How to Move in the Pocket Like Tom Brady

Tom Brady, having led New England to multiple Super Bowls, has established himself as one the NFL's all-time pocket passing masters. His superb peripheral awareness, clockwork sense of timing and shifty avoidance moves mean he's supremely comfortable in the pocket. Learn to move in the pocket like Tom Brady with these steps.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Step through when the time is right. This is the most important maneuver in the pocket and no one executes it with timing more impeccable than Brady's. When the rushing defenders momentum has reached just the right point, push through your linemen into the open field. You're now easy fodder for the linebackers but you'll have a few unobstructed seconds to hit your receiver, Brady-style.
2. Rollout opposite to your intended receiver. Sometimes Brady will try to draw defenders to the wrong side of the field by rolling out of the pocket and then hitting a receiver on the other side. This works best for medium-depth patterns at the end of the flats, where linebackers will be pulled off their coverage by a possible quarterback rush.
3. Look to coach for guidance. Brady has always gotten along famously with Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, working within Belichick's system to keep the chain of command tight.
4. Play for the team. Brady has always been an outstanding team player. His cool and mature demeanor has won him respect from players and officials, and he rarely costs his team mistakes by getting hot headed over anything. His team spirit extends off the field, as he once agreed to lower his salary in order to fit receiver Randy Moss into the team's salary cap.
5. Keep your peripheral vision open. Brady has an uncanny ability to watch his periphery for onrushing defenders. Not only that, he has enough depth perception to be able to squeeze every last second out before snapping off a pass. Practice your peripheral depth perception to have Brady's pocket awareness.