Passing Game Questions:

There are a few "CONCEPTS" that all passes fit into (& all good passing teams I know follow). Once the QB understands these concepts - then reads, etc., become easy for him. If you wish to discuss these - email me at: billmountjoy@yahoo.com, OR, PHONE me at 804-740-4479 (up till 10 PM/EDT).

The following may be of interest too:

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:

A) There is a tendency to stare at the receiver that is first in the progression attracting other defenders;

B) It is frustrating for coaches to watch because they could see the receiver you didn’t throw to was wide open (Coaches need to know the progression of the play as well as the QB);

C) 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. Have a plan when you get to the Line of Scrimmage.

2. Stay with the progression.

3. Don’t stare.

4. Progression reads are thrown with rhythm drops.



II. COVERAGE READS: Reading the coverage is normally done in the NFL looking at the pictures that are taken upstairs during the series (when the QB is on the sidelines). In High School & College – the Press Box Coaches do most of the work here. The QB can pre-snap read and get an idea of what might happen. He can see rotations and drops of defenders at the snap of the ball, but may not know what the coverage was. Reading the coverage is really looking at a defender or defenders. Based on what they do you will get to the correct receiver.

THE ADVANTAGES OF THIS KIND OF A READ ARE:

1. It eliminates the struggle of the progression read trying to determine who was more wide open.

2. It eliminates the QB from making up his mind before the snap. Read the defenders to get you to the right receiver in Coverage Reads.

3. It keeps the QB on the same page as the Coach because they both know the read and the goal of the play called.

4. It doesn’t matter what the coverage is because when you are reading properly you will be hitting the correct receiver.

5. You will not have to stare at your receivers (it will give you natural look offs).

6. You don’t have to know what the entire coverage is (you don’t have to see the whole field).

NOTE: In our reads – “Progression” AND “Coverage” – we only read ½ the field Horizontally, or 1/3 of the field Vertically.


****************************************************************************************


PRE-SNAP COVERAGE READS

A) Scan the formation for uncovered receivers.

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.


*****************************************************************************************


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”.

We normally read the “square” in our drop back passing game. Reading the “square” becomes necessary when it is impossible to determine what the coverage is before the snap or to make sure of secondary coverage after the snap.

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.

A) 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).

B) If the Strong Safety shows up in the “square”, this will indicate a Cover 3 rolled weak or
possibly a Cover 1.

C) 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.

NOTE: 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.


*****************************************************************************************


Hope this gives "food for thought". Phone me at 804-740-4479, & I can show you how to "conceptualize" your entire pass offense into a few "concepts" that makes it EASY for QB to learn.