Zone pass defend
Why it works
Man coverage is a race and zone coverage is a guess, unless a defender learns that the quarterback is telling him the answer. One defender and two receivers is the smallest zone there is, which makes the eyes the only information available and impossible to ignore.
Run it
10 MINEight throws per defender, split between the two receivers at random. Ten minutes, rotating everybody through the middle.
Say this
“Cover the throw, not the man.”
In a zone you are not attached to anybody, so being level with a receiver is not the job.
“Feet alive, weight forward.”
A break starts from a body that is already loaded.
“Quarterbacks, look one off sometimes.”
A thrower who always stares at his target makes the read free.
Good looks like
- The defender is moving before the ball is fully released.
- He gets a hand to it, or forces the throw wide, on about half the reps.
- He never ends up level with one receiver and blind to the other.
- The break is straight at the catch point, not at the receiver.
The mistakes
Drifting to the nearest receiver and leaving the other one free, which is man coverage done badly.
Say: “Cover the throw, not the man.”
Standing flat footed in the middle waiting, which costs two yards on every break.
Say: “Feet alive, weight forward.”
Telegraphing every throw, which teaches the defender a habit that fails on Saturday.
Say: “Quarterbacks, look one off sometimes.”
Quarterback stares hard at his target for a full beat before throwing, so the read is obvious. Take it away once they are breaking early.
Three receivers instead of two, or let the quarterback pump fake once per round.