Reading The Safeties Quarterback Training
Today the quarterbacks are schooled that reading the safeties is the key to being able to read the defense. Whether the defense is blitzing, going with man to man or zone, it is very important quarterbacks are able to read the safeties.
As a quarterback you will get your first read of the defense when you break the huddle and approach the line of scrimmage. You want to see how the free safety and strong safety are lined up, this will give you and idea of what play the defense has called.
Typically the strong safety lines up opposite the tight end closer to the LOS than the free safety. The primary role of the strong safety is to support stopping the run, while the free safety is focused on stopping the pass. This article will focus on the basic fundamentals quarterbacks need to be able to read the safeties.
*Strong Safety*
Watch how the strong safety lines up, usually he will be closer to the LOS opposite the tight end or the second receiver. If SS lines up close the line of scrimmage and is inching up closer to the LOS, this indicates the defense anticipates a run play to the strong side of the field. If the SS is lined up deeper, five to seven yards back, the defense is preparing for pass defense.
*Free Safety*
The free safety is usually smaller and quicker than the strong safety. The free safety acts like the center fielder in baseball. The free safety covers the deep areas to protect against the long ball by defending the middle of the field and to protecting against the deep routes.
*Safety Line Ups*
If the safeties are lining up deep, each on the hash mark, this indicates a cover 2 defense, opening up the short routes and quick hitter short timing pattern passes.
If you see both safeties inching up toward the line of scrimmage, this usually means a safety blitz, opening up medium and long passing routes.
When you see the strong and free safeties are deep and the middle line backer has dropped back as a third safety, you are facing a cover 3 defense, which can be beaten with a short quick hitter to the tight end, or short crossing routes by the wide outs.
In conclusion being able to read the safeties is an essential skill you need to be a successful quarterback. This article gives you some of the basics in reading the safeties, there are many instructive DVDS available on reading defenses that can help you learn to read the safeties.
As a quarterback you will get your first read of the defense when you break the huddle and approach the line of scrimmage. You want to see how the free safety and strong safety are lined up, this will give you and idea of what play the defense has called.
Typically the strong safety lines up opposite the tight end closer to the LOS than the free safety. The primary role of the strong safety is to support stopping the run, while the free safety is focused on stopping the pass. This article will focus on the basic fundamentals quarterbacks need to be able to read the safeties.
*Strong Safety*
Watch how the strong safety lines up, usually he will be closer to the LOS opposite the tight end or the second receiver. If SS lines up close the line of scrimmage and is inching up closer to the LOS, this indicates the defense anticipates a run play to the strong side of the field. If the SS is lined up deeper, five to seven yards back, the defense is preparing for pass defense.
*Free Safety*
The free safety is usually smaller and quicker than the strong safety. The free safety acts like the center fielder in baseball. The free safety covers the deep areas to protect against the long ball by defending the middle of the field and to protecting against the deep routes.
*Safety Line Ups*
If the safeties are lining up deep, each on the hash mark, this indicates a cover 2 defense, opening up the short routes and quick hitter short timing pattern passes.
If you see both safeties inching up toward the line of scrimmage, this usually means a safety blitz, opening up medium and long passing routes.
When you see the strong and free safeties are deep and the middle line backer has dropped back as a third safety, you are facing a cover 3 defense, which can be beaten with a short quick hitter to the tight end, or short crossing routes by the wide outs.
In conclusion being able to read the safeties is an essential skill you need to be a successful quarterback. This article gives you some of the basics in reading the safeties, there are many instructive DVDS available on reading defenses that can help you learn to read the safeties.
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