Post by TIGER ONE on Dec 15, 2005 12:20:06 GMT
I am often asked the question: How do I train my young QB to read the defense corrrectly?
It seems like there are a million theories out there today and some I take issue with, others I say "if that works for you, go for it".
My main contention when teaching this aspect of the game is to GET THE BASICS RIGHT! Depending upon what level you play at will dictate how sophisticated your reading mechanics will have to be. For example at the lower levels when the young man is just starting out ( Pop Warner,etc.) it obviously becomes superflous to try and teach him how to go through a read progression when in all actuality he is going to simply look for his favorite receiver and let it go!
But, when the city rec years are over and a player begins his middle school and high school career it becomes imperative that he becomes instilled in the BASIC FUNDAMENTALS OF READING.
Without going into a long discussion here, I pretty much teach these basic points: Number one is to locate the free safety when you break the huddle! This look by the QB in what we call the PRE SNAP LOOK allows for locating the FS first, the location of the strong safety second and then determine if they are in man or zone coverage scheme, at least in the pre snap look by reading the position of the Corner Backs in relation to the receivers at the wide out positions. Are they rolled up hard with inside leverage which indicates MAN coverage, or are they sitting off on the outside shoulder only glancing at the receiver but concentrating more on the QB, which indicates a zone scheme, or are they sitting off a distance of 7-9 yds. but with inside leverage which usually indicates what I call "loose man"? The position of the inverts will tell your QB if they are deployed to stop the run or are they sitting back and deployed to stop the pass. Whatever decisions he arrives at will determine his course of action. At the higer levels now, less and less attention is being paid to the CB's and full concentration is being placed on the safties!
At any rate, make certain that he fully understands the following: A QB who is trained properly will always read the DEFENDER when facing a ZONE SCHEME and will read his RECEIVER when facing MAN SCHEMES! In both instances he will ALWAYS THROW AWAY FROM THE DEFENDER( INTO THE VOID CREATED BY THE DEFENDERS OWN MOVEMENT IN ZONE AND ALWAYS TO THE RECEIVER WITH THE MOST SEPARATION FROM HIS DEFENDER IN MAN!!!) There is always a progression to read and it starts in the pre snap look!
Have him decide where he wants the ball to go( what receiver?) and if he is open on the snap get him the ball right now!!! I always teach the spread QB's to stay with the side that has the most receivers as that will give him the best opportunity to locate an open receiver in the most expedient manner! As A drop back QB, teach him to make his reads of the progression the instant he starts his escape step from under center and be ready to hit the last guy in the read progression, as well as the first, the instant he hits his break step at the end of the drop!!!
If he masters these sound basics, when it is time to move on to more sophisticated reading techniques he will have a solid foundation to do so.
Coach Easton
It seems like there are a million theories out there today and some I take issue with, others I say "if that works for you, go for it".
My main contention when teaching this aspect of the game is to GET THE BASICS RIGHT! Depending upon what level you play at will dictate how sophisticated your reading mechanics will have to be. For example at the lower levels when the young man is just starting out ( Pop Warner,etc.) it obviously becomes superflous to try and teach him how to go through a read progression when in all actuality he is going to simply look for his favorite receiver and let it go!
But, when the city rec years are over and a player begins his middle school and high school career it becomes imperative that he becomes instilled in the BASIC FUNDAMENTALS OF READING.
Without going into a long discussion here, I pretty much teach these basic points: Number one is to locate the free safety when you break the huddle! This look by the QB in what we call the PRE SNAP LOOK allows for locating the FS first, the location of the strong safety second and then determine if they are in man or zone coverage scheme, at least in the pre snap look by reading the position of the Corner Backs in relation to the receivers at the wide out positions. Are they rolled up hard with inside leverage which indicates MAN coverage, or are they sitting off on the outside shoulder only glancing at the receiver but concentrating more on the QB, which indicates a zone scheme, or are they sitting off a distance of 7-9 yds. but with inside leverage which usually indicates what I call "loose man"? The position of the inverts will tell your QB if they are deployed to stop the run or are they sitting back and deployed to stop the pass. Whatever decisions he arrives at will determine his course of action. At the higer levels now, less and less attention is being paid to the CB's and full concentration is being placed on the safties!
At any rate, make certain that he fully understands the following: A QB who is trained properly will always read the DEFENDER when facing a ZONE SCHEME and will read his RECEIVER when facing MAN SCHEMES! In both instances he will ALWAYS THROW AWAY FROM THE DEFENDER( INTO THE VOID CREATED BY THE DEFENDERS OWN MOVEMENT IN ZONE AND ALWAYS TO THE RECEIVER WITH THE MOST SEPARATION FROM HIS DEFENDER IN MAN!!!) There is always a progression to read and it starts in the pre snap look!
Have him decide where he wants the ball to go( what receiver?) and if he is open on the snap get him the ball right now!!! I always teach the spread QB's to stay with the side that has the most receivers as that will give him the best opportunity to locate an open receiver in the most expedient manner! As A drop back QB, teach him to make his reads of the progression the instant he starts his escape step from under center and be ready to hit the last guy in the read progression, as well as the first, the instant he hits his break step at the end of the drop!!!
If he masters these sound basics, when it is time to move on to more sophisticated reading techniques he will have a solid foundation to do so.
Coach Easton
