Robber

A great coverage scheme vs. spread offenses
Defensive Backs Coach, Temple University
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With today's high-flying passing attacks getting all the national acclaim, here is quite arguably the finest mode of counter-attack. So many times defensive coordinators have to change their entire defensive package just to deal with a one dimensional aerial circus, but here is the way in which you can pressure their protection schemes, all the while baiting the quarterback to throw into a mine field known as Robber coverage. The following is an outline of the Robber coverage package we run at Temple and our positional checklist of fundamentals.

Our No. 1 coverage that we run with our eight-man fronts is Robber. The main reasons for running this coverage are as follows:

* Able to get FS to both sides of the ball.

* Able to get control of the TED on any vertical routes.

* Able to have immediate sky support from our two outside safeties.

* Lets inside LB play run because No. 2 is always controlled vertically to the TE side.

* Able to use five DBs as a base package, which gives us better team speed.

* Alignments blend in with playing our other two coverages, which are man free and 0 coverage, which is a blitz coverage. Our base alignments look like this:


Diagram 1.

Our checklist for each position are as follows:

* Fundamentals of coverage
A. Stance
B. Alignment
C. Keys
D. Run Responsibilities Flow To Flow away
E. Pass Responsibilities Drop Back Full Flow Strong Full Flow Weak
F. Adjustments to Formation
G. Field Position and How it Affects Your Formation

CORNERS

A. Alignment = 2 yards inside - 9 yards deep - No. 1 Receiver

B. Key = QB

C. Run Responsibility = 2nd Contain - Alley Support.

D. Pass Responsibility = Must stay inside No. 1 (C.P. - If you are the corner to the FS side, you can play much tighter because the free safety is controlling No. 2. The split end side corner must be aware of No. 2).


Diagram 2.

FS

A. Alignment = 8 yards deep, inside foot back.

B. Key = No. 2

C. Run Responsibility = We teach 3 run reads.


Diagram 3. TE Block Down
Fill Outside
Thinking toss or Power


Diagram 4. TE Scoop
Think ball away


Diagram 5.
TE Fan Block
Think A-Gap

D. Pass Responsibility = We teach 3 reads.


Diagram 6.TE Flat
Go Look up #1 for Curl or Post


Diagram 7. TE Vertical
FS must lock on


Diagram 8. TE Drag
FS work over top
Look up #1 - opposite side

SS & OWL (Outside LBs)

A. Alignment = SS aligns to the TE- 2 yards outside, 2 yards deep, Owl aligns to split end - 2 yds. outside of off. tackle, 2 yds. deep


Diagram 9.

B. Key = Triangle - (Flow - TE - QB)

C. Run Responsibility = SS - Flow To - sky support, Flow Away - check reverse, then fold


Diagram 10.


Diagram 11.

D. Owl = Flow To - sky support (unless both backs flow into B-Gap, then you must fill B Gap), Flow Away - B Gap

E. Pass Responsibility = SS & OWL

Once you read pass, work the #'s. He has the flat, and any No. 2 receiver that goes flat and up.

INSIDE LBs

A. Alignment = Mike is in a 10, 4.5 yards deep, Will is in a 30, 4.5 yards deep

B. Key = Flow to Guards

C. Run Responsibility: Mike - Flow To - Stack C-Gap, unless both backs are in A. Flow Away - A Gap front side. Will - Flow to - B Gap. Flow Away - Front Side A-Gap

D. Pass Responsibility = Mike reads No. 3 (Back).

Back Expands - Mike expands to look up No. 1. Back Goes Vertical - Mike must take him man-to-man. Back Blocks - Mike works to Front Side Hook.

Will Reads No. 2 (Back)

Back Expands - Will Expands to look up No. 1. Back Goes Vertical - Will must take him man-to-man. Back Blocks - Will works straight back to Hook.

OVERVIEW OF ROBBER

We feel that fundamentals are of true importance to our success in the secondary. There are many different drills that one can utilize to increase the quality of performance. I have enclosed how we back pedal, take on blocks and two drills we use for competition.


Diagram 12.

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