The QB has to know what’s coming before the ball moves. This drill builds the pre-snap read habit.
Equipment needed: Four defenders, two receivers, one QB, cones marking the field.
Setup: Two receivers split wide. Four defenders set up in either man (one DB per receiver, plus a safety) or zone (corners deep, safety high, linebacker shallow).
How to run it:
- Defenders huddle and decide coverage without telling the QB.
- QB walks to the line and has three seconds to read it. Cues to look for: corner depth, safety alignment, where the LB is looking.
- QB calls “man” or “zone” out loud before the snap.
- Snap, run the routes, defenders play their assigned coverage. Was the QB right?
- Six reps. Defenders mix coverages.
What to look for: Right answer matters less than the habit of looking. Every snap should start with eyes scanning.
Variation: Add motion. The receiver shifts; defenders react. If a corner follows, it’s man. If a corner stays put, it’s zone.