Cover 3 Question

Coach Williams,

We have used a press technique @ the LOS with our Flat defenders (OLB's) in the past with a good amount of success. It keeps those #2's (out of 2 x 2) from getting up the seams to put the FS in the bind that the offense is looking for. We used outside leverage and our run support didn't seem to suffer much. We have even done it to one side only (the boundary).

We have gone away from it lately and now mostly just try to get a good re-route from our 4-5 yard depth. But...like I said...it has worked pretty well for us in the past. We had them give a good physical jam @ the LOS, trying to funnel them toward the ILB's and FS and then drop to their flat. I'm sure there are several ways to exploit it but we didn't use it exclusively either. In fact, I'm sure some probably thought we were probably manned-up when we really weren't (you mentioned disguise).

Also: we didn't do it on the #3 - only our Flat defenders (#2's).

Thanks for the responses. I do want to disrupt the routes of #2 and #3 in passing situations. I have covered Trips and Slots different ways depending on run/pass tendencies. If there is a #3 then there is only a 1 back and the running game is limited. Here is our alignment.

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Corner on backside is man to man but has help on inside quick routes from the inside backer. Like to bring both outside backers over vs. Trips, do the same when we play man becuase they will be better cover guys than the inside backers. FS and playside corner are playing deep 1/4's and 2 to range 3. If Iknew they were going to throw every down we would get in the receivers face and play tight man, I believe it is very tough to play man to man pass defense and consistently play run support with the Outside Backers. This is why I want to be able to disrupt #2 or #2 and #3 and still play zone.

Coach Williams, I don't want to rain on your parade, but honestly as an offensive coach, if I saw that, I would be licking my chops for a running game. With only five defenders in the box, I should win every time--all I need to do is get a body on a body and there's nobody for my runningback--not to mention my QB. I think you could do some things in a 3rd and long situation or something else where you "know" they are going to pass. That being said, I would never leave only 5 in the box at any time I was not willing to give a team first down yardage on the play. If you have a set of beasts at DT and MLB, then I might reconsider.

Thanks for the responses. I would agree we are vulnerable to an inside running game and have been hurt in the past with the inside running game leaving only 1 Backer inside. Compensate by moving the front. We are a multiple front team and are stemming and stunting every down. I have had a lot of success over the years with spread teams by slanting or stemming into A and B gaps.


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We do play Robber with our FS to 2 backs sets. But playing all man vs. the 1 back teams puts you in a bind on the option. If our outside backers are playing man, they know they are man and have only late run support. I do not think you can ask them to play man and run support. So now you have problems vs. the pitch on the speed option. If I can still get in the receivers face and play zone is my objective. This way the outside backer can still be in run support. Then now and then mix in some man depending on situation. The two coverages will be disguised. We will not press every time, we will show press and then back off to 3 and align inside more often to help us on run support. The way it is drawn it may only look like 5 in the box but my IB to the Weakside and my OB to the Trips side take pitch on option and are fall in players and I still have a FS in the middle of the field. We are good against the speed option here, Middle IB and DE on QB and IB to weakside and OB's to Trips side on pitch. Should be pretty tough to run anyting to the Trips side with the extra Ouside Backer over there. In response to Allisojh I can see where we are vulnerable to the inside running game but where are the other holes in the running and passing game? In response to jrkelly, I agree, we will not be in this alignment every time and it will be disguised. I think it is a good alignment vs. pass and will be used more in those situations and with teams that like to get into Trips and mainly throw the ball. In response to greenough when I say limited I did not mean ineffective. I know from experience the running game from the 1 back set can be very effective. But in terms of defending, it is not the same as I or 2 backs.

Greenough,
I am in total agreement with you on the running game. 5 in the box is too few to stop any type of decent running game--6 in the minimum that I will use aganist a spread team. The only time I think I would even consider 5 in the box is on a "hail mary"- type situation or possibly vs a 3x2 attack with only a QB in the backfield--even then, that QB better not be able to move, or I would feel our defense is at a major disadvantage.

Spread Teams we play our rules: Robber to 2 back sets, 1 to 1 back sets.

Over G and our Okie 34 are our changeups we run against WITH our Cover 1 and Robber.

We end up using 3 to 4 coverages and looks against the spread teams. Some times we even use a 5th. No Cover 3 though.

I hate Cover 3 because I hate having 3 guys dropping out at the snap unless its a prevent situation. I am definately losing my FS. I just feel I am losing people in Cover 3 and there are way better coverages we can use rather than Cover 3.

A 5th coverage we have used, and the kids, especially the FS, have a lot of fun with is our "Bandit" coverage. Its Robber out of a different look.

We will use this against the Read Option teams or other teams that LOVE to run their QB in the option game. We also love this with scrambling running QB's. Those type of kids that just "create" when the heat is on. We call it "Bandit".

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Everyone plays ROBBER rules except:
R/BL: walk alignment, play the flat, pitch in option
J: Rob the QB to most dangerous, flatfooted and downhill on snap of ball into the hole. Seak out the QB in every situation especiall Read-option. Once he has handed the ball off or pitched it, play the ball. Drop back pass find work in the hole.
B/M: widen over tackles, play off tackle to seam, leave middle alone for FS.

It ends up being a Cover 2 shell with the FS playing the hole BUT.... he is "Robbing" the QB. I love it against Read option teams that have a great running QB. My kid is never in the blocking scheme and the QB is looking for the 2 ilbs for QB and what looks like 2 corners on the pitch. 2 teams we played in the last 3 years were really punished with this coverage because he NEVER knew it was coming.

WE DO NOT USE THIS COVERAGE a ton so there is usually not a lot of tape on it as w may only see a really good running QB once a year where I feel we "Just have to have something else". Where we play, a great running QB ends up the I back. But against those Navy Flex or Northwestern style Spread teams the love the Read option with the QB it has been pretty good.

I also use the same look but it a prevent type deal and just tell the Secondary to play a 3-deep zone instead of Bandit. In that situation, well call the coverage "Cover 3 Walk"

Bandit is Robber with the 2 OLB's in a walk alignment and the FS screwing down into the hole robbing the QB. Everyone has the same responsibilities as Robber.

Because everyone does everything the same it makes it easy to install.

Thanks for all of your responses. Good advice and schemes from all. The respones got me thinking. As I said I do like bringing both outside backers over to the Trips side since this is what we do in man-free. And I do want to be able to get up in the receivers face some and still play zone. But after reading your responses and thinking it over it is not necessary to bump out the other inside backer. Especially when the Trips are to the field as they are most of the time. I can align my other inside backer inside or cheat him a little or a lot depending on situations. Let me know what you think of this change in alignment.


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Coach Williams

Coach Williams,

I like that alignment if you are running bump and run man-to-man, but if you are running a C-3, I'd do what jwcoop is hinting at. Bump your LB's over into a 43-type look. I'd play a C-3 to the trips side and probably man up on the single side.

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we play this alignment as a change up, our DE always has the RB on any flares. We play 1 and 3 out of this

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this is our base alignment to trips, if we want to be a little stronger on the pass
we will bump our backers over and give more of a true 4-3 look

Have to do a little bragging here. We implemented our 3 deep zone with the outside backers disrupting the routes of #2 and #3. Our 3 deep zone in called Black. So we simply tagged it Black Tough. Worked on a little traditional drop and play soft in zone coverage but did not use it in our scrimmage game and our 1st game.

In our 1st game we played the 4th ranked team in the state and lost 7 to 6. Unfortunately our offense rushed for 25 yards and had 7 3 and outs. Defensively we froced 3 turnovers. Passing wise the opponent was 1 for 9 and 17 yards passing with a pick. We also came close on 2 pick sixes.

The Black Tough is the best thing I have ever implemented in 30 years of coaching. We played Black Tough and mixed in a little tight man and blitzed. That was it. Keep it simple and let the players play fast.

Coach Williams