pattern reading by teh defensive secondary

7/28/2019 Pattern Reading by teh defensive secondary

1/20

PATTERN READING

IN THE 4-3 DEFENSECasey Miller

Head Football Coach

Hillcrest High School7350 S 900 E Midvale, UT 84047

[email protected]

Pattern Reading in the 4-3 Defense 1


2/20

The Two Basic Coverage Philosophies

Spot Dropping

Coverage players read the

QB and drop to designated

locations on the fielddetermined by the drop and

direction QB looks

Primary Read = QB Secondary Read = Receivers

Pattern Reading

Coverage players read the

receivers and drop to

locations determined by thepass concept run by the

receivers in the pattern

Primary Read = Receivers Secondary Read = QB



3/20

Pros & Cons of Spot Dropping

Pros of Spot Dropping

Easy to teach

Everyone knows where they

are going before the snap Everyone has their eyes on

the quarterback at all times

More interceptions due to

seeing the ball all the time

Cons of Spot Dropping

Large passing lanes

Receivers can use sight

adjustments to get open Can loose track of receivers

that slip behind coverage

Less incompletions due to

windows and easier throws



4/20

Pros & Cons of Pattern Reading

Pros of Pattern Reading

Smaller passing lanes

If receiver tries to adjust, the

coverage adjusts too Easier to keep track of

receivers and not lose them

More incompletions due to

windows and harder throws

Cons of Pattern Reading

Harder to teach

Players dont know where

they will drop before snap Eyes are not on the QB at all

times and see ball less often

Less interceptions due to not

always seeing the ball



5/20

Philosophy Behind Pattern Reading

Cover Receivers, Not Grass

Spot dropping effective against poor QBs

Good QBs will buy time and slide WRs into openings

Why cover an area if no eligible receivers are there?

Tighter Coverage on Receivers

Almost get a bracket on each receiver in a route

Smaller windows for the ball to travel through

Force the QB to have Great Accuracy

Must use appropriate power and loft on the throw

Cannot lead or trail receiver with the football



6/20

Pass Defense Statistics

2011

15 Interceptions (2 for TD)

16 Passes Broken Up

49.6% Completion Percentage for Opponents

117 Passing Yards Allowed per Game

2012

11 Interceptions (2 for TD)

10 Passes Broken Up

40.5% Completion Percentage for Opponents

93 Passing Yards Allowed per Game



7/20

Communication is the Key to Success

Players need to help each other know when a

receiver is entering or exiting a zone

Each call has to be made from a specific

defender and directed to a specific defender

Calls have to be short, yet deliver the most

information possible to the recipient

When you hear a call you have to know where

to turn, where to go and what to look for



8/20

Cover 3 Calls Made/Received

Player and Calls Made

Deep Outside Defender

In

Smash

Shallow

Flat Defender

Cross

Hook/Curl Climb

Drag

Player and Calls Received

Flat Defender

Smash

Hook/Curl Defender In

Cross

Climb

Drag Shallow



9/20

Inverted 2 Calls Made/Received

Player and Calls Made

Deep Outside Defender In

Smash

Shallow Flat Defender

Cross

Smash

Hook/Curl Defender

Climb Drag

Middle Defender Out

Player and Calls Received

Flat Defender

In (Only After Giving a Smashor Cross Call)

Hook/Curl Defender Smash

In

Cross

Out

Middle Defender

Drag

Shallow

Climb



10/20

Defender Reads vs. 2x2

Cover 3 or , ,

Deep Outside Defender

Read #1

Flat Defender Read #2

Hook/Curl Defender

Responsible for Screen/Draw

Open Outside, Read F/Q

Centerfield

Split the Formation

Split #2s, Read Q

Cover 2 or Inverted 2

Corner (Flat or Deep )

Read #1

Safety (Deep or Flat) Read #2

OLB (Hook/Curl)

Late for Screen/Draw

Open Outside, Read #2

MLB (Middle)


Open with F/Q, Read F/Q



11/20

Deep Outside Defender Rules &

Calls in Cover 3 or , , vs. 2x2 #1 Vertical = Cover

Zone-Turn and Reroute to the Sideline

Cutoff the Fade/Vert, Make Play on Comeback or Back Shoulder

#1 Inside = Squeeze with Outside Leverage, Find #2

#1 Drive or Shallow = SHALLOW call to H/C Defender

Angle-Pedal and Stay D.A.D.W.O.W

#1 Slant, In, Dig, or Deep Curl = IN call to H/C Defender

Angle-Pedal and Stay D.A.D.W.O.W.

#1 Stops/Out = Get Depth, Find #2, Tell Flat Defender #1 Hitch, Pivot, or Out = SMASH call to H/C Defender

Get on top of #2 and Steal the Smash Route



12/20

Flat Defender Rules & Calls in

Cover 3 or , , vs. 2x2 #2 Vertical = Carry and Reroute to Outside

Force Seam Route to Sideline, Zone-Turn @ 15 and Cover Punch and Drive on a SMASH call or OUT call

#2 Inside = Open to Inside, Drift with Width, Rob

CROSS call to Hook/Curl Defender Drifting with Width gets Underneath Routes by #1 Behind You

Opening to Inside Allows Vision of Crossers Coming Back

#2 Outside = Jump Route, Eyes on QB, Sink & Steal Your Shot at a Pick-Six if QB Lets it Fly

If QB Continues to Drop or Holds the Ball, Sink to the Hole & Steal #2 Stops = Outside Leverage and Listen for Calls

Jump any Calls you Receive

Do Not Let the Ball Outside of You



13/20

Hook/Curl Defender Rules & Calls

in Cover 3 or , , vs. 2x2

Back Stays in Backfield = Drop & Drift with QB

Listen for Calls and Pass Off Crossers

Dont Chase and Open a Window

Shallow In-Crosser = DRAG call to other H/C Defender

Deep In-Crosser = CLIMB call to other H/C Defender

Back Releases = He Becomes #3, Same Calls SCREEN call to Everyone on Screen Read



14/20

Centerfield Defender Rules & Calls

in Cover 3 or , , vs. 2x2

Split the Formation, be as Deep as the Deepest

3 Step Drop = Play Rat

5 Step Drop = Be the Eraser

Keep Shoulders Square to the Line of Scrimmage

Angle Pedal to Change Direction

Cheat to the QBs Eyes



15/20

Corner Rules & Calls in Cover 2 or

Inverted 2 vs. 2x2 #1 Vertical = Cover

Zone-Turn and Reroute to the Sideline Cutoff the Fade/Vert, Make Play on Comeback or Back Shoulder


#1 Drive or Shallow = SHALLOW call to H/C Defender Angle-Pedal and Stay D.A.D.W.O.W

#1 Slant, In, Dig, or Deep Curl = IN call to H/C Defender Angle-Pedal and Stay D.A.D.W.O.W.

#1 Stops/Out Inverted 2 = Get Depth, Find #2, SMASH call to H/C

Defender

Cover 2 = Your Shot at a Pick-Six if QB Lets it Fly If QB Continues to Drop or Holds the Ball, Sink to the Hole & Steal



16/20

Safety Rules & Calls in Cover 2 or

Inverted 2 vs. 2x2 #2 Vertical = Carry and Reroute to Outside

Force Seam Route to Sideline, Zone-Turn @ 15 and Cover

#2 Inside = Open to Inside, Drift with Width, Rob CROSS call to Hook/Curl Defender

Drifting with Width gets Underneath Routes by #1 Behind You

Opening to Inside Allows Vision of Crossers Coming Back

#2 Outside = SMASH call to H/C Defender

Sink with Width and Rob Any Inside Route by #1 or Any Climb Route by#2 From Opposite Side

#2 Stops

Inverted 2 = Outside Leverage and Listen for Calls Jump any Calls you Receive

Do Not Let the Ball Outside of You

Cover 2 = Get on Top of #1



17/20

Hook/Curl Defender Rules & Calls

in Cover 2 or Inverted 2 vs. 2x2 #2 Vertical = Carry

Man-Turn and Reroute to the Sideline Wall Off #2 From Deep Crossing Route & Funnel to Deep Defender


Short & Across = DRAG Call to Middle & H/C Defender Angle-Pedal and Listen for Out, In, & Climb Calls

Deep & Across = CLIMB call to Middle & H/C Defender Angle-Pedal and Listen for Out, In, & Climb Calls

#2 Outside = Play Inside Hip and Listen for Calls

QB Throws Out = Pick 6 QB Holds Ball = Settle, Sink, and Listen for In & Cross Calls

#2 Stops = Play Inside Leverage & Listen for Calls Jump Flats on Smash or Out Call



18/20

Middle Defender Rules & Calls in

Cover 2 or Inverted 2 vs. 2x2 Back Stays in the Backfield

Drop With QBs Eyes

Listen for Calls

Back Releases Inside Lock On and Cover Unless You get Climb or

Drag Call at the Snap

Back Releases Outside OUT Call to the H/C Defender

Replace the H/C Defender on #2



19/20

Defender Reads vs. 3x1

Cover 3 or , ,

Deep 1/3 Defender Read #1

Flat Defender 3 Side = Read #2 1 Side = Read #3 Opposite

Hook/Curl Defender 3 Side= Open to #3, Read F


1 Side = Open to #3, Read F Responsible for Screen/Draw

Centerfield Split the Formation

Split #2 and #3, Read QB

Cover 2 or Inverted 2

Corner (Flat or Deep )

Read #1

Safety (Deep or Flat)

3 Side = Read #2

1 Side = Read #3 Opposite

OLB (Hook/Curl)

3 side = Read #3 to #2

1 side = Open to #3, Read F


MLB (Middle)

Open to #3, Read #3

Late for Screen/Draw



20/20

Game Clips of Pattern Reading


pattern reading by teh defensive secondary

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