Virginia Tech Robber Coverage

I think Temple's way is better than Va Tech. Nick Rappone played for Tech & coaches the secondary at Temple. BIG difference = Tech's Corners plat HALF coverage & Temple's play MAN. Without a holdup on WR's in Tech's - the WR's run free.
Below is Temple's version - which we used.

“ROBBER” COVERAGE


CORNERS:

ALIGNMENT: 2 yards inside & 9 yards deep - #1 receiver.

Key: QB

Run Responsibility: 2nd contain – alley support.

Pass Responsibility: Must stay inside #1 (C.P. – if you are Corner to FS side, you can play much tighter because the free safety is controlling #2. The split side corner must be aware of #2).


FREE SAFETY:

ALIGNMENT: 8 yards deep, inside foot back. Cheat over OT to #2 side late.

KEY: #2

RUN RESPONSIBILITY: 1. TE blocks down – fill outside. Think toss or power. 2. TE blocks out – think ball away. 3. TE cuts off DE – think A gap.

PASS RESPONSIBILITY: 1. #2 vertical – FS must lock on. 2. #2 drag – FS work over top. Look up #1 – opposite side. 3. #2 flat – look up #1 for curl or post.


ADVANTAGES OF “ROBBER”:
1. Able to get FS to both sides of the ball.
2. Able to get control of #2 deep on any vertical routes.
3. Lets inside LB play run because #2 is always controlled vertically to TE side.
4. Able to use 5 DB’s as a base package, which gives us better team speed.
5. Alignments blend in with playing our other two coverages (Cov. 0, and Cov. 1).

OUTSIDE AND INSIDE LINEBACKERS:



OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS (ROVER & WILL):


ALIGNMENT: 2 yards outside TE & 2 yards deep (if NO TE – 2 yards outside OT & 2 yards deep).

KEY: Triangle (flow-TE-QB).

RUN RESPONSIBILITY: 1. Flow to – sky support. 2. Flow away – check reverse, then fold.
NOTE: On split end side if both backs flow into B Gap, then you must fill B Gap. Flow away, B Gap.

PASS RESPONSIBILITY: Once you read pass, work the #’s. You have flat, and any #2 receiver that goes flat and up.


INSIDE LINEBACKERS (SAM & MIKE):


ALIGNMENT: Sam is in a 30 technique (straddle outside leg of OG) 4-5 yards deep. Mike is in a 30 technique (straddle outside leg of OG) 4-5 yards deep.

KEY: Flow, to Guards.

RUN RESPONSIBILITY: (Sam): 1. Flow To – stack C Gap, unless both backs are in A Gap. Flow Away – A Gap front side. (Mike): 1. Flow To: - B Gap. Flow away: - front side A Gap.

PASS RESPONSIBILITIES:
A. Sam: Read #3 (back). Back expands – Sam expands to look up #1. Back goes vertical – Sam must take him man to man. Back blocks – Sam works to front side hook zone.
B. Mike: Read #2 (back). Back expands – Mike expands to look up #1. Back goes vertical – Mike must take him man to man. Back blocks – Mike works straight back to hook.

Try the "TIGERCAT" all out KEY BLITZ that I got from Jim Bates in the early 90's. Jim has coached at Florida, & in the NFL. It is the classic NFL "Nickle Blitz" & enables you to BRING ONE MORE THAN THEY CAN BLOCK!!!!! NOTE: - OLB's & ILB's can line up ON LOS to further complicate the blocking & either come, or back out to "base". This was the ONLY blitz we taught. We ran it from the Tight 60 Goal Line & short yardage front as well!!!!!

“TIGERCAT/COVER 0”

STRONG DE: 7 Technique – Power rush thru offensive tackle. Maintain slight outside leverage for containment should ROVER come off rush and absorb #3. Be alert for “I’ve got him” call from ROVER vs. Trips formations (ROVER covers #3). “I’ve got him” changes your rush to definite contain rush.

STRONG DT: 3 Technique – Lateral step and bull rush A gap unless Sam LB’er designates you to rush B gap (“switch” call). CHECK RUN FIRST.

WEAK DT: 1 Technique – Bull rush A gap unless Mike LB’er designates you to rush B gap (“switch” call). CHECK RUN FIRST.

WEAK DE: 5 Technique – Power rush through offensive tackle. Maintain slight outside leverage for containment should WILL come off rush and absorb #2. Be alert for “I’ve got him” call from Will vs. sets where #2 is aligned out to your side and not in backfield – such as Doubles. “I’ve got him” changes your rush to definite contain rush.

ROVER: 8 Technique (CHEAT LATE TO LOS) – Rush from outside to hip of the near back. Be alert to absorb #3 on any outside release (outside of DE). “I’ve got him” call to DE if #3 aligned out to your side and not in backfield – such as Trips. You take an “off man” alignment on #3.

WILL: 8 Technique (CHEAT LATE TO LOS) – Rush from outside to hip of the near back. Be alert to absorb #2 on any outside release (outside of DE). “I’ve got him call” to DE if #2 is aligned out to your side and not in backfield – such as Doubles. You take an “off man” alignment on #2.

SAM: 30 Technique – Rush B gap unless you give DT a “switch” call, then rush A gap. Be alert to absorb #3 on any inside release (inside DE).

MIKE: 30 Technique – Rush B gap unless you give DT a “switch” call, then rush A gap. Be alert to absorb #2 on any inside release (inside DE).

CORNERS: Cover 0 (M/M on #1 to your side).

SAFETY: Cover 0 (M/M on #2 to call side).

MAYBE this Sat AM. The trip up (if you leave at 5:30 or 6 AM) is FINE - but the trip back (from DC to Richmond) is a NIGHTMARE!!!!! Traffic backed up for FIFTY miles from DC to Fredericksburg!

EMAIL me at butzadams@hotmail.com - wanted to share something with you.

I may be missing something here but wouldnt Temple's way of playing robber coverage be suspect to the following situation??
#1 runs a post and corner goes with him in man coverage
#2 Tightend runs a wheel route but first sells his route as if he is staying in the flats before turning up field and heading up the sideline. Wouldnt FS read #2 as running a route in the flat therefore turning his attention to #1 running the post at him which would leave #2 wide open on the wheel up the sideline??