AIR FORCE

FOOTBALL
PATTERN READ
COVER THREE
WHY PATTERN READ
• Match up underneath coverage to route
being run as oppose to dropping a
landmark and solely reacting to QB’s
intention.
WHY PATTERN READ
• Match up underneath coverage to route
being run as oppose to dropping a
landmark and solely reacting to QB’s
intention.
• Take away receiver’s freedom to adjust
to a stationary zone defender.
WHY PATTERN READ
• Match up underneath coverage to route
being run as oppose to dropping a
landmark and solely reacting to QB’s
intention.
• Take away receiver’s freedom to adjust
to a stationary zone defender.
• Reduce vertical seams in zone
coverage.
WHY PATTERN READ
• Match up underneath coverage to route
being run as oppose to dropping a
landmark and solely reacting to QB’s
intention.
• Take away receiver’s freedom to adjust
to a stationary zone defender.
• Reduce vertical seams in zone
coverage.
• Greater means of taking away favorite
routes or patterns of weekly opponent.
OUR DEFENSIVE STRUCTURE

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OUR DEFENSIVE STRUCTURE

E N E

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OUR DEFENSIVE STRUCTURE

E N E
L M R

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OUR DEFENSIVE STRUCTURE

E N E
F F
L M R

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 OUR DEFENSIVE STRUCTURE

E N E
F F
L M R
C C

__ FS __
 CURL READ 3-2 READ 2 CURL

T T T
H H H
I
R
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R
__ I
R
D D D

PATTERN READS COVERAGE

COVER 3

E N E
F F
CURL L M R CURL

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COVERAGE RESPONSIBILITIES
COVER 3

E N E
F F
CURL L M R CURL

3-2 PLAYER 2 PLAYER

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COVERAGE RESPONSIBILITIES
COVER 3

E N E
F F
CURL L M R CURL

3-2 PLAYER 2 PLAYER

__ FS
MIDDLE __
THIRD

COVERAGE RESPONSIBILITIES
COVER 3

E N E
F F
CURL L M R CURL

3-2 PLAYER 2 PLAYER

C
OUTSIDE
C
OUTSIDE
THIRD THIRD

__ FS
MIDDLE __
THIRD

COVERAGE RESPONSIBILITIES
COVER 3

E N E
F F
FORCE/ L M R FORCE/
FOLD FOLD

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RUN SUPPORT
COVER 3

E N E
F F
FORCE/ L M R FORCE/
FOLD FOLD

__ FS
ALLEY __

RUN SUPPORT
COVER 3

E N E
F F
FORCE/ L M R FORCE/
FOLD FOLD

C C
SECONDARY
SECONDARY
CONTAIN CONTAIN
PURSUIT PURSUIT

__ FS
ALLEY __

RUN SUPPORT
COVER 3

E N E
F F
L M R
C C

__ FS __

RUN SUPPORT
 BASIC CONCEPT

CREATE FOUR MAN RUSH:

FRONT THREE + ONE
 BASIC CONCEPT

CREATE FOUR MAN RUSH:

FRONT THREE + ONE

REPLACE BLITZER IN COVERAGE

 E N E
F F
L M R

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X - COVER 3
COVER 3

E N E
F F
CURL L M R CURL

READ 3-2 READ 2

LEFT RIGHT

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COVERAGE RESPONSIBILITIES
 E N E
F F
L M R

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LION - COVER 3 LEFT

 E N E
F F
L M R

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RIGHT LEOPARD - COVER 3 LEFT

COVER 3 LEFT

E N E
F F
CURL L M R CURL

READ 3-2 READ 2

LEFT RIGHT

MIKE LINEBACKER REPLACES

BLITZING LOU AS PATTERN

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READ PLAYER ON 3-2

COVERAGE RESPONSIBILITIES
 E N E
F F
L M R

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RAM - COVER 3 RIGHT

 E N E
F F
L M R

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LEFT RHINO - COVER 3 RIGHT

COVER 3 RIGHT

E N E
F F
CURL
L M R CURL

READ 3-2 READ 2

LEFT RIGHT

MIKE LINEBACKER REPLACES

BLITZING ROB AS PATTERN

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READ PLAYER ON 2

COVERAGE RESPONSIBILITIES
 E N E
F F
L M R

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TUNA - COVER 3 CLOSE

 E N E
F L M R
F

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ANCHOR - COVER 3 CLOSE

COVER 3 CLOSE

E N E
F
CURL
L M R F
READ 2 READ 2
CURL
TIGHT OPEN

MIKE LINEBACKER REPLACES

BLITZING TIGHT-SIDE LB’er AS

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PATTERN READ PLAYER ON 2

COVERAGE RESPONSIBILITIES
 E N E
F F
L M R

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SHARK - COVER 3 OPEN

 E N E
F L M R
F

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TORPEDO - COVER 3 OPEN

COVER 3 OPEN

E N E
F F
CURL
L M R CURL

READ 3-2 READ 2

TIGHT OPEN

MIKE LINEBACKER REPLACES

BLITZING SPLIT-SIDE LB’er AS

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PATTERN READ PLAYER ON 2

COVERAGE RESPONSIBILITIES
 E N E
F F
L M R

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RIGHT LINDA - COVER 3 LEFT MABEL

COVER 3 LEFT MABEL

E N E
F F
L M R CURL
CURL READ 2 READ 2
LEFT RIGHT
C
CORNER PLAYS AS MAN LOU LINEBACKER REPLACES
VERSUS ALL THREATENING BLITZING FALCON AS CURL
RELEASES __ PLAYER
__

COVERAGE RESPONSIBILITIES
 E N E
F
F L M R

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LEFT RITA - COVER 3 RIGHT MABEL

COVER 3 RIGHT MABEL

E N E
F F
CURL
L M R
READ 3-2 READ 2 CURL
LEFT RIGHT
C
ROB LINEBACKER REPLACES CORNER PLAYS AS MAN
BLITZING FALCON AS CURL VERSUS ALL THREATENING

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PLAYER RELEASES

COVERAGE RESPONSIBILITIES
CURL TECHNIQUE
CURL TECHNIQUE

F
**FLAT-FOOT
READ

SINGLE WIDTH ALIGNMENT

CURL TECHNIQUE

BUZZ - FLAT F

VERSUS SINGLE WIDTH - BUZZ THE

BUZZ TECHNIQUE

IDENTIFY A FLAT RECEIVER -- QUICK SET CLUES A SLANT/HITCH --

USE SPLIT TENDANCIES
BUZZ TECHNIQUE

SETTLE

IF NO IDENTIFIED FLAT THREAT -- SETTLE BACK UNDER #1 -- ZONE

QB’s EYES
CURL TECHNIQUE

F
**FLAT-FOOT
READ

TWO STAND UP ALIGNMENT

CURL TECHNIQUE

SETTLE

WORK TO DEPTH OF 10-12 YARDS OVER NORMALLY

CURL TECHNIQUE

VERSUS QUICK GAME – BREAK EARLY AND CUT #1

CURL TECHNIQUE

WITH #2 VERTICAL -- SETTLE CURL AND PLAY OFF QB’s

CURL TECHNIQUE

IF #2 QUICK TO FLAT -- HOLD CURL -- CORNER WILL SECURE

CURL TECHNIQUE

F
C

VERSUS ANY SCREEN -- CURL PLAYER

3-2 PLAYER TECHNIQUE
3-2 PLAYER

E N E
LB

PATTERN READ OFF #3 TO #2 RECEIVER

3-2 PLAYER

E N E
LB

DROP OVER #3 AS YOU READ HIS ROUTE -- NO RECEIVER

3-2 PLAYER

E N E
F
LB

DROP OVER #3 AS YOU READ HIS ROUTE – IF THREAT BY #2 –

2 PLAYER TECHNIQUE
2 PLAYER

E N E
F
L M R F

READ RELEASE OF #2 AS WORKING FOR WIDTH AND

2 PLAYER

E N E
F
L M R F

CUT SLANT BY #2
2 PLAYER

E N E
F
L M R F

IF #2 TO FLAT -- LOOK FOR NEW #2 FROM OUTSIDE AND

2 PLAYER

E N E
F
L M R F

CARRY #2 VERTICAL – LOOK FOR BREAK INSIDE BY #2

2 PLAYER

E N E
F
L M R F

ROLL WITH DIG BY #2

2 PLAYER

E N E
F
L M R F

COME OFF #2 VERTICALLY WHEN #1 RUNS DIG

FREE SAFETY
PLAY
FREE SAFETY PLAY

T N T
F
12 F
L M R
C C

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ALIGN IN MIDDLE OF FIELD – PERFORMANCE IS PRIORITY

FREE SAFETY PLAY

F E N E
12
L M R F
C C

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BALL ON HASH -- SPLIT DIFFERENCE #2 AND BALL

FREE SAFETY PLAY

E N E
F F
L M R
C C

__ FS __

ZONE MIDDLE THIRD – FAVOR TO SKILL – BE FAST ON QB’s

CORNER PLAY
CORNER PLAY

40
7

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VERSUS NORMAL WIDE RECEIVER SPLIT

CORNER PLAY

40
1

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VERSUS WIDE SPLIT BY WIDE RECEIVER

CORNER PLAY

40 2

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VERSUS TIGHT SPLIT BY WIDE

CORNER PLAY

SINGLE WIDTH: PLAY AN INSIDE THIRD – MAN ALL THREATENING

RELEASES – POST PROTECT
CORNER PLAY

PUSH OUT TO SLOW PEDDLE - KEY FOR QUICK THREE STEP PASSING
GAME AT SNAP
CORNER PLAY

BREAK UP ON ALL NORMAL BREAKING ROUTES

CORNER PLAY

BREAK UP ON ALL NORMAL BREAKING ROUTES

CORNER PLAY

TURN AND DRIVE ON DEEP SHOULDER OF RECEIVER ON POST

CORNER PLAY

CLOSE AND PLAY CHASE ON DIG

CORNER PLAY

TURN AND GAIN HIP POSITION ON FADE

CORNER PLAY

40

C
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VERSUS MULTIPLE STANDS UPS – NORMAL

CORNER PLAY

40
3

C
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VERSUS MULTIPLE STANDS UPS – WIDE SPLIT

CORNER PLAY

C
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VERSUS MULTIPLE STANDS UPS – PLAY DIVIDER

CORNER PLAY

C
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VERSUS MULTIPLE STANDS UPS – PLAY DIVIDER

CORNER PLAY

C
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VERSUS MULTIPLE STANDS UPS – IF #2 CANCELS OUT –

END