Pattern Reading

This article is part two of a two part series. Part one was entitled: Landmarks: The Foundation of Zone Coverage. Pattern Reading serves three purposes for the defense. Defenses utilize a system of ‘Pattern Reading’ to get an early indicator of what type routes the offense is going to execute. It also serves to reduce the number of possible route combinations that the defense must anticipate and defend. Thus, maximizing the efficiency of how we leverage routes in zone pass coverage. Stretch Principle Diagram 1. Stretch Principle The first aspect of pattern reading is teaching the fundamental principle of an offensive passing game, vertical and horizontal stretch. Offenses will stretch the defense vertically and horizontally three ways: by formation, the receiver’s releases and complementary route packages (See Diagram 1). The cause and effect relationship of this principle is to