Read the Quarterback Early for Interceptions

Video Transcript

"Hi, this is Sean Hobson, for Expert Village. When talking about picking off a pass or intercepting a pass one important thing is to read what's happening with the quarterback. There are two ways you can read the quarterback. One, when I play off a receiver before the play happens I want to line up to the inside of the receiver. When the snap is made the first steps I want to make are in a back pedal. I want to take a deep back pedal for about three steps. When I'm taking those back pedals for those three steps, I want to look into the backfield and read the quarterback. If the quarterback is taking a three step drop that means he's taking a quick three step drop and he'll probably get rid of the ball soon. If not, the line will get to him and they're going to blitz from the outside and make a tackle. So, I can read instantly if this guy is coming up on me and I'm taking my back pedal and I see a quick three step drop, I know it's probably going to be a short pass. If not to him then to somebody else. So, I know that I don't have to keep deep back pedaling. I can stay pretty close to my receiver because he's probably going to break to the inside or the outside. If I'm taking my deep drop and I see the quarterback continue to drop back into a five step drop I have to be worried about this guy going long. Once he comes up on me I now know I have to turn and keep him to the outside because it's probably going to be a deep pass to the receiver. So, one important thing you can do is read the quarterback. A three step drop is probably going to be a quick throw. A five step drop is probably going to be a long pass."