general guidelines that will work for you.  OK, first and foremost, the best QBs are successful because they have the mental ability to break down defenses in their heads before the snap.  This requires 2 big abilities.  One is a full and complete understanding of the offense they run.  This includes knowing every play, blocking scheme, and pass route in the book.  Second is knowing and understanding the defenses he will be seeing each week.  What are their strengths, weaknesses, coverages, etc..  Once he has these 2 abilities, he can start the process of reading the defenses.  SO in short, the only way to teach reading defenses is to make the QB study the playbook.  Sit down with him weekly and go over every play several times each.  Once he knows as much about the playbook as you do, then break out the game films and go over each play by play.  Show him the defenses, and what his read would be on that particular play, and why that is the read.  DO this over and over.

Once practice begins, make sure you set enough practice time aside daily for the QB to work on reading coverages.  A big mistake coaches make is allowing the QB to just stand around while the defense practices.  Get him in the film room, or to the side, and work on him seeing coverages.  Give him written tests, with a diagram that includes an offensive formation and play call, against a defense.  Then let him draw the play (Xs and Os) and write down his reads.  This will really help him learn at an accelerated rate.

Reading defenses is really nothing more than the QB learning his plays, and the defenses he plays against, then figuring out what works best against each.  Thats it!  Plain and simple.  So if you get him those 2 main pieces of knowledge, you will find he will be much more prepared to rip an opposing team apart on a weekly basis.  

Let me know if I can help you any further!

Best wishes

Coach Perl