Help Me Coach My QB Son

Question
Dear Coach
  Your "ask a question" piece on line is awesome, so here is my main question.  My son's coaches love his athleticism, (he's a 1st yr JV QB) and is doing awesome, but they want him to "learn to read the defenses" better.  I used to be a head coach, but it's been a while.  Is there a tape or a book you've produced that replicates how you answered the QB's question about how to read defenses on your front page, that we can purchase?  Or, if not from you, can you recommend a book or tape for him on HOW TO LEARN TO READ DEFENSES?  Thanks in advance, Col Bob "Lightning" Freniere

Answer
Dear Colonel Robert W. Freniere,

There are no secrets to reading the defense but your son will have to do his homework. He will need to spend some time watching game films and breaking down the defense.

He must know what coverage his opponent is going to run against him. What type of zone coverage and what type of man coverage they are running.


He must watch the game films and ask himself, what do they like to run on first down?, second down?, third down?, do they play run on the first two downs?..... Also read the corners backs.

Corners 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 a zone coverage.
If he is line-up outside the receiver he is in a zone coverage.
If he is line-up inside the receiver he is in a man coverage.
If he is line-up in a low focus position he is in a man coverage.
If he is standing tall he is in a 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.

I hope this will be of some help to you. The only book that I know that talks about reading the defense is,

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

All the tips about reading the corner back, come from this book. This is one of the best books out today. I have a copy. And yes, I paid for my copy and no, I do not make any money getting people to buy the book.

Your friend, coach Louis