Monday, June 29, 2009

Coverage Reads

PRE-SNAP COVERAGE READS

Scan the formation for uncovered receivers and find the Weak Safety:
  1. If the W/S is low – check other coverage keys for “Cover 0”.
  2. If the W/S is high – check other coverage keys for “Cover 1” or “Cover 3”
  3. If there are 2 safeties and they are both low – check other coverage keys for “Cover 0”.
  4. If there are 2 safeties and they are both high – check other coverage keys for “Cover 2”, “Cover 2/Man”, or “Cover 4” (1/4’s).
  5. If there are 2 safeties and they are staggered – check other coverage keys for “Cover 1/Robber” or “Cover 3/Robber”.

The QB must be aware of the following actions from a well “disguised” secondary in the dropback passing game:
  • If there is 1 safety and he rolls down hard after the snap – HAVE A PLAN VS. PRESSURE!
  • If there are 2 safeties and both roll down hard after the snap – HAVE A PLAN VS. PRESSURE!
  • If the W/S or 2 safeties maintain their alignment after the snap – execute your progression reads with an awareness of where the weaknesses are in the coverage and which coverage defender we are attacking.
POST-SNAP READS (“READING THE SQUARE”):

One of the most important areas in determining secondary coverages is the middle of the field about 15 to 25 yards deep and about 2 yards inside of each hash. We call this area the “square”.

In reading the “square” the QB simply looks down the middle of the field. He should not focus on either Safety but see them both in his peripheral vision.
  • If neither Safety shows up in the “square”, and both are deep, it will indicate a form of Cover 2. A quick check of Corner alignment and play will indicate whether it is a 2/Man or 2/Zone. If neither Safety shows up in the “square” and both are shallow, it will indicate a Cover 0 (blitz look).
  • If the Strong Safety shows up in the “square”, this will indicate a Cover 3 rolled weak or possibly a Cover 1.
  • If the Weak Safety shows up in the “square”, this will indicate a strong side coverage. It could be a Cover 3 or a Cover 1. If the coverage is Cover 3, it could be a Cover 3/Sky (Safety), or a Cover 3/Cloud (Corner), depending on who has the short zone.

When either of the Safeties shows up in the “square”, the best percentage area to throw the ball in is the side that he came from! If NEITHER of the Safeties show up in the “square” – throwing the ball into the “square” is a high percentage throw.


DISCUSSION OF PROGRESSION READS AND COVERAGE READS

I. PROGRESSION READS: A progression read is designed to have two or three choices of where to go with the ball. It is important to pre-read the coverage to give you an indication of the coverage, but more importantly, it’s knowing where the receivers are going to be with a progression read pattern called. This kind of read calls for throwing the ball with rhythm drops. You might get to the third receiver in the progression as soon as you hit your fifth step on the drop. So when you are stepping forward to throw, you can hit the third receiver in the progression on the same rhythm you would have if you were throwing to the first.

The limitations of progression reads are:
  • There is a tendency to stare at the receiver that is first in the progression attracting other defenders;
  • It is frustrating for coaches to watch because they could see the receiver you didn’t throw to was wide open.
  • You will lose patience or think that because you hit the first receiver in the progression he won’t be there when the play is called again. You must have patience and not make up your mind before the ball is snapped.

REMINDERS:

  1. Stay with the progression.
  2. Don’t stare.
  3. Progression reads are thrown with rhythm drops.

QUARTERBACKS VITAL INFO

I. DIRECTIONAL READ (ELIMINATE ½ OF FIELD) BY EITHER:
  • PRE-SNAP LOOK (PREFERABLY) OR,
  • POST-SNAP “TRIGGER” OFF DEFENDER (BY 2nd STEP) (ON “50’s” ONLY – NOT “60’s”)

NOTE: IF THE DEFENSE IS BALANCED & YOU CAN’T DETERMINE BEST SIDE TO THROW TO, STAY CALLSIDE BECAUSE WE WILL HAVE MORE RECEIVERS OUT TO THE CALLSIDE.


II. PROGRESSION OF RECEIVERS READ: IN STEPS A & B BELOW - READ 1/2 FIELD CHOSEN HORIZONTALLY; IN STEP C READ 1/3 FIELD CHOSEN VERTICALLY):
  • INSIDE-OUT (HORIZONTAL STRETCH)

    PROGRESS INSIDE-OUT IF THE WR RUNS AN IN BREAKING ROUTE!
  • OUTSIDE-IN (HORIZONTAL STRETCH)

    PROGRESS OUTSIDE-IN IF THE WR RUNS AN OUT BREAKING ROUTE.
  • LONG-INTERMEDIATE-SHORT (VERTICAL STRETCH)

III. OBJECT RECEIVER READ (LOOKING FIRST FOR A PARTICULAR
RECEIVER OTHER THAN NORMAL PROGRESSION). IF OBJECT RECEIVER ISN’T OPEN – GO BACK TO WHAT IS LEFT OF PROGRESSION (GIVE OBJECT RECEIVER AS MUCH TIME AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE THE COACHES “SEE SOMETHING”!).


QB TIMING (ON “TIMING ROUTES”)

3 STEP DROP = SET IN .8/THROW IN 1.3 (6 YD BREAK)

5 STEP DROP = SET IN 1.3/THROW IN 1.8 (12 YD BREAK)

THIS IS BASED ON GIVING A RECEIVER 1 SECOND TO GET OUT OF HIS STANCE, AND 1/10th OF A SECOND FOR EACH YARD RUN IN THE ROUTE. THE QB GETS .5 SECONDS TO GET THE BALL OUT WHEN THROWING ON THE PLANT.
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