3 Match Coverage Variation

Why do you need all those coverage calls? This is an example of why we need them.

Here is a stick route variation from 2x2.

The read progression:

Pre-snap the peak outside. The Peak is there for cover zero looks to take a shot against a press corner and also a hole shot vs. a cover 2 look. 

Hot - against any max pressure look the ball can go to the peak or the RB in the flat

Post-snap:

#1 read is the RB is the flat. If the overhang gets depth, turns his shoulders inside, or doesn't expand the RB in the flat is getting the ball immediately. 

#2 is the slot working away from the ILB. This route is designed to isolate the LB with a speed WR. If the LB gets depth or isn't attacking the route the ball is going to the WR running away from the LB.

#3 is the dig. If the LB is tight on the in/out route the ball is going to the dig route behind the LB. 

#4 The money ($$$) is for quarters coverage concepts. If the defense is 2 high with a safety who is aggressive on the dig the QB can take a shot to the post one on one vs. the corner.

Against a base odd front 3 match concept the defense can rush an OLB and roll the coverage to replace the pressure.

In this example the field OLB is in the charge with the coverage rolling that direction. The coverage can handle all the routes. The issue is the isolation of the ILB vs. a slot WR. This plays into what the offense is trying to accomplish. They want WR vs. LB which they hope is a mismatch.This is why we carry coverage change ups.

The charge is the same basic concept only now the end is working outside and the ILB is pressuring the B gap. The Safety is now the hook player. The coverage plays out the same only now the speed WR is 1 on 1 with a DB not a LB. 

This is just one example of a coverage change up that is not about changing the coverage concept just about job swaps. 

Having coverage change-ups is necessary to avoid an offense being able to repeatedly isolate a poor match up in coverage. 

Attacking Coverage with a Weak Side Triangle Read

The read progression:
#1 Curl - 3 step stick outside foot to an inside stem, snap off and come back at 12 yds
#2 Flat - get width before depth, gain depth to 4 yards. Settle outside numbers
#3 Shallow Spot - Release at heels of DL, climb to 5 yds as you cross center. Spot is over opposite OT.
#4 QB run

The route creates a weak side triangle read for the QB.

VS. 1 High Coverage

Against Cover 1 or a match up Cover 3 the throw should go to the #1 read Curl route. The H is gaining width quickly to open the window. The L should stick his outside foot on the 3rd step and stem inside. The goal is to get the corner on top the route, with his hips open and running before the curl breaks off. 

Against a 1 high zone coverage, the H back is again trying to open the curl's window. If the curl is available the ball is going there. This happens when the Hook defender (here the Will LB) does not expand.

The Curl-Flat defender may hang in the curl's window. In this case the throw goes to the #2 read H on the flat route.

In a zone if the Curl-Flat defender and the Hook defender both expand the throw is going to the Spot route on the inside of the triangle.

For the coverage to take away all 3 reads, the strong side Hook player must work weak with the Spot route. By check releasing the A back into the strong flat the QB has a natural escape lane.  The spot route controls the Strong Hook dropper (Mike) and the check release by the A back widens the strong Curl-Flat defender (SS).The 4th read is to tuck the ball and run. 

VS. 2 High Coverage

Against a weak side cover 2 or 2 read concept the corner has good leverage on the Flat route. The Hook dropper should be able to drop into the window of the Curl. If the Curl is open the ball is going there but it is unlikely. This most likely brings the read to the Spot route. 

Against a Quarters coverage concept there may be double coverage on the Curl. If the Curl does a good job of selling the stick and pushing the safety the curl may be able to break underneath the safety. If the curl is open that is where the ball is going.

More likely vs. Quarters the Safety will close the window to the curl. The flat player is expanding with the Flat route. This brings the read back to the Spot route. 

In a 2 high coverage the Spot route is 1 on 1 with the Mike. If the Mike works weak to take the Spot route the QB goes to his 4th read of run. 

VS. Pressure

The H back on the Flat route is the hot throw. The protection is a 6 man check release. The most common way to force a hot throw is to bring 2 rushers to the side of the A back.

If the coverage is man the weak side safety has the flat route 1 on 1.

If the coverage is a fire zone the LB is the Seam or Scif dropper vs. a 2x2. Again the H back is expected to win 1 on 1.


Follow @blitzologyblog

Attacking Quarters Coverage with a Zone Run/Post RPO

This concept is a Run Pass Option (RPO) play that combines outside zone blocking with a post route. 

Here the concept is being run from 11 personnel and is attacking the weak side of a 4-2-5 quarters coverage defense. The OL and Y are blocking outside zone (stretch) with even numbers (6 vs 6).
The Defense has the advantage of being +1 as soon as the WS reads the TE is blocking and gets into a run fit. This concept is designed to read the weak safety. The QB will shuffle while meshing with the RB. The QB's vision is on the WS. 

If the QB reads the WS coming downhill into the run game, the QB will pull back and throw the skinny post. The post is leaning his outside shoulder on the corner before breaking the route deep and skinny. The goal is for the WR to win the 1 on 1 against the corner who has no post help. 

If the QB reads the WS not committing downhill to defend the run, the ball is handed off on the outside zone. 

This type of run pass option is safe way to take a shot. The play has a chance to be a homerun post or an efficient run. 

Spread Offense Smash/Seam Read Passing Concept

I have always coached defense. However, I thought I would share a passing concept I would run if I ever end up coaching on the other side of the ball. Even if that never happens, it does not hurt to study what offenses are running. So here goes.

The route combination is a smash concept to the field with a seam read and a vertical peel concept to the boundary.

The route progression for the QB is:

Peek the Vertical (X)

1. Field Corner (Y)

2. Seam Read (S)

3. Vertical Peel (X)

The Peek is a pre-snap read used vs. a press man look. 

The QB can throw the outside release vertical to the X as a 1 on 1 winner route. If the QB likes the matchup he can take it, otherwise he follows his normal route progression.

The first post-snap read is the field corner. If the corner sits in the flat the QB will throw the corner route to the Y.

If the corner sinks the QB works to the S on the seam read route. The S is running 2 yards outside the NCAA hash. As he runs vertical, he is looking at the middle of field (MOF). If a safety is aligned in the MOF or rotates to the middle, the MOF is closed. 

When the MOF is closed the S stays in the seam and should expect the ball thrown on a line as he clears linebacker depth.

As the S is running the vertical and there is no safety in the MOF, the MOF is open. 

When the MOF is open the S breaks his vertical to a post and should expect the ball in the middle of the field.

The 3^rd route in the progression is the vertical peel. The X runs an outside release vertical. If he gets press coverage he must be ready for the ball on the peek throw from the QB. If there is no press, the X is running vertical reading the coverage of the corner. If the X beats the corner and gets on top, the X continues to run vertical. If the corner is over the top of the X’s vertical route, the X will peel the vertical back to a comeback route at 12-15 yards. The 3^rd route in the progression is thrown when the defense is running a hybrid coverage. 

In this example a pattern match cover 3.  If the field corner sinks, the QB works to the S on the seam read. If the S is being matched vertical by a safety or linebacker the QB will work the X as the 3^rd read.

Switch:

The route can be tagged with a switch call to switch the route of the X and S. The S now runs a wheel & peel while the X runs a seam read. 

This tag is good against a safety getting width when #2 is out like Cover 2 and 2 read coverages. As the safety works for width to get over the top of #1, the X is working to the seam and breaking to the post. The switch call can also be good against man or matchup zone coverages. It can be difficult for the defenders to navigate the traffic of the wheel and seam read as they cross.

Alert:

Another tag is an Alert for the hitch. This can be used in on schedule situations (1^st&10, 2^nd Medium, 3^rd Medium/Short). The goal of an alert call is to throw the hitch. The alert tag tells the QB he can throw the hitch is there is space. 

The QB makes a pre-snap read of the field side coverage. If the corner is soft and there is space to throw the hitch the QB can throw the hitch. If throwing the hitch, the QB will not take a 5 step drop and will instead throw with 3 step tempo and footwork. If there is no space or if the QB is unsure, the QB will use the normal footwork and route progression.

Against teams that disguise their coverages or rotate to coverages at near the snap, I would run this route from a Polaroid tempo. I call it Polaroid because the QB will let the picture develop. The offense will line up and hard count. The offense does not look to the sideline following the hard count. The hard count is used to let the offense see the defense. The QB is looking at the coverage for a clear picture of safety rotation, bail corners, etc. The seam read receiver can start to see the MOF picture as well. Following the hard count the offense will immediately start the real snap count and run the play. Polaroid tempo prevents the defense from changing the call after the freeze. Polaroid is good for the base play or to allow the QB to see if the alert hitch has space.