DE in Pass Coverage

When we were a 50 team the end that the Slant came to droped and the other end rushed. We were a multiple front team so our rush end was usally a DE and the Drop End was normally a LB and we tried to keep it that way. Now if I run any 50 cover three I would rush 5 and play 3 deep 3 under in a zone blitz concept. In most cases you will give up the flat in cover 3 so one less pass defender to have more pressure might be a good idea.

Because our secondary is a 4-across rotating cover 3 (although we run many coverages from the 4-across look), we can train our DE's to read the QB as they react. Our secondary basically rotates to QB flow, with the CB's always playing deep 1/3 and the safety to flow playing force / flats. The safety away plays deep mid 1/3. With our DE's, we basically run just the opposite read. If the QB flow comes TO on a pass play, that DE is the rush DE, because the near safety has flats / force. If the QB flow goes AWAY on a pass play, that DE is a flats / counter reverse player, because the near safety is rotating out into the deep mid 1/3.

It is really more like a 3-4 than a 5-2. We have the DE's in a 2 point stance and reacting based on the helmet path of the TE or OT. Once that reaction shows pass, the DE's eyes go directly inside to the QB. It is really a simple thing and we never have a problem with it. Of course, it fits in with the rest of our defensive philosophy.

CUI,

On a straight drop back, the SS (who aligns to the PASS STRENGTH SIDE as we determine it-could be wide side, could be 2 receiver side, depends on opponent and that week's gameplan) will automatically rotate to flats / force and the FS who aligns away from pass strength will automatically rotate to middle third.

On Iso Action or other playaction, we react to the backfield flow. So, the safety to the side of the run or run fake will be flats / force and the backside safety will be out in the middle third.

It's actually pretty simple once you've had the chance to drill it. It's a great way of getting maximum run support in the box, which is particularly helpful in our division. Also, if we're having problems with our rotations for whatever reason, we can simply check a Cover 2 Sky or Cloud or a Cover 4 from that same 4-across inverted look. We also run "shell" coverages against certain teams in certain formations, where one or both safeties leave their inverted positions to have a more traditional alignment and reactions.

As always, thanks for your help. If you get any more information on the CB play that your alma marta (did I spell that right?) uses, let me know. I'd be interested to hear about it.

Take care!

Coaches,
How many fronts do you all use? We play a team that sits in base 50 cover 3 with a drop end to the boundary. They never get out of this front ever, even vs. spread teams. They are a very good team and have made the playoffs the past 3 years and have been regional runner-up twice! Myself, I use various fronts, however I am thinking about just the base with the drop or 5 man pressure. Just wanted to get some input from all of you. I would also like to know about coverages, man and cov. 3 are the two that I use. Man I will vary it up and run man free with the FS reading, I will sub. my #2 SS in for the DE in this cov.

Weird that this thread came back to the top. I was just going to ask how (those of you that do) you guys teach your DEs to cover a back that releases horizontally out of the backfield? We didn't do this last year. We play a 5-2, and I really like having my LBs read the guard and last year teams started false pulling the guard and slipping a back the opposite way on counter pass action. We covered it up by playing a little cover 2 or having FS key this. I am looking into having the DEs "peel off" if they see this. What's your take on this technique / strategy?
HosHos - We play a pretty basic 5-2, but it probably looks a little more complicated because we move alignments around (bear look, etc) and blitz with the FS playing near the los at times - but still keep the gap responsibilities easy to understand and the necessary techniques limited. We use a 6-2 when we are in a goal line situation.
I like the idea of having different fronts and moving people around to make it hard for the O, but I'm not sure you HAVE to do that. Obviously, you're going to have to make some adjustments to different teams you play, but I know teams that get by with sitting in a base defense the entire season. One thing's for sure... the players know their job - and that is possibly the most important thing. Most of the time I think simpler is better.
It's probably easier to be simpler in a smaller school setting. As far as covering a 3 X 2 spread with a 5-2 drop end D in C3... Isn"t it really just about like a 4-4 or any other 4 man front? They probably widen a backer to the 3 receiver side and play inside leverage on #2 with the DE and SS, then COLLISION receivers off the line. I'd put my corners at exactly 7 deep and dare you to throw the long spot pass all night. If your players are better, they're going to make plays and win. If not, the other team will make plays and win. I personally like to play man and C2, but it's not so much what you're doing, but how you do it that I think is most important. Just my opinion. I love learning about football on this site.

CUI,
Could you go into more detail on your Cov 2 vs 3x2 set. We have something similar but we let teh FS and SS roam freely, bring LB mans up on #3, back up C on #2, C on #2, on the 2 man side we have Backup SS on #2, C on #1...in this we play 1/4's with everyone but the LB. Or we just go man free or straight man if we need more pressure.

We don't see many people spread it out like this here. In college, we did something very similar to what you mentioned. In / vs nickel situations / teams, we played 2-man most frequently, but also played straight 2 deep five under zone.
In 2 man, corners have #1, your next best DB has #2 on the 3 receiver side, LB on #3, and other LB on #2 to 2 reciever side. Obviously, as Tiger One mentioned, matchups are a little scary - maybe you would want to sub for an LB or 2 if this is what you're going to see all night. We put our best corner on the inside receiver on the 3 quick side a lot of the time. I think you have to play on the line and play inside leverage. If your man goes inside, he will be covered like a blanket and hopefully get roughed up a little. Funnel to the outside where you force the QB to make a perfect throw under the safeties. The weakness of this D is definitely the QB draw.
In straight C2, you must collision receivers with the 5 under players, and your corners CANNOT give up an outside release to #1. S2 (extra DB) has curl on the wide side of the field, corners play a hard corner and have flats, hook for strong / wide side LB, hook to curl for weak LB. Safeties over the top as always. Nothing fancy I know. You can also have your corners and safeties switch responsibilites (sky / cloud).
When we faced an outstanding receiver that we wanted to take out of the game, we played "2 Bandit". Our best DB (or any DB) manned up with their best receiver and everyone else plays C2. Corners - flat to curl, LBs - hook to curl, safeties over the top.
Probably nothing you didn't already know.

CUI,

Your statement that most folks don't run it like I do is absolutely correct. I have never been one to emulate what others do, for the most part. I attribute our success to that very fact in that our opponnents do not see the formation very often, let alone our patterns. Now I want you to understand that we run and throw out of 20 different formations (thats 40 if you count both Rip and Liz). I have a crunching running game for down close that features power/counter series, sweeps, dives, option packages. We don't see much option at our level, very little in fact. So, I have always ran the triple (isv, osv) just enough to keep them honest. We run it out of the pro with "I" backs and will come right back and run speed option out of our spread. It is the off season for us as we play from Late July to October (regular season) then our play offs. We have just completed our 7th week of off season weight training, cardiovascular regimens, and class room sessions. We work 5 nights a week and play on Saturdays during our season. Now, we work 4 nights a week and have a 3 hour on field practice every saturday, no matter what the weather is. Don't like to practice on field over 2 hours, normally, but we take our time and get rep after rep after rep of what we are working on that day. I like your defensive thinking, just trying to give you some insight to my thinking on the other side of the ball.

Coach Easton

CUI,

I coached on the HS level for the better part of 30 years. Am in my 11 th year now at our level. I have kids in the NFL today who are big stars that I coached when they were in high school. I coached at both the big and small schools, my 1995 punter, Scott Player, from my pro team is still the starter with the Arizona Cardinals of the NFL. One back coached at our level and sent 9 players to the Washington RedSkins, the year of the big NFL strike. I have sent 31 former Tigers (my team) on to the next level of pro ball including the NFL, the CFL, the NFL Europe League, and both Arena 1 and AF2 Leagues. I tell you that because I feel it is my spread that has given us our success. In answer to your question in the last sentence of your post? " I'll never tell! " Ha Ha

Coach Easton

HosHos,
With that scheme how do you play deep middle in cover 3, if you have your Mike take no more than a 10 yd. drop? My reason for asking is I run a play that features 4 deep verticals (#1 to Trips Side runs a deep
boundary release go or fade, his option. #2 runs a deep vertical straight take off. #3 runs an 18 yd. post
#1 on the backside runs a deep vertical go or fade. #2 backside runs a deep 15-18 yd square in. We have influenced your FS by running the post from the frontside with #3, and taken the CB on the backside deep with a go or fade. If you try to run in man with #2 both front and backside, that means that I will have a legit receiver (4.5 or under) on your SS or LB and we should win that matchup 90% of the time. Just curious as to how you would defend this pattren. Enjoying this discussion with you defensive coaches. If your FS doesn't honor the frontside post at 18 yds. he will be wide open. If he does, the mof will be wide open, imo.
Coach Easton

TigerOne and CUI,
1st our FS will play deep 1/3 and our MLB will read drop( as do the other's) we don't get upset when they get 15 yds. as long as they are drop reading. You are correct when you say LB on #3, and sorry to say but I have no answer for that. We play with what we have and hope we make plays. If it becomes a problem then we would take out the covering LB and put another C or SS. We can't cover everything or defend everything, you will score in the spread, but I will score against you as well. I believe that the best defense vs. the spread is a great time consuming offense. CUI vs. the play you mentioned, we tell the under coverage that if they feel it's vertical then run with it. As far as the under route....so what we will come up and attack that and again the MLB is looking for that to happen. Anyone who gets on here and tells you they can stop the spread is a liar, you can contain it but not stop it. If they start to hurt us with routes we will switch to man free or man and bring heat. Again no one is bailing to 10 instantly, they read drop. All coverages will allow the 5-7 yard completion and come up and attack it, vs. the spread that can be scarey because of the spacing, so you have to be nasty getting there.

TigerOne,
Your record and accolades speak for themselves. I have 2 great friends who are head coaches and they run the spread just like you. The 4 vertical will kill cov. 3 unless you have great LB's or SS's that will run with the inside vertical that is the only help for the FS. Our biggest problem vs. spread is the yac (yards after catch) I get sick when we have great downfield coverage and they hit a 5-10 yard crossing and we miss tackles for a huge gain, it is a confidence killer.

TigerOne,
I hear that, that is why we try to find the best cover LB and use him in that #3 position to cover. He is really a SS and must play like that. We will not use our usual run LB in that spot when we see spread teams. The tought part is when great coaches like yourself see this and they get into "normal" formations and now that cover LB is out of postition.