Can't pass !

[packmanuk]

I'm having so much trouble passing. I can run fine but just throwing so many interceptions.

The only passes I can complete with any confidence are short crosses and screens.

Any tips on how to pass better or read defences ? Also any tips on the best playbooks.

[Feros Ferio 7]

Quote: Originally Posted by packmanuk

I'm having so much trouble passing. I can run fine but just throwing so many interceptions. The only passes I can complete with any confidence are short crosses and screens. Any tips on how to pass better or read defences ? Also any tips on the best playbooks.

First, what throw style are you using (revamped, classic, accuracy, etc.)?


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[packmanuk]

I'm using classic

[sherrane]

Quote: Originally Posted by packmanuk

I'm having so much trouble passing. I can run fine but just throwing so many interceptions. The only passes I can complete with any confidence are short crosses and screens. Any tips on how to pass better or read defences ? Also any tips on the best playbooks.

Are you able to distinguish between man and zone? That is the first step and you make subsequent reads based on that. Man coverage with one or more safeties playing a deep zone? Unless you flood one side of the field with 2 or more receivers, your deep pass has likely been taken away. If you have a GO route and a DIG our Deep Out on the same side, the In or Out receiver will likely be open but make sure the deep help is playing the GO.



Some people will say that a receiver is always open against man coverage because the QB can throw him open (make him alter his route by throwing behind him / making him break).


Zone you look for mismatches or floods. 2 defenders cannot cover 3 and someone will be open. If you have 2 receivers in a defender's zone, identify the receiver he is defending and throw to the other one after making sure another defender hasn't snuck underneath.



Best playbooks are an opinion. Everyone could have a different one and they aren't wrong. For passing, the Air Raid, Run and Shoot, and Spread will give you a lot of very good passing plays and concepts. I'd recommend Practice module to try which book you prefer.

[packmanuk]

I think my biggest problem is not knowing how to read the defence. I need to see that a player is open during the play which is why I'm fine with curls and crosses.

Is there a playbook where it's less important to read the defence prior to the snap ?

[canes21]

Reading defenses does not need to be complicated.

There are a handful of things to look at when reading the defense pre-snap. I'll give some tips below, but realize these are basic generalizations.

First thing I look at when going to the line of scrimmage is how many safeties are deep. Typically there will be 1, 2, or 0 back deep. 1 back deep most likely means cover 3, cover 1, or a light blitz. 2 deep likely means cover 2, cover 2 man, cover 4, or cover 6 with less chance of blitz. No safeties deep means they are most likely bringing some heat.

After seeing how many safeties are back, make note of the CBs depth. If they are playing up on the WRs in their faces, it's 99% likely it is man. If they are playing back, odds are it is zone and their depth can tell you what type of zone.

2-high safeties with the outside CBs playing 5 yards off the WR? It's cover 2 zone. 1-high with the CBs playing 8-10 yards off the WRs and on their outside shoulder? It's cover 1 man. 2-high safety with 1 outside CB up on his WR while the CB on the other side of the field is off 8-10 yards? Cover 6.

Once you have some semblance of an idea of what they are running, you should know based off what route combination you picked as to what area of the field it will stress which will allow you to key in on a defender to read at the snap. For example, if they are showing cover 3 and you have a flood concept to the strong side, then you already know the CB with a deep zone will follow your streak route down the field, so that's likely not going to be there, so at the snap you should be reading whoever is playing the seam/flat area and watch whether they ride the deep out or jump on the flat route. His choice dictates where you're throwing the ball. He jumps the flat, throw the deep out. He stays back and rides the out, dump it to the flat route and get 5-6 easy yards.

If you can get a basic understanding of defensive concepts and then be half decent at reading the defense pre-snap, that's going to make your passing game take 10 steps forward. The better your understanding gets and the better you get at reading the defense pre-snap, the better your passing game gets. Then, you can start working on reading the defense better post-snap to better combat when the defense disguises their coverage.

But, to start things off, I'd simply make note of how many safeties are back, what depth the CBs are playing at, then make a guess of their coverage based off that. Once you make that guess, pick the defender you're reading a the snap. Also make note of who your safety valve is on the play, usually the RB on a swing or delayed route or a TE on a delayed route. At the snap, if your guess was right, read the defender and throw it to whoever he doesn't cover. If your guess was wrong, move on from that first read and dump it off to your RB or TE underneath who should be safe to throw to.

The worst thing you can do is try and complicate things and expect to be able to look at every single route on every single play before making a decision. Start off simple reading one guy based off your pre-snap guess. Once you're comfortable doing that and seeing yourself get better at reading defenses, then you can start throwing in a 2nd read, and potentially a 3rd if you get really good and have the OL for it.

An example would be with that flood example above, reading the streak route at the snap to see if a safety gives help or if they get 1 on 1 coverage, and if it is 1 on 1, reading the leverage and seeing if a 50/50 ball is worth throwing. You'll read all of this before the WR is even 10 yards down field. If that throw is there, throw it, if not, then read the key defender to see if he rides the out or takes the flat, and if both of those get covered up, you may eventually learn to read if the crossing route is coming open, and if so, good, hit it, if not, dump it off.

But getting to that level does take some time getting comfortable reading defenses pre and post snap and knowing who to read during the play, that's why I'd recommend at first just reading one defender and then dumping it off to the RB/TE if you don't like what you see.

I hope this helps. I'm happy to clear anything up. Ask questions if you want. I know I rambled and this may not all be clear.

[SilverBullet19]

One of the best ways I can phrase to read the defense is not to watch your man get open. Identify your targets, then watch that area on the field. The defenders movement will tell you if it WILL be open long before it actually is. If it looks to be covered you move to your next target and do the same. That’s how you progress through your reads as a qb.

Easy beginners reads:

-on the snap check linebackers for blitzing. If they’re coming, you’ll need to throw quick

-identify your primary target. The game shows their route as red, but you may have another favorite on a play. You then need to watch the defenders in the area that route is heading. That will tell you if it’ll be open many times.

For example, if my primary target is a drag route, I’m looking at defenders just outside the tackle box on the side I want to throw it. I’m looking if they follow specific players or take an area (man v zone). Then if they vacate the area where my route is going, I know if it will work.

Curls don’t work well against hard flat coverage.

Dig routes will work if you see the center of the field without a coverage man in zone.

[smithsrock]

Quote: Originally Posted by SilverBullet19

One of the best ways I can phrase to read the defense is not to watch your man get open. Identify your targets, then watch that area on the field. The defenders movement will tell you if it WILL be open long before it actually is. If it looks to be covered you move to your next target and do the same. That’s how you progress through your reads as a qb. Easy beginners reads: -on the snap check linebackers for blitzing. If they’re coming, you’ll need to throw quick -identify your primary target. The game shows their route as red, but you may have another favorite on a play. You then need to watch the defenders in the area that route is heading. That will tell you if it’ll be open many times. For example, if my primary target is a drag route, I’m looking at defenders just outside the tackle box on the side I want to throw it. I’m looking if they follow specific players or take an area (man v zone). Then if they vacate the area where my route is going, I know if it will work. Curls don’t work well against hard flat coverage. Dig routes will work if you see the center of the field without a coverage man in zone.

This advice helped things click for me. I haven't seen anyone else put it that simply. Thanks.