← Glossary

Step 5 — Watch for rotation

The picture changes late

In the final two seconds, watch the safeties. A safety spinning down means Cover 3 (sky/cloud), a robber, or a blitz. Safeties staying put means the shell was honest. Late rotation is the defense's last disguise — then confirm it in your first three steps after the snap.

When it applies

Final two seconds before the snap, and the first three steps of your drop after it.

Filed under: Pre-snap reads