QB reads

Question
I was wondering if there were any books or videos (good ones) that you could recommend for my son, who is a QB) to learn how to read defenses better. He pretty good now but has never been properly taught how to read a defense. I got him a quarterback coach that helped alot with footwork and technique but couldn't lock down alot of classroom time with him. I tried searching for videos with extensive information but couldn't find one. Let me know,

thanks.

Tony Sr.

Answer
Dear Tony Sr.,
I get asked this question a lot. I have been asked so many times, I am thinking about writing a book about the topic.
Being able to read a defense is not hard. All you have to do is take the time to break down the defense into groups and sub-groups.

By the time a quarterback takes the field, he must know the coverages that his opponenent is going to run against him.

He must ask himself, what do they like to run on first down?, second down?, third down?, do they play run on the first two downs?.....

Corners are the quarterback's best friends, when it comes to giving the most tips to the coverage. Here are a few simple reads for the quarterback;  Study the corner back, look to see if he his eyeing the receiver or quarterback.

If he is eyeing the receiver he is in some type of man coverage.
If he is eyeing the quarterback he is a zone coverage.
If he is line-up outside the receiver he is in a zone coverage.
If he is line-up inside the receiver he is in a man coverage.
If he is line-up in a low focus position he is in a man coverage.
If he is standing tall he is in a zone coverage.
IF HE IS LINE-UP INSIDE AND LOOKING IN TO THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE HE IS COMING ON SOME KIND OF STUNT. Make sure you have someone pick him up or he is going to hand you, your head.

I hope this will be of some help to you. The only book that I know that talks about reading the defense is,

"Winning Football with the Air Option Passing Game"
        by Homer Rice & Steve Moore.

This is one of the best books out today. I have a copy.

I will let you know when my book come out, and send you a copy. Your friend, coach Louis