Defense Recognition:

Be more concerned with reconizing the relationship of the safeties to the front. The safeties tell you everything. Defenses have 3 "tiers", & the must be closely coordinated (Front/LBs/Secondary).

there are so many ways defenses can line up - you do not need a name for ALL them.

NFL playbooks break down all defenses in categories:

1) 3 DLM family
2) 4 DLM family
3) Specials (Bears "46", etc) that don't fit into #1 & #2.


As to SECONDARY coverages - ALL coverages can be attacked as Cover 3; Cover 2; Man/Blitz. I KNOW there are many more, but ALL of them can be attacked as one of the 3 coverages I listed above.

We give THIS to QB's:

PRE-SNAP COVERAGE READS

A) Scan the formation for uncovered receivers. If uncovered receivers – signal uncovered check.

B) Find the Weak Safety for PRE-SNAP read.

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”.

NOTE: QB must be aware of the following actions from a well “disguised” secondary in the dropback passing game:

A) If there is 1 safety and he rolls down hard after the snap – HAVE A PLAN VS. PRESSURE!
B) If there are 2 safeties and both roll down hard after the snap – HAVE A PLAN VS. PRESSURE!
C) 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.

Thank you for the insight. I greatly appreciate.

Coach,

Reading the safties and the Mike backer are paramount in our way of doing things. Influencing the CB's is a fairly easy task, the safties and the Mike is another tune all together!

Coach Easton