Cover 3 keys

My alma mater is now reading the drop of the QB. If it is a 3 step they jump the route. If it is 5 or more they must play for the deeper route. They play a lot of cover 3 and 2 out of a 3-3 stack now and leave the flats. I don't like playing so much zone, but it has worked for them. I bet some others have some helpful tips.

coach i have my corners line up 7-9 yds deep depending on the opposition. i have them baby step for 3 keeping low and reading the qb's back shoulder( high or low) to get a key on 3 step stuff.

We align corners parallel to LOS and 7yds deep on inside half or WR. On the snap, C's take three shuffle steps or slow steps back while reading the UNOCOVERED LINEMAN to their side. If that lineman fires across the LOS, the C's then play thier run responsibility. If that lineman DOES ANYTHING ELSE (pull, cross-block, downblock, etc) the C plays pass until he sees the ball in a RB's hands. We went to this because our DB's were playing run when they saw Wing-T tackles downblock on waggle. It's been a big help.
Some kids do a better job of reading high/low hats of linemen, and we will let a kid do this.
One thing that has helped us is that when I watch film early in the week, I try to find the lineman on each side of the ball that gives a good run/pass key. 99% of the time it will be the OT on each side of the ball (we are a wide-tackle6 defense) because he will have a LB over him. I simply tell the DB's to look at him as they watch film.

Lochness - I just heard back from my college DB coach. Here is his reply pertaining to the corners reading the drop of the QB in cover 3:

sorry it has taken so long to get back to ya. here are our cover 3 rules/responsibilities:
corners key the QB. they start in a backpedal while reading the qb for the 3 step drop. if they read 3 step, they chop their feet and settle to react to the quick throw. as soon as they see it is not a 3 step, they turn and run and play their deep third. we started doing this technique because we felt it was important that our flat player collision slot receivers before dropping to the flat. we were allowing some big plays by slot receivers running vertically because our flat coverers were just running out to flat right away and nobody could get a hand on the slot. so this just gives us some more support out in the flat for the quick pass. obviously i dont expect our corners to get back and break up 3 yard passes, but they can come up and make a good tackle.
they still have to realize that they still cant get beat deep in their third.

as far as run responsibilities our corners always have secondary run support in cover 3. If run is toward them, they have secondary contain. if run is away, they keep all 21 players in front of them and become the touchdown saver.

Has anybody had problems with the quick smash combo? We rarely run cover 3 because I don't like the flat coverage against the quick game. If a corner starts jumping the short routes, a good OC should start throwing the ball over him. When we do run Cover 3, it is usually on 3 and very long, more like a prevent type coverage. Also, when in Cover 3, we are initially reading the release and route of the #2 receiver because of the smash route possibility.

NEVER TAKE YOUR EYES OFF THE QB's EYES & FRONT SHOULDER - (HIS "RADAR GUN")! KEEP A 4 YD CUSHION ON THE DEEPEST MAN IN YOUR ZONE. WHEN THE QB'S NON-THROWING ELBOW STARTS DOWN PARALLEL TO THE GROUND BREAK IN THE DIRECTION OF THE THROW (PLANT YOUR BACK FOOT, PUSH OFF OF IT, & "DON'T SPIN YOUR WHEELS"). PLAY THE BALL - NOT THE MAN - IF YOU CAN GET BOTH HANDS ON THE BALL IGNOR THE RECEIVER - IF YOU CAN'T - GO THROUGH THE RECEIVER TO THE BALL! IF YOU DO THIS TECHNIQUE PROPERLY - YOU CAN COVER 1/3 OF THE DISTANCE THE BALL IS IN THE AIR!

THIS TECHNIQUE WAS USED BY A FORMER H.S. PLAYER OF MINE (DARREN PERRY) AS AN ALL-AMERICAN AT PA. ST., & STARTING F/S FOR 9 YEARS WITH THE STEELERS, & NOW SECONDARY COACH OF THE STEELERS.

JC - I am referring to deep 1/3 players. Not too worried about a Cover 3 corner BREAKING UP THE SLANT (our theory in Cover 3 is that the slant is thrown vs the UNDERNEATH coverage). You COULD do what the QUARTER COVERAGE people feature & that is if QB takes 3 steps break up to stop the 5-6 yd pass; if QB takes 5 steps expect the 12-14 yd breaking point; if QB takes 7 steps - flip your hips & run.

In Cover 3 - we NORMALLY align 1 yd OUTSIDE & 8 yds deep. I know that's a hell of a cushion, but we spend al our time drilling "BREAKING ON THE BALL"! As to the 4 yd cushion - we ask for 4, & normally get 2 1/2 to 3. When we asked for 3 - we got 1 1/2 or 2 (we're just "overcompensating").

In the "PSL" look of MAN/BLITZ (everybody up) - if we back out to base Cover 3 - everybody has to get to his align & be stationary before the ball is snapped

PS: We play Cover 0 (tight & loose) vs anything, Cover 1 (tight & loose) - mainly to check OUT of Robber vs One-Back sets, Cover Robber/Man (like Va Tech Robber except Corners play man rather than 2 deep zone) mainly vs 2 back sets; and Cover 3 vs anything. That is all we use.

Perry was a S/S at Pa St, & a F/S with Steelers!

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NEVER TAKE YOUR EYES OFF THE QB's EYES & FRONT SHOULDER - (HIS "RADAR GUN")! KEEP A 4 YD CUSHION ON THE DEEPEST MAN IN YOUR ZONE. WHEN THE QB'S NON-THROWING ELBOW STARTS DOWN PARALLEL TO THE GROUND BREAK IN THE DIRECTION OF THE THROW (PLANT YOUR BACK FOOT, PUSH OFF OF IT, & "DON'T SPIN YOUR WHEELS"). PLAY THE BALL - NOT THE MAN - IF YOU CAN GET BOTH HANDS ON THE BALL IGNOR THE RECEIVER - IF YOU CAN'T GO THROUGH THE RECEIVER TO THE BALL! IF YOU DO THIS TECHNIQUE PROPERLY - YOU CAN COVER 1/3 OF THE DISTANCE THE BALL IS IN THE AIR!

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Oneback -

Great post! So how do you drill breaking on the ball?

Thanks in advance!

JC: As to the guys in Cover 3 DEEP THIRDS coming up too soon, I guess it depends on the theory being used in Cover 3:

A) PURE ZONE - stay deeper than the deepest - somewhere the middle of your zone. Predicated on the fact that if you came up too soon on a slant - Y flat & up (wheel) would burn you. If you came up to quick on a hitch - the smash combo (#2 goes to corner behind you) would burn you. ETC.

B) ZONE WITH MAN PRINCIPLES: Assigned a deep 1/3 but jump the first man that threatens you man (MAN WITHIN A ZONE).

When we play zone - we play pure zone. I see it taught BOTH ways, & both are good.

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Originally posted by: giacomob
coach i have my corners line up 7-9 yds deep depending on the opposition. i have them baby step for 3 keeping low and reading the qb's back shoulder( high or low) to get a key on 3 step stuff.

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Explain reading the back shoulder to me. What does it tell the DB? Thanks!

Coach

When a QB is executing a quick 3 stepper he will generally stay higher during his drop-back as he wants to be tall and have his weight ready to go forward into his throw as he plants on his 3rd step. A 5 or 7 step drop will see him lean back more to achieve speed to get back there and get set for his reads. This causes his back shoulder to be carried lower than it is in a 3 stepper. We feel that this can give our CBs a decent initial read as to whether it will be a short throw or not.

Coach

When a QB is executing a quick 3 stepper he will generally stay higher during his drop-back as he wants to be tall and have his weight ready to go forward into his throw as he plants on his 3rd step. A 5 or 7 step drop will see him lean back more to achieve speed to get back there and get set for his reads. This causes his back shoulder to be carried lower than it is in a 3 stepper. We feel that this can give our CBs a decent initial read as to whether it will be a short throw or not.

Coach

When a QB is executing a quick 3 stepper he will generally stay higher during his drop-back as he wants to be tall and have his weight ready to go forward into his throw as he plants on his 3rd step. A 5 or 7 step drop will see him lean back more to achieve speed to get back there and get set for his reads. This causes his back shoulder to be carried lower than it is in a 3 stepper. We feel that this can give our CBs a decent initial read as to whether it will be a short throw or not.