LB's pass drops in ZONE defense

we have some of the biggest brickhead athletes on the planet....but they get it (pattern reading).

The biggest problem with linebackers is they never get deep enough, and consequently they can't pattern read anything.

We read backs to contrary guard read, once they get a pass read.....we really hammer on these guys to get DEPTH. We drill the 45 drops, but we're actually opening up at 75 degree bails ......just getting a depth of 12 to 15 yds of the LOS and look for crossers - typically reading #2 to #3 / or #1 to #2.

All we want them to pick up is recognize where their primary receiver read is going (inside, outside, or vertical) on each type of break that (position) linebacker has a desired (look to) reaction.

COACH,

In my opinion, the DB who plays any kind of zone is putting himself at a disadvantage! My reasoning for this thought is simply as a long time QB coach and knowing how QB's who are correctly trained are taught to simply throw into the void created by the defender of that zones OWN MOVEMENT. Whatever way he moves he is creating a void in the opposite direction and that is where the receiver and the QB know they have the advantage. Why? Becasue the receiver knows that the QB is taught to always throw into the voided area and away from the defender EVERY TIME. Granted, there are some very talented defensive backs out there who can recover in time to make a great play every now and then. But, on a CONSISTENT BASIS, IMO, THE RECEIVER IS GOING TO BEAT THE DB MORE OFTEN THAN NOT. He does this by running routes with great discipline and precision like execution. Take a close mesh route for example where the offfense sets a TE at 6 yds over the ball and has a backside receiver run the mesh at 5yds. Your never going to convince me that the MIKE, by reading the QB all the way and not pattern read
will be able to defend it successfully on A consistent BASIS. Just my opinion as always.

Coach Easton

Peripheral vision allows him to do this. Now, if you're saying that a linebacker cannot do this, then certainly you are going to have a tough time teaching what your head coach wants you to teach. Much like Coach Easton, I am not a big fan of zone coverage, as I do believe that man is easier to teach and more effective in today's game; however, there will be times that we need to run cover 2. If you rep zone drops enough, the linebackers are going to be able to drop to an area in his sleep. That's my best suggestion to you at this time.

We only play about 20% of straight cover 3, probably 30% of cover 3 hot (when we send 5) and 50% man. We spot drop and stress as much depth as possible while keeping eyes on QB (periphing receivers). Since we do not play a ton of straight cover 3, we feel playing it this way is best for us. I believe that zone coverages are when you get most INT's, so you better have your eyes on the trigger man as much as possible.

Rush,

You mean to tell me that your head man is stubborn. I would have never known that about BB.

Only kidding. This is center fron OHS. I don't have a lot of input on the topic, it just struck me funny to see you talk about your HC. I do believe that the LB needs to be aware of the receivers in his zone.

Things are going fine here. the only edge that I have is I don't have to argue with the head coach. It has been a good off-season, a lot of kids out for track and baseball right now.

I always felt the spot drop was a good way to introduce zone and show kids their landmarks. It also made for any easy progression to pattern reads, they kind of tie in to each other. the nice thing about pattern read is you don't guard the grass, you are always after a man.

A good resource that I have found are Fritz Shurmurs book Coaching Team Defense and his tape on Zone Coverage. These two resources will help your abilty to understand and coach zone defense.

Jerry - getting the proper depth on drops helps them "periph" everything. Keeping the head on the "swivel" is very important, as you said. Due to the fact that they are playing underneath zones - they must get even a quicker break on the ball than the secondary!

The elbow of the QB's non-throwing arm (when it comes down be prepared to "break"), his front shoulder (his radar gun), & his eyes (he will be looking where he is going to throw) are a GOOD giveaways.

Bill,

Those are more great focal points for the LB when reading the QB, sure enough!

Jerry

Warrior,

I'm sure Bill will be with you shortly, I just happened to see your post. When a QB delivers the football properly, his left elbow(off arm for a right handed QB and vice versa for a southpaw) will pull sharply downward. By observing this, the LB knows the ball has been released and once in the air it can't change direction, thus he knows exactly where to break to collision the receiver.

Coach Easton