Sim Pressure using Sting Coverage

The Broncos are in Nickel personnel with OLB bodies at the DE positions. The snap is on 1st & 10 a 2min situation with Denver leading by 11 points.

The Rush: 

Both DT's are looping strong to balance the pass rush. The Rush OLB is wide with the ILB pressuring the B gap

The Coverage: 

4 under 3 deep Sting cover 3 coverage

 

The coverage concept of Sting has been featured on the site several times. Sting allows the defense to use 3 under 3 deep firezone teaching progression and techniques when playing 4 under 3 deep coverage. Continuity of Sim/Creeper coverage with Zone Dog coverages is a huge positive for defenses. 

The usage of Sting coverage allows the Nickel to carry #2 in the seam like fire zone. By contrast in a standard cover 3 distribution the Nickel would play the C-F and the OLB would drop to the strong hook. The OLB on the LOS isn't forced to get depth into the hook to cover the slot on the basic because the Nickel is carrying and the ILB is dropping with depth to #3. The free OLB can easily match the #3 on the check release to the flat. Denver is able to deny the basic to the slot with the Seam and 3RH droppers taking pressure off the OLB dropping from the LOS as well as efficiently deny a multilevel route from the offense. 

The pressure is a simple concept that isolates the RB in pass pro with the pressuring ILB. The Guard travels with the inside movement 3tech DT leaving the RB on the pressure LB in the B gap 1on1. 

This is another example of why teams use sim/creeper pressure. The defense can play a 7 man drop coverage while generating a pass rush. Very few traditional 4 man pass rushes can isolate a RB with a full speed rusher while wasting 4 OL on 2 DT's. The resource allocation is a major victory for the defense: 6 blockers vs. 4 rushers while still creating quick efficient pressure backstopped with 7 man drop coverage.

Good stuff from Denver Defensive Coordinator Ed Donatell and Vic Fangio. 

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.