The Key to a Good Offense is a Readable Defense

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This is a good read to get in a football frame of mind for this weekend. Good, that is, if you like some insight into the mechanics of how QBs read defenses ...

Against teams like the Jets and Ravens, whose fronts may be more difficult to identify, there are sure to be spots where the QB isn't correct. But that doesn't necessarily spell disaster.

"They're identifying the 'bigs,' '' said Jets linebacker Bart Scott. "Their five are identifying the five that they're going to take. So if they get the Mike wrong, it's still five on five.''

And the quarterback can get by getting rid of the ball quickly.

But if the offense is going to be wrong, it's being wrong together that's important. Often, that will mean that the running back has to make a defender miss earlier than he'd like, or the quarterback has to sidestep a rusher or unload the ball quicker.

"Thing about that is, if you're right, you're right,'' Koppen said. "But if you're wrong and you're all on the same page, you're better off than one guy being messed up.''

Wondering how defenders go unblocked? There it is.

Of course, during my reading of this, I couldn't help but rewind a bit to Super Bowl XLII. On the first play by the Patriot's offense, it was clear that the Giants D was creating some confusion for the Patriots. And as the low-scoring game got further and further along, it was a bad omen for what should have been the Patriot's perfect season.