From Sid Gillman - "Father of the Modern Pro-Passing Game": Thoughts On ATTACKING the coverages (BELOW): X---------------O-O-C-O-O-Y -------------H-------Q------------------Z ---------------------R ***************************************************************************************************************** ATTACKING COVER 0: (MAN TO MAN COVERAGE ON ALL RECEIVERS WITH NO FREE SAFETY IN THE POST AREA. THIS NORMALLY INVOLVES A 6 OR 7 MAN BLITZ. SAFETIES CAN BE COMMITTED TO EITHER SIDE). BASIC PHILSOPHY: Our main thought here is to get after the corners in a 1 on 1 situation. This coverage is an inside the 20 or a dog coverage. You don’t see it very often in a normal coverage package. The Weak Safety is usually on the H all the way when tied in with a dog, but if not dogging Will can buzz out on X and the Weak Safety will take H on anything up inside! We would always try to have a prepared audible to attack the weakest phase of the coverage. QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED: 1. Can we read 0 coverage coming in a P.S.L.? 2. So the corners play inside? 3. Is 0 coverage always ties in with a dog? 4. Is there 1 corner we would rather work on? 5. Would it be better to go to Y than to a WR? 6. Is there a LBer that “tips” the coverage or dog coming? 7. Are there formations they never dog? 8. Are there areas on the field that percentages go up or down in terms of seeing dog coverage? 9. Will they stay in 0 coverage Vs. all formations as well as against forms of motion? 10. Who runs with Z motion? 11. Do they incorporate line stunts with Cover 0? 12. Do we have to audible to handle their dogs tied in with 0 coverage from a protection standpoint? 13. Will the LB’er sit on the L.O.S. if a back stays in? ******************************************************************************************************************** ATTACKING COVER 1: (MAN TO MAN COVERAGE ON ALL RECEIVERS WITH EITHER SAFETY FREE IN THE POST AREA). BASIC PHILOSOPHY: Our basic approach will be to work on the weakest 1-on-1 defender in the opponent’s perimeter defense. How each man covers specific cuts must be evaluated and individual receiver techniques in terms of releases and breaking points must be adjusted. Since a man coverage team has to do very little with their secondary to dog, protections that are not high risk will be emphasized. We will try to determine how they adjust their coverages to various formations, always trying to get the “mis-match”! Motions will be used to try to break down the discipline of their man coverages. Weakside will be our starting point, thinking we are 2 on 2 weak and they are 4 on 3 strong. We will keep the ball out of down the hole with Weak Safety in there free. QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED: 1. Who is their weakest corner? What are his weaknesses? 2. How does the Free Safety play? Does he favor strong or weak? 3. Do their corners line on shading one side or another? 4. Which routes do the corners appear to have trouble covering? 5. What kind of a cushion do the corners give you? 6. Is there a P.S.L. coverage key that is a reliable indicator? 7. Can Mike be used as a reliable initial read? 8. Which outside LB’er is the poorest coverage man? 9. Do they have a DWN/DIST or a Field Position tendency to play this coverage? 10. Is there a specific formation that appears to give us an edge? 11. Do they use Will Buz with Cover 1? If so, is it a formation that forces the call? 12. How do they handle various forms of motion? 13. Are the corners reading complimentary flares for pattern reads? 14. Does Sam stay with the TE when we when we go to slots or open? 15. Can we tie up Weak Safety by using a specific formation? 16. How do the LB’ers handle weak flow away from Y/Z? 17. Will they play Cover 1 with all fronts used? ******************************************************************************************************************** ATTACKING COVER 2/MAN UNDER: (THE SS AND FS EACH DROP TOWARDS THE HASHES, COVERING HALVES OF THE FIELD. THE LB’S AND CORNERS PLAY MAN ON THE 5 ELIGIBLE RECEIVERS) BASIC PHILOSPHY: This coverage is one of the toughest coverages to attack. The WR’s have to be able to handle the tough corner play and beat them on outside moves. The quick fade is a sound pattern but the ball has to be on the dime and get there before a safety can help out. H & Y are the logical guys to work to in that they are now isolated on a LBer. The RB is on a LB so he too becomes becomes a big factor when attacking 2/Man Coverage. It is very hard to move the ball efficiently by going to the WR’s. We would be forcing the issue. QUESTIONSTO BE ANSWERED: 1. Can we read the coverage coming in our Pre-Snap look? Usually can! 2. Do the corners come up in a B & R position and “plaster” from inside-out? 3. Do the safeties “bail out” in getting to the deep outside? 4. How much time do we need to get receivers open? 5. Is there a formation they may not play Cover 2/Man against? 6. Will different forms of motion eliminate Cover 2/Man? 7. Which LBer is the weakest in coverage? 8. Does the LB hang on the L.O.S. waiting for the RB or does he drop out and pick him up downfield? 9. Can we screen against their LBers? 10. Are Mike & Sam reading I & O on Y and RB (callside to Y)? Are Mike & Will reading I & O on H & RB (callside to H)? 11. Do they play this coverage in a specific area of the field? 12. How do the LBers handle counter-action in the backfied? ******************************************************************************************************************** ATTACKING COVER 2/ZONE UNDER: (THE SS AND FS EACH DROP TOWARDS HASHES, COVERING HALVES OF THE FIELD. THE LB’S AND CORNERS WILL PLAY THE 5 UNDERNEATH AREAS IN ZONE COVERAGE) BASIC PHILOSOPHY: Depending on the strengths and weakness of the Cover 2 we are attacking, our basic question would be, do we want to attack it with specific patterns or do we want to try to force them out of it by using a formation that might force them to audible out the coverage? Our approach to attacking it if it is the opponent’s basic coverage and predictable is two fold. One being to slightly reduce the splits of the WRs so they can get under the corners quicker and BURST on the safeties, running the routes called on the safeties. A second approach would be to widen the receivers out slightly and run FADE principle patterns, attempting to always have one receiver in the rotating corner’s face and the wide receiver fading down the sideline. If we can’t predict the coverage nor P.S.L. read it coming so we can audible, then patterns that incorporate Y Bread & Read principles would be utilized. The backs will always be used as lay off people. QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED: 1. What techniques are the corners using? Force in or out – Hanging etc. 2. Do the safeties bail out and really vacate the deep middle? 3. How physical do the corners play when trying to get by them? 4. Which release (Burst or Fade) looks the best? 5. How does the Mike & Sam read the TE/RB release? 6. Can play action hold Mike, allowing us to get Y down the hole? 7. Can Y release inside Sam? 8. Can we read the coverage coming in our P.S.L.? If so, how? 9. Do they have a DWN/DIST tendency in playing this coverage? 10. Will they play it Vs. all formations? 11. Are the safeties reading the QB or the WRs? 12. How do the LB’ers defend callside away from Y/Z? ******************************************************************************************************************** ATTACKING COVER 3 (A STRONGSIDE ROTATION TO A 3 DEEP ZONE COVERAGE. THE REMAINING SAFETY AND LB’S WILL COVER THE 4 UNDERNEATH ZONES. IT IS ASSUMED THAT THE SS IS THE DEFENDER RESPONSIBLE FOR THE STRONG FLAT UNLESS A VARIATION IS CALLED) BASIC PHILOSOPHY: There are two basic approaches to attacking zone coverages. Both involve stretching zones. A vertical stretch would involve using patterns that utilize 3 receivers in a zone stretch from the L.O.S. to the goal line. A horizontal stretch would involve using patterns that utilize receivers in a zone stretch from the formation to the sideline. We would prefer to stay to the callside, getting 3 receivers on 3 defenders. The coverage dictates exactly what we will do with the ball but when reading callside we generally stay callside. If we were to work back behind the coverage we might be throwing into a 3 on 2 situation with the defense having the edge. If we are able to predict the coverage then putting the callside away from the strength of the coverage would be our plan (since our “base” 2x2 sets are so balanced – we can easily get 3 out to either side) The burden to get open is usually put on the 3 receivers out callside. THINK POSITIVE GAIN! QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED: 1. Can we read Cover 3 coming in our P.S.L.? 2. What release is best for WR’s (If “Cloud” rotation). 3. What force do they prefer (“Sky” or “Cloud”)? Will WR split determine that change? 4. Does S/S do a good job of getting to deep outside when in “Cloud”? 5. Can H or Y get an inside release? If not does OLB ride te outside release hard? 6. How hard does MLB drop away from call? Is there a lane between MLB & SLB (or WLB if going to other side)? 7. Does F/S do a good job of getting to the deep middle? 8. Can we read S/S’s alignment position as an indicator? 9. Can we read F/S’s alignment position as an indicator? 10. How do they support the run in Cover 3 away from the strength of the coverage? 11. Are the LB’ers deep droppers or do they hang close to the RB? 12. Will a specific formation draw a strong zone? 13. How deep do our WR’s have to get to eventually force the corners into a man technique? 14. Are we better off running the RB upfield in flare control or keeping him behind the L.O.S.? 15. Which direction is our best screen direction – RT/LT STR/WK? 16. If S/S force (“Sky”), how does S/S play his technique? 17. Is MLB a good first indicator of what the coverage is going to be? 18. If “Cloud”, how aggressive does the corner play, and what technique does he employ? ******************************************************************************************************************* ATTACKING COVER 4: (A 4 DEEP LOOK WITH THE CORNERS AND SAFETIES EACH PLAYING A QUARTER OF THE FIELD. THE DEFENSIVE BACKS WILL PLAY MAN TO MAN ON VERTICAL ROUTES WHILE LB’S WILL PLAY ZONE UNDERNEATH. IF THERE IS NO VERTICAL THREAT, THEN THE DB’S ARE FREE TO HELP ANOTHER DEFENDER) BASIC PHILOSOPHY: This coverage is a 4 deep coverage with only 3 men in the under coverage. It has two safeties deep but may be distinguished from Cover 2 in that the safeties disregard the hashes and align on the H & Y. It is based upon safeties helping the corners on in breaking routes by the WRs (which can be countered by having H or Y “blow the top” off the coverage by taking the safety vertical and deep, causing the defense to become a 3 deep zone), and allowing the WRs to run in breaking routes. Also play action passes directed at one of the safeties can make that safety vulnerable to throws to the WR behind him. The corners will have no help on WR routes to the outside, which is one of the areas we will exploit. QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED: 1. Can we read the coverage coming in our Pre-Snap-Look? Usually can! 2. Do the corners take an inside or an outside align? Is this determined by the split of the WR’s? 3. How fast do the corners bail? Are they slow playing until the QB clears the 3 step drop? 4. Do the safeties backpedal as they read H & Y? 5. If H or Y crosses underneath, does that safety go to deep middle, and/or look for an in break by one of the WR’s? If so – which one? 6. Is there a formation they may not play Cover 4 against? 7. Will different forms of motion eliminate Cover 4? 8. Which LB is the weakest in the coverage? 9. Does the Mike go to hook/curl to the side the RB goes? 10. Do the OLBs go curl/flat off the release of H/Y? 11. Do they play this coverage in a specific area of the field? ******************************************************************************************************************** Coach Bill Mountjoy (Virginia) 804-716-7038
