Lesson 3 of 3
Watch the first movement
Watch the defender’s first steps after the snap. Starting close to a receiver does not tell you whether the defender will stay close or move into depth.
Hold ground
The defender receives the release without a sustained retreat.
Retreat square
The defender moves backward, increasing the space to the receiver.
Open into depth
The defender turns early and moves away from the receiver.
D DefenderR Receiver
Describe what moves
Notice where the defender starts, whether the space to the receiver grows, and when the defender turns. Coaches use different names for these movements; the first steps alone do not prove man or zone coverage.