Giving the Corner Relief in Isolation on the X in 3x1

When the Corner is isolated on the X on the backside of 3x1 formations it can be nice to find calls that help provide that Corner some form of help. In our defense we call these concepts relief calls. 

Here is an interesting example of a relief concept from the Ravens. Baltimore is in a Nickel personnel with 2 OLB, 3 DL, 1 ILB, and 5 DB's. 

The Rush:

The Nickel is edge pressuring off the slot while the rush OLB and DT work a twist game. Weak the DE is a B gap pop.

The Coverage:

3 under 3 deep firezone with the Nose spying the RB

Weak side the presence of a Rush OLB on the LOS, 4i DE, and shade Nose forces the C, G, T to set to the 3 threats. With the turn of the Center weak, the protection has 3 threats (Nickel, OLB, DT) vs. 2 OL and the scan RB strong. The twist creates confusion with the G squeezing to the most inside threat from the wrapping OLB. The OT fans to the Nickel instead of squeezing to the DT. The RB scans to the Nickel who is blocked by the OT leaving the DT on a free run. The protection has the numbers to account for the pressure but sorting it out is difficult. If sorted out the concept forces the RB to block across the formation on a full speed Nickel off the edge and the T/G to handle the twist 2 vs. 2.

The OLB walked on the LOS weak is able to key the QB's front shoulder intentions and buzz out to provide an underneath zone dropping body presence to the Corner. This prevents the Corner from having to be completely isolated in coverage and results in the interception.

The usage of the Nose as a spy on the RB is what makes this coverage execution work.

If the Ravens had truly rushed 5 and played firezone the weak seam dropping OLB is relating to the weak #2 (RB).

In this example the seam dropping Rush LB opens his drop to the #2 which leaves the Corner in isolation with the X. Why?

If the Rush were to key the QB's front shoulder intentions to the X and buzz out he could again help on quick game. However, if the QB resets his feet and throws the RB a screen or check down there is a hole in the middle of the coverage. The Seam and 3RH droppers strong are expanded to cover #2 and #3 strong. This is a specific risk as the Browns have two good RB's, screen is a threat from backed up field postion,and the Browns hit earlier in the game on both a TE screen and a RB screen. 

Notice the QB's front should intentions are initially away from the RB screen.

The decision to utilize the Nose as a spy helps solve this problem. The Seam dropping OLB can react to the front shoulder intentions of the QB and help undercut routes to the X. The Nose helps mitigate the risk on the RB screen and check down.

The usage of the Nose as a spy shows up in many defensive schemes.

This example is a completely different pressure pattern but illustrates another application of the concept. This example is from the Rex Ryan/Mike Pettine Jets. The current Baltimore scheme has crossover with the schemes of Rex/Rob Ryan.

The usage of the Nose as a spy not only helps the OLB provide relief to the Corner in coverage. It also:

1. Gives the Nose a coverage responsibility the Nose can execute and has a reasonable installation cost. Teaching a Nose a hook zone drop would be much more expensive to teach for example.

2. Helps manipulate the pass protection. The Center is occupied throughout the pressure mirroring the movements of the Nose. If the Nose drops off the LOS into coverage, the Center can potentially reset and provide help elsewhere in the protection specifically helping with the wrapping OLB from the pressure side. With the Center occupied with the spy Nose, the Center is a non-factor.

Really nice pressure design and usage of Nose spy from Baltimore Defensive Coordinator Wink Martindale. 

Cover 3 Safety Sim Pressure

 The Ravens are in a specialized pass rush Dime Personnel on 3rd & 5.

The Rush:

The DE's are contain with the Nose working away from the pressure. The Safety is pressuring the weak side inside pass rush line.

The Coverage:

Sting - 3 Under 3 deep Firezone with a free/bonus dropper to create 4 under 3 deep concept.

With the mugged up A/B gap threats and the safety bluffing pressure strong the OL slides to the strong side rush threats. The slide allows for the pressure safety running through on the RB 1on1. The coverage creates confusion also. The initial look is 1 high pressure, but when the post aligned safety rotates down the look simulates a zero pressure. The QB has to ID one safety rotating down while the other is popping the top to the post. 1 high coverage that rotate to 1 high can be difficult to quickly ID under pressure. 

In coverage the free/bonus dropper is able to collision the #3 receiver which helps make the 3RH droppers job easier. The seam droppers hang in the seams as opposed to expanding to the flats.

Nice pressure design from Wink Martindale.

Cover 3 Sim Pressure vs Empty

The Ravens are in Nickel personnel with OLB bodies at DE vs. 12 personnel empty on 2nd & Long.

The Rush:

The front is spaced like an even front in over G. The Mike walks up running a twist game with the DT. The 2i DT is looping to contain opposite the pressure.

The Coverage:

Sting Concept - Sting is a 3 under 3 deep firezone with a 4th dropper as the free/bonus dropper. The end result is a 4 under 3 deep 3 buzz like coverage.

Here is another example of Sting vs. Empty from the Rex Ryan/Mike Pettine. 

The OL is in a 5 man protection. The usage of the DT in a G helps influence the Center. The Center is looking to give the guard help with an inside shaded DL. When the Mike walks up the defense has 3 rushers overloading 2 blockers. The Center is forced to redirect to a full speed inside LB. The T/G do a nice job squeezing inside to take the most inside threats. The G loses his 1on1 but the T/G do a nice job of taking the 2 most inside threats and leaving the widest rusher. The QB drifts away from the unblocked rusher to give the protection a chance. 

Without knowing the call the coverage is difficult to tell. I think it is Sting because of other sim pressure concepts the Ravens have run as well as the coaching tree Wink Martindale comes from. However, this could also be 3 buzz with 2 Curl-Flat and 2 hook droppers.

Why differentiate between sting and 3 buzz? Playing a sting concept allows the defense to maintain it's firezone coverage principles when bringing 4 instead of 5. The Ravens bring 5 and play fire zone regularly. A concept like sting can help eliminate complexity. It can be easier on players to stay this is fire zone with a free/bonus dropper when rushing 4 instead of a different coverage like 3 Buzz. The 5th rusher is simply replaced by the free/bonus dropper in Sting to create the 4 under 3 deep coverage.

Nice job creating pressure with a non-traditional 4 man pass rush from the Ravens and Wink Martindale. 

Cover 3 Sim Pressure

The Ravens are in a Dime personnel on 2nd & 10.

The Rush:

Both DT's are slanting to balance the pass rush with the ILB pressuring the B gap and the Rush LB as contain.

The Coverage:

Sting - Sting is a 3 under 3 deep fire zone coverage concept with a bonus free dropper

The protection is a 5 man scat protection with the RB free releasing into a route. The presentation from the Ravens controls the turn of the Center. The OL are looking for the 5 most dangerous rushers. The 5 up look makes the OL account for the 5 defenders on the LOS first and foremost. The Guard to the pressure side is forced to block the 3 tech on the inside movement with C-G-T setting opposite the pressure.  There is no guarantee the Center will be able to provide any help. Once the weak side DT works out the Center ends up freed up. Even with the Center able to help, the Center and Guard would have a difficult time redirecting to pick up the DT and ILB on the pressure once they set to the initial threats. The Center would need to redirect to the DT on the inside move from the pressure side and bump the Guard out to the B gap ILB. That is a difficult and unlikely redirection and pick up scenario. The OT has the Rush LB on the edge when the ILB pressures the B gap adding a second threat creating a 2 on 1. The OT makes a threat assessment and blocks the more dangerous of the two. The inside rusher is the bigger threat with the fastest path to the QB. The OT sets the ILB leaving the edge rusher unblocked. This is the value of a sim pressure. There are very few times a traditional 4 man rush results in the OL being forced to cut a DE/OLB edge rusher free on a run at the QB. Simulated/creeper pressures create this type of stress on pass protection. 

The coverage appears to be a Sting concept that shows up in the Ryan coaching tree.  Baltimore Defensive Coordinator Wink Martindale has coaching crossover with Rex at the University of Cincinnati and with Rob with the Raiders from '04-'08 . Without knowing the call it is difficult to be absolutely sure the coverage is Sting but this clip creates an opportunity to discuss the coverage. Here is an example from the Rex Ryan/Mike Pettine Jets. 

This example is a completely different personnel package and front structure but the coverage is the Sting concept. The coverage is using the firezone distribution with a bonus free player. This is different from a 4 under 3 deep cover 3 with 2 hook droppers and 2 curl-flat droppers. The 3 under are playing seam-3RH-seam  fire zone coverage but adding the bonus dropper as a free player. The free player's role can be game planned up to fit the opponent. In the clip the free player collisions the #3 before zoning off. This concept is very disruptive to 2/3 route combinations in a 3x1 formation. The collision of the free play also buys time for the 3RH to work from the opposite B gap mug alignment to the #3's route. For the protection manipulation to work the 3RH hook player alignment and drop put him in conflict. The free player's technique helps mitigate some of that conflict. 

Nice sim pressure design from Wink Martindale.

Book Club

Really awesome book. Journalist Nicholas Dawidoff spent a season embedded with Rex Ryan's staff coaching the NY Jets. Really easy fun read and fascinating. The look from inside an NFL coaching staff is worth the read. 

Jets Sim Pressure

Sim pressure is a phrase showing up all over the place this off-season. There is no universal terminology in football. What is a generic definition? A pressure rushing 4 that is designed to present to the offense a look and feel of 5 or 6+ rushers. The goal is to simulate more pressure/rushers than are actually in the charge. Some teams are grouping all non-traditional 4 man rushes together under the label sim pressures. Others define sims as 4 man pressures with man coverage and creepers as 4 man pressures with zone coverage. Again there is no universal terminology, there are many different labels out there.

Here the Jets are in a 7 DB sub personnel bringing a non-traditional 4 man rush.

The Rush: Dime and End are the edge rusher. To the side of the blitz the DL is working a B gap penetrator DE looping twist game. The effect is a weak side overload.

The Coverage: Strong side is a locked Corner and a triangle coverage over #2/#3. Weak side is a cover 2 concept. This coverage is common in split field safety coverages who play quarters and half concepts.

  
The walked up rush threats in the field A & B gap create a situation where all the OL are covered. The Center points out the threats and the tackle, guard, and center are working to the 3 threats to the field. The boundary guard and tackle are focused on the 2 DL threats. The guard and tackle try to pass the twist. There was no guarantee of help from the center resulting in the guard and tackle passing the twist as if they have no help. The twist reaction pulls the guard inside to the looping DE and the OT inside to the penetrating DT leaving the free runner from the Dime off the edge.

For the crowd out there talking about sim pressures being the newest trend on defense. This pressure is from the 2012 Jets coached by  Rex Ryan and defensive coordinator Mike Pettine. Sim pressures may be gaining popularity but they aren't new. 

Rex Ryan Overload Pressure

This is a 3 under 3 deep zone dog from a 7 DB personnel package used by the NY Jets back in the 2011 season.

The Rush:
End - Up the field then long stick
Dime - Rush outside, up & under
Nickel - Contain Rush
FS - Rush off the edge
End - The end is slow to enter the pass rush. This could be a bad get off by the DE but it could also be a spy technique. With four pass rusher on the opposite edge, I could see the away End being used as a spy to clean up a QB. As the QB tries to work away from the pressure the spy is there to apply late pressure and prevent the QB from escaping the pocket. By being slow to enter the pass rush, the End avoids running himself out of play. I don't know the specific coaching points for his technique. It is an interesting idea to use a rusher opposite an overload rush as a spy.

The Coverage:
3 under 3 deep zone

Corners - Tight 1/3
SS - Shows down at LOS, pops the top to the deep middle
X & Mike - Seam
Nose - Stems to a 1 technique away from the pressure, drops to 3RH

The technique of the End and the Dime are critical to making this pressure effective. The End doesn't use a traditional long stick.

On a traditional long stick the action of the DE is very lateral. The lateral action allows the guard to pass the long stack to the Center while sitting for a new B gap pass rush threat.

The Jets' DE instead works up the field before going lateral.

The result is the Guard is forced to set to the DE threatening the B Gap with his first step. The Guard cannot ignore the threat.

Initially the rush feels like a standard rush where the Tackle will pick up the Dime and the Guard will pick up the End.

Once the End starts to go lateral and inside the Guard is forced to change direction. By the time the Guard realizes what is happening and tries to pass the End to the Center it is too late. The Guard redirects back outside to the B gap but ultimately blocks no one.

The up and under rush of the Dime creates a challenge for the Tackle. The tackle is initially forced to set wide. With the DE going inside, the most likely rush path for the Dime is to stay outside. It is less likely to have two outside rushers working inside but that is exactly what is happening. The tackle was not ready for the Dime to go up and under. The combination of the rush violating expectations and the Tackle being forced to redirect vs. a rushing DB results in the Tackle being beaten 1 on 1. 

While the Tackle and Guard are both in a bind inside, the RB also has a difficult task on the edge. The RB scans across the formation and picks up the rushing Nickel. The FS ends up getting a free run and a sack. What is the alternative for the offense?

The  RB could have scanned to the inside rusher leaving the widest rusher free. The QB would need to throw hot off the Nickel in that case. This solution is completely impractical. The Nickel is blitzing from the first level while the FS is blitzing from depth. The RB is forced to block the Nickel because the Nickel is the first threat. By the time the 2nd threat from the FS arrives the RB is already committed to block the Nickel.

Another factor in the success of the rush is the back side of the pressure.

The offense could slide to the pressure and have the numbers to block the rush.

One issue is the offense does not know the Nose is going to drop into coverage. By stemming the Nose to a 1 technique the Center is discouraged from sliding to the pressure. If the Center slides away from the Nose, the Nose has an inside 1 on 1 rush opportunity vs. Guard. The Center instead sets to the Nose which allows the defense to overload the pressure side.

The early threat of pressure from the Mike and SS also helps prevent the OL from sliding the protection to the pressure. The SS being down near the LOS before popping out creates the threat of pressure. If the protection did slide, the defense could easily create a 2 on 1 rush vs. the RB by bringing the Mike and SS. 

Steeler's Corner Pressure Part 2

I have received several questions about the last post on a corner pressure the Pittsburgh Steelers ran last season. The full post on the pressure is here.

The pressure is a 4 man rush with a corner in the pass rush. The coverage is a Cover 2 variation vs. a 2x2 set. Questions naturally arise like:

First let me say I think sending a corner from a college hash is highly effective because of the the short run. Off a high school hash I imagine the even shorter run will get pressure very quickly.

As for the coverage vs. 3x1. Many coaches are electing to back up certain zone pressures with a Cover 2 fire zone concept vs. 2x2 and convert the coverage to a Cover 3 fire zone vs. 3x1 formations. I cannot say with 100% certainty that is how the Steelers and Coach Butler handle 3x1. If the coverage was to check to 3 under 3 deep this is how it would look.

The alignment of the coverage players makes this coverage check very manageable. Cover 2/Cover 3 fire zones can be found in several playbooks if you are looking into these concepts in your off-season research.

Here is an example from Rex Ryan's NY Jet playbook. The coverage call is Read Tracy. Vs. 2x2 play read (cover 2 read concept). Vs. 3x1 check the coverage to Tracy (Cover 3). 

Here is another example from the 2009 NY Giants playbook. The coverage is 3 Tango. The coverage call is 3 unless the formation is 2x2 then the coverage is checked to Tango (Cover 2). This is the same concept with a slightly different system of communication.

Lastly here is an example from Coach Saban at Alabama. The call is Trap vs. 2x2 or 3 vs. 3x1. 

FAQ - What is America's Blitz?

I thought I would attempt to answer a question I am asked frequently in e-mail. What is America's blitz? 

America's Blitz is a colloquial term for the following blitz concept:

The blitz is known as America's Blitz because "every" team in America runs it. I have also heard the blitz called the NCAA Blitz. The name similarly implies that every college team runs this blitz. While not every team is running the blitz it is very common. Looking in a few NFL and college playbooks here are a few examples of the America's Blitz concept.

This example is from long time Pittsburgh Steeler defensive coordinator Dick Lebeau.

Here it is from Mark Dantonio's time as Ohio State's defensive coordinator. This variation of the concept is being run from a 3 man line sub personnel with multiple DB's in the game.

Here from Nick Saban's defense at Alabama in Base personnel.

Another example of America's blitz from Coach Saban being run out of sub personnel Nickel or Dime.

Here from Bo Pelini's Nebraska Defense

From Rex Ryan's NY Jets Defense

It doesn't take long to see why this concept is known as America's Blitz. 

Why is this blitz concept so ubiquitous? Simple answer it is effective. The deeper answer is versatility.  This blitz concept can be run from nearly all base and sub defensive personnel groups. Defenses also have the flexibility to play man or zone coverage behind this blitz. 

The blitz also has usage versatility. The blitz successfully attacks both run blocking schemes and pass protections. Defenses who carry this concept into a game plan can have confidence this blitz can be effectively called in multiple situations.

The success of the concept comes from the blitzes ability to overload half of the offense, attack the blocking scheme, and adjust based on the offense's blocking.

The concept is simple. The outside blitzer (Sam) is off the edge as a contain player. The DE to the blitz is slanting to the A gap. The inside blitzer (Mike) is letting the DE clear first and blitzing the B gap.

Several situations can play out based on the offensive blocking scheme.

The first situation is the offense zone blocks to the blitz. The zone could be either a zone run scheme or zone pass protection.

If the offense is disciplined in their zone blocking the offense has a blocker for each defender in each gap. In this situation the Sam, Mike, End, and Nose all have excellent gap leverage and the ability to shed blocks and make a play. This blitz challenges the offense to stay disciplined in their zone blocking.

The DE slanting to the A gap creates a conflict for the Guard. The Guard initially feels like the DE is attacking the B gap. In that case the Guard is responsible to block him. As the guard realizes the DE is actually slanting down to the A gap, it may be too late for the Guard to transition and make a good block on the blitzing Mike in the B gap.

The Center has a similar conflict. If the Center engages with the Nose at all, the Center's block on the DE slant to the A gap is very difficult.

Another situation is the OT blocks down on the DE slanting to the A gap. 

As the offense's blocking collapses down the defense has a 2 off the edge blitz concept. This situation can play out vs. both the run and the pass.

Versus the block down and kick out schemes like power the defense is able to get two blitzers to the point of attack.

As the OT blocks down the Mike is blitzing the B gap area. With 2 blitzers off the edge; the Mike is able to spill and the Sam is able to contain. 

Versus the pass the offense is likely running a slide scheme away from the blitz. If that is the situation the blitz creates a 2 (Mike & Sam) on 1 (RB).

Here is some video of the Dick Lebeau coached Pittsburgh Steelers running the concept. This video is courtesy of an excellent article about Coach Lebeau's Strong Scrape Fire Zone from Coach Hoover.