Coverage scheme for slow secondary?

John,

My opinion is that most folks will say cover # 3, because of it's simplicity (deep 1/3's) to teach and to implement. Another opinion that I would offer is it does not allow you to have guys who can't play however! They had better be good! Depending upon your defense, your SS, OLB's had better be able to play also. Without their help, cover # 3 hasn't got a prayer. Just my opinion.

Coach Easton

I agree with OutlawJoseyWales. We sometimes use the technique he describes, adn it defintely works.
One thought I have os to align your corners at 9-10 yds deep, and on the snap have them bounce in place while reading for run/pass. If the pass is a 3-step, they'll be running downhill on it. If the pass is a deeper pattern, they'll still have good depth/cushion.

TIGER ONE:

I agree with you 100%, but at least the ball is being thrown in front of the defender and not over his head. Please keep in mind that this is in response to a question about a secondary that is not that skilled. I would rather have the ball caught in front of me than behind me. Don't you agree? We don't mind giving up a 3-step pass for two reasons: 1) Not many offensive coordinators (at least the ones we face) are patient enough to try to throw these kinds of passes all the way down the filed; 2) we want the offense to line up and snap the ball again; make them take the long road.

Besides, defending the short out or hitch is really the OLB's (8-man front) job. We tell our corners that they will not intercept or break-up a 3-step pass unless the ball is thrown poorly. We also tell them that on a 3-step pass they have to run up and make a tackle, not allow any yards after catch.

No need to apologize; I do not take your thoughts as argumentative.

Ain't this internet thingy great? It's like being able to go to a clinic everyday. Man I wish I'd had this thing years ago when I was a kid and had to learn stuff by getting "my pants beat slap off."

Coach, I don't know exactly what you mean by "play in front of the CornerBack?"
However, if you mean that the OLB/End goes to the EMOLOS receiver, I say yes.
My best results with this has been to mess with the outside receiver. I really don't know why, because it is sound defense to play up on the slot receiver. But for some reason, when we start banging on the outside man who is one the line, it messes up something with timing. I know it's a long way for that End or OLB to run toward the QB, and it usually gasses them, but it works. When the QB sees my two Ends coming at him, even though they are way out there, it messes him up. I don't know why it works, but it does, maybe somebody here can explain why. Maybe it's just a high school thing, and these QB have too much on their minds with these spread offenses being so complicated. But knocking the crap out of that wide receiver and then coming after the shotgun from the outside seems to work.

Coach, I've had less success trying this against the slot receiver. I also don't know why. But that leaves the wide guy 1 X 1 on my smaller/slower corner and the kids just don't stand a chance.

Against a double wide 2 X 2 shotgun, I've had a little luck with a 3-5-3, even though I am NOT on the 3-3 bandwagon. Putting my Ends on the Wideouts and hit them, (coach the funniest thing you have ever seen is these fancy wideouts trying to make their excape move on an End who they think is trying to cover them, all he's trying to do is punch him in the head)
Anyway, 3 man rush, 1 MLB, Ends/Stingers/Dogs on the Wideouts, OLB (old 5-3 rules) fighing man to man on the slots, with Corner 8-10 deep, and the FS just watching the QB's eyes.
I know this is simple, but Hey defensive people are simple and mean! OJW

Coach, I like that statement about finding it in an old book. That's about right for me : )

I called this thing Shotgun cover, and when my kids saw or heard me call shotgun, they'd jump into this system. I also call it off sometimes and just run Base, but by and large this has worked for me over the years. It especially works if you are facing a kid who can run well out of shotgun. You can rush hard out of base on one side-then have the other end out there on the QB's favorite roll out side (usually offensive right) just waiting to grab him. Very simple but it works. Be sure you scout to see what is the favorite roll out side of the shotgun QB and invite him to roll out that way.

You asked about trips. There are many kinds of trips out there. Each set of them almost deserves their own way of defending them. There are so many it kinda' reminds me of the Forrest Gump movie with all the ways you could cook shrimp.
We face alot of trips, and I pick out the middle of the three to whack. I put my Sam on the first one and he will play bump and run with him, but I have a deep safety back behind him though.
That leaves my corner deep, but he has help from that same safety.
It is probably unsound but I know how to draw it up soundly-my kids just can't play it the way I draw it.

But if the team you are playing against cannot hit those 5 yard outs with consistancy then you'll be okay. There are not many teams in my conference who have Qbs and recievers who can beat you doing that. We had 2 teams this year that could throw out routes well.