Increasing your defensive back I.Q. by reading receivers--studying them before games, reading their alignment, and knowing how to recognize the routes they're going to run--is another tool you can use to dominate opposing teams. Film work is crucial for Friday night success!
Studying Receivers
During the week before a game, you can get a good feel for the receivers you're going to play on game day. Once again, this is achieved through film study.
When you're watching film, on top reading the offense, you should also be studying the opposing teams' receivers to get a bead on how they play and what you can do to beat them.
Here are some things you should pay attention to:
How fast are they?
Who is the go-to guy?
Do they run their routes consistently?
How big and, more importantly, how physical are they?
How Fast Are They?
This is important when reading receivers because it tells you how close or far you can play away from them. Fast is a relative term, so when you judge a receiver's speed, it is in relation to your own.
If they're “damn” fast you might have to give a bit more cushion when playing off and open sooner to cover deeper routes than against Johnny Possession. And it’s that much more important that you get a hand on them when you press. If you miss the jam, and the open the gate, fast receivers will take advantage.
If they're not that fast you can play closer, and be more aggressive when you break on routes. You'll also be able to recover better if they run a double move.
Who Is the Go-To Guy?
Knowing who the opposing team's go-to guy is lets you know how you can play him in certain situations. For example, if the offense is in the red zone and going in to score, they may want to hit their guy on a fade. If you're playing him one-on-one you can fake the press and then bail at the last minute and snag the pick.
You can also count on them dialing up their go-to guy when they're in trouble situations like 3rd and long. You can use this knowledge to break on routes that you know are coming.
Do They Run Routes Consistently?
If they only go full speed or run good routes only when they're getting the ball, you can tell right away when it’s coming your way.
How Big and Physical Are They?
If you know you're going to be playing a tall receiver, it helps to know if you can be physical or play off. You should be strong enough to handle anyone who lines up, but receivers can get away with a lot and you don't to get caught up in a penalty battle that defensive backs almost always lose.
If a receiver is big but not necessarily physical, you can use your body a bit more to take his mind out the game. If he is physical, sometimes its best to win with finesse.
Receiver Alignment
Another element in your arsenal of pre-snap reads is receiver alignment. If knowing their schemes and tendencies can give a sense of mastery, adding knowledge of the routes their going to run can damn near give you clairvoyance.
You can basically use the numbers on the field as point of reference for reading receiver alignment. For example, receivers lined up outside the numbers are restricted by the sideline, so defensive backs should watch for inside routes.
A receiver lined up slightly inside the numbers can still run inside routes, but also has action at the fade. Even more inside, closer to the formation, and the receiver has a lot of space for outside routes.
Use your best judgment when trying to read alignment for signs of the route. For example: A "Tipper" (as I like to call them) lines up tight to the formation, and from film study you know that this team never runs Slants, Digs, or Comebacks out of that formation; well, you should be licking your chops, waiting to jump the outside route.
Route Recognition and Where Routes break
The final piece of the puzzle in reading receivers is route recognition. Any great cornerback, after having covered hundreds of routes, run by dozens of receivers, can often anticipate what route a receiver is going to run against him. How do you do this?
Many receivers will actually telegraph what they want to do.
Outside of the 3-step game (Slant, Flat), every route breaks at a depth of 12-15 yards. Why is that important? Double moves! If you are playing defensive back and see the WR stutter his feet at a depth of 8-yards, expect him to get vertical up the field. Why? Because there isn’t a route that breaks at 8-yards. However, remember one very important detail: if the WR doesn’t break his route between 12-15 yards, you better open your hips and run because he is running straight down the field.
Making it simple:
Flat
Think Slant-Flat, Curl-Flat, Flat-7. It is the one route that will show up consistently in combination concepts. You will get it out the backfield, plus from a No.1 WR with a reduced split and a No.2 aligned inside of the numbers.
Slant
You will see it at the high school level on Friday nights and on Sunday in the NFL because it is the top 3-step concept in any playbook. Look for a wide split (outside of the numbers) and vs. a 3x1 formation. The ideal, quick Cover 1 (man-free) beater.
Comeback
This is one of the tougher throws when it is run at a deep depth (15-yards). You will see it vs. Cover 1 and it is the only route (outside of the fade or 9 routes) where a WR aligns wide (outside of the numbers) with a hard outside vertical release.
Curl
The curl route is simple, yet it is essential for working vs. off-man coverage and zone based defenses. Stem hard up the field and break back downhill to the QB. There is a reason defenses have “curl to flat” zone players in Cover 3 and Cover 4—because you have to stop this route.
Out
Again, similar to the comeback, the deep out is route a QBs arm strength. Can they make that throw? Look for the WR to align inside of the numbers or on top of the numbers at the widest. You need to create room to run this route. Study the film to see if this route is in their playbook.
Dig
This is the classic intermediate to deep inside breaking route. Some teams Make it big (sometimes at a depth of 20-plus yards) and you may see it in multiple combinations. Get a vertical stem up the numbers from the WR and break it across the middle vs. any coverage.
Corner
The top route we see vs. Cover 2 defenses as it puts stress on both the corner sinking and the deep half safety. And, just like the comeback and the out, you must create room to work for the WR. They can’t run the 7 route from outside of the numbers—because the WR will run out of bounds.
Post
You will see the “Skinny Post” (or “Bang 8”) everywhere, but the basic post route is a concept that allows a WR to win vs. man-coverage as he works to the deep middle of the field. A big play waiting to happen when you work vs. a FS that doesn’t have discipline in his drop and depth.
Fade
This is the ultimate deep ball. The “go route” is in every playbook when you want to win a one-on-one matchup down the field. And just like I said above, when you get an outside vertical release vs. a WR aligned outside of the numbers, you either get the comeback or a shot down the field.
Just as defensive backs are taught to keep certain leverage--either inside or outside--on a receiver, receivers are taught to beat that leverage whenever they run a route. For example, if a receiver wants to run an inside route on you, like a post, dig or a quick slant, at the snap of the ball he will immediately try to “stem” you inside. That is, he will drive hard and try to get inside leverage on you so that he has an advantage when he breaks into his route.
If you can keep your inside leverage when he stems by mirroring him (but staying square) he will be hard pressed to get a step on you while breaking into his route. Most of the time when a receiver stems in a certain direction, he is going in that direction. Sometimes, though, good receivers will try to make you think they're going inside and then suddenly break to the outside.
Others will sell a double route very well: stemming inside, breaking inside, and then breaking back out.
Be Prepared
But a receiver should not be able to sell you anything if you already know what he's going to do. After having read all the other pre- and post-snap keys, you should be to the point of anticipating receivers' routes. And after having worked on your footwork and agility, reacting to any surprises should come as second nature. It is very hard to beat someone who knows your every move and can't be surprised.
If receivers run a corner route, I suggest blanketing the receiver, staying on top of the route, and undercutting. If you can't play the ball because the receiver is using his body to shield you from the ball, you can punch through or swing down on his arm to knock the ball loose.
Make sure you make the tackle.
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