Coach and Coordinator Podcast The Give - Pre Snap QB Recognition - Joe Moorhead, Head Coach, University of Akron
Feb 22, 2026
Joe Moorhead, college coach and former offensive coordinator known for dropback and RPO systems, shares his quarterback pre-snap recognition framework. He outlines a concise pre-snap checklist and contrasts progression reads with coverage reads. Short, practical clinic-style segments walk through real alignment and disguise examples.
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Use A Repeatable Pre-Snap Checklist
- Run a consistent pre-snap checklist on every play to narrow possibilities before the snap.
- Check shell (one-high/two-high), man vs zone eyes, front (3/4), and second/third-level depth, leverage, tilt and skew for actionable elimination.
Set Hands And Use Motion To Force A Declaration
- Use formation and motion as indicators and force the defense to declare after the snap for confirmation.
- Set your hands in shotgun or under center to be a snap threat and prompt defenders to move to post-snap responsibilities.
Scan Front And Tilt To Predict Pressure
- Include front structure and second/third level tilt in pre-snap reads to predict pressure and coverage rotation.
- Note three-down vs four-down fronts and linebackers' depth, leverage, tilt and skew to eliminate threats.