Nice example of Swipe coverage concept from the Jets. NY is in a Bear front spacing from a 2-3-6 personnel. The hand down DE's are both LB bodies. The X backer is DE.
The Rush:
Both 3 techniques are on the inside penetrator rush with the X backer and Nose looping to contain.
The Coverage:
2 trial man with a weak side swipe technique
The coverage disguise shows a 1 high concept. From the look a 2man coverage looks like a low probability. The down safety uses a swipe technique running out to the trail man assignment on the outside WR. Really good execution and punch out on the comeback by the down Safety. QB reads a 1 high coverage with a bail corner and tries to hit the comeback only to throw into an unexpected trail man player.
The Swipe terms shows up in the old Buddy Ryan defenses. Jets Defensive Coordinator worked for Buddy with the Houston Oilers in the early 90's.
The Swipe coverage tool is a nice option to be able to disguise coverage concepts but still play 2man. Allowsing box players to run out into trail man also allows defense to create presentation to manipulate pass protections while still playing 2man coverage. The coverage can be used to run out to slot sets as well as the diagram with player over #2 showing a zone coverage alignment relating to #2 or zoning the Curl-Flat. The Corner and SS can both run out in this example with the Corner in the Deep 1/2.
Good stuff from Gregg Williams.
One tired and true plan to beat half slide protection is to cover up all the OL. Half slide is half slide (zone) and half man technique. The rules of half slide protection define which OL are sliding and those who are in man. Often the rule is the first uncovered OL starts the slide. If you cover all the OL up you naturally break the slide by forcing all the OL to be in man. Got them in man now what? Twisting pass rushers is one good way to attack OL in man protection. Virginia Tech is rushing 5 from an odd front dime personnel.
The Rush:
Ends contain
The LB's and Nose work a 3 man twist game
The Coverage:
Cover 1
The OL identifies the twist and works to pass it all off. Out of 5 games of 1 on 1 VT was expecting to win at least one. In this case both the ILBs in the pressure use speed and athleticism to win their match-ups. Good stuff from Bud Foster and the Hokies. This pressure is very similar to a pressure Georgia ran which was featured previously.
This pressure shows up on film for many defenses. This type of concept also shows up in the '85 Bears playbook from Buddy Ryan.
Buddy Ryan was building bear front concepts in multiple ways. Out of the 4-3, blitz the Mike and twist with the two DTs and you have the same bear front stunt. Virginia Tech was instead using two ILBs and a Nose to build the Bear front. This blitz concept isn't new but it is still highly effective.
