Q&A for How to Read the Defense As a Quarterback

A simple way to recognize this is by looking at the safety (most of the time). One high safety means man coverage. Two high safetys mean cover two (zone defense). The corner backs are in press technique in man and in zone (cover 2); they are usually five yards off. The corner back position varies team by team, so it's mostly looking at the safety's position on the field.

Watch the NFL and study the game. Try to watch the professionals and try to read the defense at home. Practice.

If your team has audibles built into its playbook, your coaching staff will go over the how, why and when of it with you.

Cover one has two corners that play up and press the receivers. They should be lined up that way before the play starts with one deep safety. Cover three will have two corners playing 5-7 yards off the line of scrimmage with one deep safety. Cover 4 will have two corners lined up 5-10 yards (I'm not sure if that's exactly right but they shouldn't be under five yards behind the line of scrimmage) off the line of scrimmage with two deep safeties typically to prevent deep plays from occurring.

The best way to recognize a blitz man in disguise is to audible to a hard count. If the player jumps (most likely a linebacker or safety), he is blitzing.

A cover 2 defense is a zone defense where there are two high safety's over the linebackers. The cornerbacks usually step back about five yards from the receiver reading the slot receiver.

They don't have to unless they want to fake out the offense. If they're doing man, then the corners might follow their receiver, and if they're doing zone, they might just stay in place or follow the receivers to show man.

Quarterbacks don't really read offenses. They are the ones who control the offenses and make offensive plays.