lb pass drops

Coach,

Especially with Cov.2, IMO the MIKE is a very important component of a successful cover 2 team. The team I coach with does not use Cov 2 often, but in college, we were taught to read #2 and drop down the middle as long as #2 gets depth (We termed it WALLING OFF #2). For instance, with Pro sets, it was simple because the #2 threat was mainly the TE so we must drop with him. Situations could be different for instance if you were playing a team like USC with a Reggie Bush threat coming out of the backfield in Pro sets...but more times than none, our priorities/concerns were #2's lined up in the LOS.

If he runs a verticle, we would turn and run with him after 12 yards. If he runs a post, we continue to wall off and maintain a good cushion underneath. Now, if the original #2 ran an out/cross/curl we were taught to square up in our drop, read the QB and break on the ball. Of course our Safeties were taught to read #2 as well and if they settle in a short route, check for #1 and occupy him (running post, flag, go).

It gets tricky when teams go into spread and you have a true #2 threat on each side of the ball. This is when you will use the term "head on a swivel" very often. We were taught to read and WALL OFF both #2's. Same rules apply, drop as deep as the deepest #2. You must get into a drop, driving out into the MOF and with your head on a swivel, reading both #2 receivers. Say the slot #2 runs a short crossing pattern and the TE (#2) runs a deep in- you would want to make sure you are dropping and settling at the TE's pattern and not the slot's pattern. It gets tricky when you read both #2's running short patterns at the snap. You MUST NOT settle your drops short because of the scissor routes or what we term "Post-chair" routes. The original #1 runs a post and the orig. #2 runs a chair (out and up). You must check for the new #2's route and if they are coming into the middle, you must maintain depth and wall it off because the safeties hopefully are dropping to deep halves, reading #2 and will eventually be taking away the out and up, while, the corner, if occupied at the flats will not be available, and there is then NOBODY in the middle to take care of the post by #1. DISASTER written all over it. As Bill Williams would say. "THE BAND'S PLAYING AND IT AINT YOURS!!!"

THE OLB's were taught to drop in the SEAMS (HASHES), disrupting any incoming patterns and taking away the short dump off game. If you have good corners who can simultaneously read #1 and anything else that may come into the zone then the OLB's job is very easy. However, if you have a CB that runs with #1 and cannot read another receiver running into the flats, then the OLB is put on a BIG island if they also run a player into the HOLE/CURL.

Hoped this helped a bit. I love this coverage...if you can get all your players on the same page. IMO, if you want to be successful, you must rep it to death. I would not advise you to put it in to run every once and a while. In my eyes, if I was an OC in HS, I would be lickin my lips if the team liked to run Cov 2 because I think there are more opportunities for a defensive breakdown and more opportunities for myself to create COSTLY problems for the DC. However, if you play a good percentage of Cov. 2, then you have an opportunity (as a DC) to play games with the OC and QB and disguise your coverages. You now have the opportunity to run 3 cloud, 3 sky, 4, 6 (1/2 ,1/4, 1/4), and Man free at the snap!