Quarterbacks only need to know three reads!!!

After reading this title you’re probably thinking that’s crazy there’s no way. The truth is though a quarterback only really needs to know how to throw off of three types of reads. There’s an inside outside read and a hi lo read. The last read is just thrown against man-to-man coverage which is one of the easiest coverages to throw against honestly. Well easiest if you are an accurate quarterback and throw well-timed ball. Timing is very important and something Bill Walsh used to setup perfect timing is good footwork. His footwork fundamentals were why Joe Montana and Steve Young were such great quarterbacks. I use Bill Walsh’s techniques when I coach quarterbacks. Back to the inside outside read!! This is typically thrown against a linebacker on the first level and the concept is simple. If he is outside I throw inside. If the defender is inside I throw outside. This is also done on the second level typically against a safety. Now for the hi lo read. This is typically thrown against a corner and the concept is this. If the defender is high I throw low and if he is low I throw high. This can be thrown against a linebacker and safety in the middle of the field typically. That is the only two reads against zone a quarterback needs. When a quarterback is developing he should master them individually but when they get to become a strong minded quarterback they need to do these reads multiple times in one play in succession. For instance they might inside outside read the outside linebacker and the linebacker is inside. This means throw outside but they might have to hi lo the corner before releasing the ball. After reading the corner they see they are low so they have to inside outside read the safety over the top before releasing the ball. Even though these concepts are simple they have to be practiced a lot. Quarterbacks take two years to truly develop and they have to rep these to increase the speed of their decision making. Even after mastering you have to practice this so you can stay sharp and execute quickly.