Coaching Stress Areas: Double A Gap Mug Cover 1 Peel Blitz

Many defenses now have a portion of the pressure package bringing 6 rushers while playing a Cover 1 coverage concept. The widest rushers peel if the RB flares while the interior rushers handle the RB on any attempt to release through the LOS or screen behind the LOS. SImply defined the RB is handled by the rush. The concept is easy to explain but does have some stress areas. 

Here is a simple example from a double A gap mug situation. Any number of pressure patterns and alignment can be run backstopped by Cover 1 Peel. The pressure isn't the primary focus of this post.

 

If the RB flares the widest rusher (DE) peels and handles the route. One concept that has to be built into the pressure is an interior rusher must work to contain. In this example the DT contain rushes through the B gap when the peel occurs. The edge can be too soft if pass rush doesn't adjust to firm up the edge on the peel. 

One adjustment from offenses to attack peeling defenders is to fast motion the RB instead of postsnap swinging the RB.

Depending on the skill set of the widest rusher this can be an area of concern. Asking a DE to handle a fast motion RB can be big challenge for the coverage. 

One solution is to run a skill or big skill body out of the box with fast motion. This can be coached up and done. Two issues: the LB is thinking he is in the pressure and must be quick to react to handle the fast motion run out. This can be a difficult pickup in man coverage. Also removing a box aligned player alters the pressure. Now the OL can go for 5 for 5 potentially handling the pressure.

An alternative solution is to turn the coverage into Cover Zero on the motion.

When the fast motions happens the pressure stays a 6 man blitz with the post Safety running to handle the RB. If this is the adjustment we plan to use we align the post Safety over the alignment of the RB. The advantages are we are using a DB to handle the motion and the pressure is now 6 on 5 overload. 

One issue with this technique is the potential of the Safety getting caught up on the way to cover the RB. The Safety may have to deal with being being blocked on a crack scheme by the slot WR blocking for the RB on a swing screen. Another traffic issue is the possibility of the Safety getting picked by inside releasing routes from the WRs preventing the Safety from efficiently covering the RB.

On the motion we can push the man coverage. The Nickel can widen to handle the RB while the Safety comes over to handle slot WR.

This same concept can be applied to a stack or bunch formation.

In this example the Nickel is locked on the point WR. We would rather leave the Nickel in the press. The push by the Safety sends the Corner to the RB motion while the Safety takes over the off the ball WR.

Having solutions for stress areas like RB fast motion is a key to making sure 6 man pressure with Cover 1 Peel holds up to offensive gameplans. There are two types of complexity: Obvious and Hidden. Cover 1 Peel appears very simple initially and in many ways it is, but there are hidden complexity challenges that must be handled.

Swipe - 2 Man Variation

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. 

Reading the Slide - Putting the Center on an Island

Previously I wrote about reading the slide to get pass rushers home for Coaches' Lounge.

Here is another example of reading the slide of the protection.

The Rush:
End and Rush - Contain Rush
Tackle - Slow Under on the OT's set
Nose - Strong A
Mike - Reading the set of the Guard. If the Guard sets inside to the Nose the Mike will run through in the B gap. If the Guard set out to the B gap the Mike will convert to the his rush to the opposite A gap

The Coverage:
Cover 1

The protection is a 5 man scat protection with the RB free releasing. The width of the Tackle and Rush force the Guard and Tackle to set wide. The Mike reads the set of the Guard coming to him and wraps. The width of the sets creates space inside for the wrapping Mike to win one on one vs. the Center. The Center is forced to redirect off the Nose to block a superior athlete in a large space. The degree of difficulty for the Center creates a major advantage for the blitzing LB. 

This concept plays similarly vs. a half slide concept.

 The RB is in good position to help on the wrapping Mike. When the RB blocks the Will adds to the pressure using a green dog technique. 

Another likely protection from this formation is full slide.

The Tackle is slow under allowing him to stay outside when the OT slides away. This allows the Rush & Tackle to create the 2 on 1 overload on the RB.

If the offense uses a half slide with the RB crossing the formation the pressure can attack the RB. 

The Mike reading the slide allows for a run through in the open B gap. The RB is forced to pick up a full speed Mike from across the formation. 

Reading the protection allows rushers to avoid running into blockers and attack daylight.

Cover 1 Pressure vs. Reduced Split Receivers

Here the Steelers are in a 4-2-5 nickel personnel with OLB bodies at DE.

The Rush:

Both DE's on contain with both DT's working away from the Nickel pressure to balance the pass rush. The Nickel is through the heel line of the up field DE creating a straight line run on the QB.

The Coverage:

Cover 1

The pass concept gets the back out immediately with no pass protection responsibility. The LB is able take a direct angle and handle the RB in the flat. The pressure in the QB's face forces the ball out fast to the RB in the flat and an immediate tackle by the LB.

The pressure pattern takes advantage of two things:
1. The TE staying in protection is only there to help the OT with the DE. While the protection is technically a 6 man protection scheme is plays out like a 5 man scat protection with a double on the DE.

2. The Nickel does a good job holding the pressure pattern making it appear like no pressure threat exists from the field. The 5 man protection structure forces the OL to ID and set to the 5 most dangerous threats. With no clear Nickel threat and 2 LB's in the box the protection works with vision in the box and away from the Nickel. The OG sets the DT in the A gap leaving the B gap open for the Nickel on the run through pressure. The Nickel's speed, width, & angle on the pressure pattern make a redirect pass set by the OG from the inside A gap threat back outside to the B gap pressure very difficult. 

The coverage on the LOS receiving threats in good usage of man coverage techniques. Many offenses use compressed formations and reduced splits to attack man coverage. Crossing routes, picks, and rub concepts from reduced split spacing helps receivers beat man coverage. Defenses need technique change ups to help handle reduced splits. 

To the strong side the Corner and Safety use an in & out combination technique. As the routes distribute the Safety take the 1st inside receiver while the corner takes the 1st outside receiver. The in & out also does a good job of being on a different level from the LB. As the linebacker runs down hill on the RB in the flat there is no pick with the Safety/Corner in man.

To the weak side the LB takes the TE and the Corner takes the WR. An in & out technique makes less sense here. In & out could end up with the Corner on the TE and the LB on a WR. Instead the Corner plays outside leverage to deny out breaking routes and gets help on the WR crosser from the post Safety. As the WR goes inside the Safety nails it down and takes the route over in man. The Corner immediately opens, runs, and replaces the Safety in the post. Again good usage of levels here in alignment by the Corner and the LB to avoid being picked by routes from the TE/WR.

Really nice usage of man coverage techniques to handle reduced splits from the Steelers and Keith Butler. 

Covering Mesh Route in Man Coverage

Michigan is a 4-3 personnel.

The Rush:

DL is slanting with the LB rushing off the the edge.

The Coverage:

Cover 1 with LB manned on the RB adding to the rush in a green dog technique

The pass rush is pretty straight forward. The impressive part is the man coverage. The Safety and LB do a good job of getting on different levels. The LB is playing the hip aligned TE at 4 yards with outside leverage while the safety is at 6. The press alignment of the corners naturally puts them on different levels from the man coverage players on the inside receivers. Post-snap the LB plays the upfield arm of the deeper route in the mesh. The corner has the WR on the lower part of the mesh. This is a great example of undercutting a route to get to low hip position maintenance. By undercutting the route the Corner is out of danger of getting picked on the mesh. Great job of understanding the route and knowing the position maintenance of when to play high arm vs. undercutting to play low hip. Good stuff from Don Brown.

Georgia Cover 1 Pressure

Here is a nice 5 man pressure using an interior twist from the Bulldogs.

UGA is in a 4-2-5 Nickel personnel grouping.

The Rush:
Ends - Contain
Nose - Cross face and Penetrate
Tackle - Loop
Will - Up & Under

It is possible the Will was a two way go on the Guard. The looping DT may be looking for daylight and reacting to the rush of the Will (loop one gap or two). The result is an interior twist game. Mizzou is free releasing the RB, employing a 5 man pass protection. The rush is very effective against a 5 man pass protection. The 5 OL are all blocking immediate threats creating a 5 vs 5 match up. Twists are particularly effective when each OL is locked into 1 on 1 match-ups because no adjacent OL is free to provide help.

The Coverage:
Man Free

The stack receivers to the left are being played with a man to man Top Hat technique. The Corner shows press on the WR on the LOS but plays man on the WR off the LOS. The Safety aligns deep and mans the WR on the LOS.

Good stuff from the Georgia defense.

Lakeshore Dime Blitz Package

Here is an effective Dime personnel pressure package from Chris Womack Defensive Coordinator at Lakeshore High School in Mandeville, LA. I had a chance to sit down and talk ball with Coach Womack this summer. He is an excellent coach and I asked if he would write an article. He wrote this article right after spring football but it took until now for me to get it up on the website. Lakeshore is currently 12-0 and still going in the Louisiana playoffs. Thanks again to Coach Womack for an awesome summer chalk talk and this article. Guy is a good ball coach. Enjoy!

Basic Dime Package Blitzes

We are just finishing up our 7 on 7 season here in Louisiana.  Many offensive coaches complain that they never see 2-man coverages in the regular season.  However, we do run a situational dime package and it has been quite successful over the years.  Here is the Basic Dime Personnel Package with 3 simple blitzes that we installed at the high school level.  In our spring game versus Holy Cross of New Orleans, we had 3 interceptions and a pick 6 in this package.

We play a 4-1-6 Dime Package Personnel.  From this alignment, we can run all our 4-man stunts and twist, playing straight Cover 2 Man Under coverage.  In our Dime package, we take out a LB and replace him with a FS. 

Base 2 Man Coverage

We play a basic Cover 2 Man Under Coverage.  The CBs, Safeties, and Mike LB play straight man.  No Banjoes and No checks.  2 deep Zones.  All the blitzes work off of this initial alignment.

Outside 1 Peel (America’s Blitz from a 4-man front)

We play an even front.  We tag the blitz side, for instance Field/Short, Back/Away or Strong/Weak.  Here we have Back Outside 1 Peel.

-          Outside Blitz from the Tag Side = L and Mike from the Strong Side. 

-          Edge Rusher Away from the Tag plays C Gap first for Run, then drops for RB.  High Hat read, Look for RB weak to QB intent (low Hole)

-          Left Safety comes off the edge and peels if the RB swings.

-          Mike works to B gap off the $ams long step

-          F/S on the blitz side replaces the Blitzer

-          Other F/S rolls to the post on a high hat read

-          L/R travel to 3x1.  Bump blitz to the inside L or R Safety.

Inside 1 Peel

-          Edge Rusher Away from the Tag plays C Gap first for Run, then drops for RB.  High Hat read, Look for RB weak to QB intent (low Hole)

-          $am gets vertical and peels if the RB swings

-          Left Safety comes of the $am’s hip on the vertical rush.

-          Mike works to B gap off the ends long step

-          F/S on the blitz side replaces the Blitzer

-          Other F/S rolls to the post on a high hat read

-          L/R travel to 3x1

Middle 1 Peel 

 Edge Rusher Away from the Tag plays C Gap first for Run, then drops for RB.  High Hat read, Look for RB weak to QB intent (low Hole)

-          $am gets vertical and peels if the RB swings

-          Man coverage by CBs and L/R..

-          Mike hits call side A Gap.

-          F/S away from the call side blitzes other A Gap.

-          Non-Blitzing F/S rolls to the post on a high hat read

-          L/R travel to 3x1

This package is an easy 1 day install.  We have run it successfully for the past 3 years.

Great stuff from Coach Womack. If you have questions or want more info on what they are running down at Lakeshore be sure to follow Coach Womack on twitter @CoachCWomack. 

Super Bowl Preview: Carolina Panther Defense's Man Free Coverage

This post focuses on the Carolina Panther Defense's Man Free coverage schemes. A major factor in the success of these schemes is the athleticism of the Panther's linebackers.

Vs. the Packers

Here the Panthers use LB Thomas Davis to walk out over the TE who is split as the #2 receiver. Davis is athletic enough to play man to man on a player split out from the formation in open space. The Panthers walk the other LB over the Center to help create 1 on 1 pass rush opportunities for the 4 down defensive linemen. The walked up LB eventually slides off to man cover the check releasing RB. Because the Panthers can use a LB to cover the TE the weak side Safety can play a 2 on 1 bracket man coverage with the corner to the single receiver side.

Vs. the Buccaneers

Here the Panthers use their base 4-3 personnel vs. a spread formation. LB Shaq Thompson is able to walk out over the inside receiver to the strong side and cover him man to man. The middle linebacker is free to drop to the hole and break on the throw.

In both of these examples the Panther defense has flexibility in their scheme because of the athleticism of their linebackers. Thomas Davis played Safety at the University of Georgia. Shaq Thompson was a super athletic LB at the University of Washington. He was a good enough athlete he also played running back for the Huskies.

Thomas Davis Draft Profile 2005
Height: 6'1
Weight: 230
40: 4.60
3 Cone: 7.10

Shaq Thompson Draft Profile 2015
Height: 6'0
Weight: 228
40: 4.64
3 Cone: 6.99

Clearly the Panthers have developed a profile for who they want to play the versatile linebackers in their scheme.


Vs. the Packers

Here is another example of the Panthers using a man free scheme. Carolina uses a LB and a Nickel to cover the inside receivers in man coverage. This allows the Safety to walk down from deep on the hash and blitz off the edge. Blitzing the safety is made possible by the ability of the LB to cover the TE man to man.

 

Vs. the Redskins

Here is one more example of the Panthers using man free coverage. The Panthers reduce the front to a bear front alignment. By covering up all 5 offensive lineman the Panthers force the OL to block their immediate gap threat. The LB blitzing the A gap becomes the responsibility of the RB. The result is pressure in the face of the QB, forcing him to move in the pocket and change his launch point. The Panthers also do a nice job of using the LB walked up outside to man cover the running back. His pre-snap alignment on the line of scrimmage forces the OT to pass set to him. As the play unfolds he slides inside mirroring the RB in man coverage and eventually adds to the pass rush.  

In coverage the Panthers have some confusion handling the receiver releases from the bunch formation. They are ultimately saved by a bad throw forced by a well designed pressure scheme up front.

Cover 1 (Man Free) versus Action Passes

This is part three of a series about Cover 1 (Man Free) coverage in the 4-2-5 defense. The topic this time is defending action passes. Our goal is to keep the action pass rules as simple as possible.

Against one back boot from a 2x2 formation:

The Mike and Will are playing Fiddle (2 on 1) technique vs. the running back. On the action the LB’s play run. The LB to the side of the action (here the Will) plays man coverage on the RB once pass is identified. If the RB is running a throwback route the Will must handle the route. The LB away from the action (here the Mike) must open up and cover the crosser. It is critical the Mike plants on this right foot and opens over his left shoulder. If the Mike open’s up over his right shoulder, the crosser will easily run by him. The Mike’s landmark is the hash (college field) at 10 yards from the line of scrimmage. As the Mike gets to the hash, he will find and cover the crosser. We teach the aiming point to get the LB to take an angle that cuts off the crosser. 

The WS will likely make a “cut” call in this situation. He will be late reacting to the pass. Once he identifies the play is a boot, he will work to get back on top of the crossing route. The WS can expect help from a LB. If the crossing route settles before getting to the opposite hash the WS will have the route defended.

The FS will squeeze from the middle of the field to a landmark halfway between the hash and the numbers (college field). This landmark is roughly the high school hash mark.

All other man coverage players remain in man coverage.

Against one back boot from a 3x1 formation:

The LB may not have a crossing route to cover. His reaction and aiming point remain the same (Hash at 10).

Against one back sprint out:

The LB to the RB will go man cover the blocking running back and become an extra pass rusher. The LB away from the sprint will take an angle to the hash at 10. As he works to the hash he should find the crosser.

Against two back boot:

When the backs split on the boot action the outside funnel players (here the WS and Mike) have the RB's man to man. The Mike must be aware of throwback. The middle player in the funnel (here the Will) must cover the crosser by getting to this hash at 10 aiming point. The SS will make a "cut" call end up trailing the crossing route.

When both backs release to the same side, the outside of the funnel (here the WS) and the middle of the funnel (here the Will) have them man to man. The Mike will work to the hash. Against a corner route by #2 the SS will work to lean the corner route vertical to the FS. The free safety should be able to provide more corner route help by working to his new landmark halfway between the numbers and hash.

7 Man Overload Blitz from the Bear Front Part 2

I have received some questions about the 7 man overload blitz from the bear front. One of those questions is how to handle empty formations. When answering this question it is helpful to look at how we align in the bear front from a 4-2-5 personnel.

The Will linebacker is on the line of scrimmage filling the role of a contain rusher. The DE is reduced down to play the away side 3 technique. We bump the SS into the box to fill the role of the 2^nd linebacker. If the offense chooses to align or motion to empty the SS adjusts from the box to handle the 5^th receiver.

Our Mike will make a check alerting the Nose to rush the A gap. With no back in the backfield to spy, the Nose is free to rush the passer. The 3 techniques keep their read out responsibility.

Against a TE, the contain rusher will align in a 9 technique playing outside. The 9 technique is leveraging all blocks outside in.

The man coverage player is aligned inside and will fit in the C gap. Once the TE blocks the man coverage player can play the run.

We can play the safety in press technique on the TE by game plan. 

Against an H-Back the FS or WS will handle the hip player, while the Nose is still spying the running back. This allows the man coverage safety to mirror the hip player’s blocking. 

When the hip player blocks the man coverage player will be there to provide an extra defender.

Another question that is bound to pop up is how to handle the option. The contain players have pitch and are expected to slow play. The goal is to create indecision and force a late pitch. Contain players must balance slow playing with not being out leveraged by the pitch back. The Nose will disengage the center and work toward the back. With the contain player handling the RB on the pitch, the Nose is freed up to take the QB.

We call a limited number of bear front calls per game. In any game plan we do not necessarily plan to use bear front against every personnel or in every down and distance. We also don’t plan to use this 7 man overload blitz in every situation. Teams playing us however, are forced to be prepared to block all of their plays vs. the bear front. Being prepared for our base defense as well as our change of pace calls like bear limits what an offense can carry in a game plan.

Are bear front adjustments from the 4-2-5 something you guys would like to see more about in an article?

7 Man Overload Blitz from the Bear Front

There are multiple ways to get to the Bear front alignment. If you align in the bear from a 4-3, 4-2-5, 3-4, or 3-3-5 personnel this blitz is a possibility. The coverage is cover zero with the defensive line accounting for the running back in coverage.

The Rush:

Ends: Contain Rush, Peel if the running back crosses your face in a route

Tackles : Inside Rush through the B gap, Read the block of the Guard

Nose - Engage the Center, Spy the running back

Mike & Will - Inside blitz your A gap

The Coverage:
Corners - Man #1
Safeties - Man #2 or #3 in a 3x1 formation away from you.

Spy & Peel Technique

The Nose will get off the ball and engage the center. Once engaged the Nose should get his eyes to the running back.

If the running back steps up inside, the Nose will disengage the center and man cover the back.

This technique should put the Nose in great position to defend any running back screen concepts.

If the running back blocks one of the blitzing linebackers the Nose becomes an extra rusher.

The linebacker is an inside blitzer and will always attack the block of the running back to the inside. By attacking the inside of the running back, the linebacker will disrupt the QB's rhythm and footwork. The Nose will work to the outside of the block. The Nose must be aware of the RB chipping the linebacker before running a screen. If the back does block the Will, the Nose should be in good position to clean up the QB if the Will does not get the sack.

If the running back releases, the End will handle covering him in man coverage.

The Nose will go to cover the running back. As the back is picked up by the End, the Nose will replace the End as the contain rusher.

Read Technique

Both Tackles have read technique. The DT's are getting off on the snap and attacking the guards. If the guard pass sets to the DT, the DT drops outside looking for a hot throw. The depth for the DT's drop is 3-5 yards. If the guard does not set to the DT, the DT continues to pass rush through the B gap. Depending on the blocking scheme one, both, or neither DT could drop.

The defense is presenting 4 rushers to the right (End, Tackle, Mike, and Nose) the offense only has 3 blockers (RT, RG, Center). The extra (unblocked) rusher should force a hot throw. The right DT is reading out and should drop hot. 

To the left the offense has 3 blockers (LT, LG, and RB) for 3 rushers (End, Tackle, and Will). 

If the center attempts to create a 3 vs. 3 to the right (Center, RG, RT for End, Tackle, Mike) the defense has a 4 on 3 overload to the running back. The Will should attack the RB to the inside while the Nose works to the outside of the RB.