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AFM Magazine

AFM Magazine


Building the Foundation

Chicago\'s Cover 2
by: Vance Bedford
Defensive Backs coach, Chicago Bears
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The past decade has seen NFL offenses evolve evolve the past decade by using multiple substitutions and formations to create mismatches in the run and pass game. Therefore, it is more important than ever to properly plan for an opponant and develop a sound base package to build a foundation to stop either the run or pass.

The No. 1 goal of a defense must still be to stop the run. With multiple formations the offense can spread a defense out and make it tough to stop the run. Defenses are forced to defend 7 gaps with 6 players.

If the offense forces the defense to substitute to defend three wide receiver sets on runs downs, the defense is forced to play soft with a pass defense on a run down (See Diagram 1).


Diagram 1

If the defense stays in a base eight-man front vs. the three wide receiver sets, the offense has the mismatch in the passing game. (See Diagram 2)


Diagram 2

It is important that each defender understands his responsibility within the defense. That starts with proper alignment, knowing assignments and includes being aggressive. The simpler the scheme, the more aggressive the player will play and the more productive he can become.

4-3 Cover 2 has become the foundation of our defense. Our players can adjust to any formation or any substitution of personnel groups on the field. The players also know their fits vs. the run or pass vs. any formation. The front four will engage in different stunts to keep the offensive line off balance. We keep our fits the same vs. all formations. The backers spill the ball outside to the corners. When the player practices using the same techniques, they continue to improve and have success.

In Diagram No. 3 - Lead Weak - the weak backer spills the ball to the corner. The inside backer can flow fast and the FS plays over the top of the No. 1 for the play pass. If the receiver blocks the corner, the FS fits off the corner as secondary support.


Diagram 3

In Diagram No. 4 - Sweep Strong - the backer spills the ball to the corner. The corner sees the EOL blocks and supports. The SS gets over No. 1 for play action and trick plays. If the receiver blocks the corner, the SS fits off the corner as secondary support.


Diagram 4

ALIGNMENT OF SECONDARY

The corner's base alignment is five yards off the receivcer, not the line of scrimmage, his outside foot on the receiver's inside foot. If a receiver over splits, the corner will move 1-yard inside the receiver. If the receiver undersplits, the corner moves to outside technique.

The SS's base alignment is 12 yards deep, 2-4 yards outside the TE. Against a slot side, he is 12 yards deep outside the shade on the slot receiver.

The FS's alignment is 12 yards deep, 2-4 outside the offensive tackle. (See Diagram No. 5)


Diagram 5

Responsibilities and Keys

The corners are primary run support. Their run-pass key is the end man on the line. If the EOL gives a low hat, run read, the corner should support quickly. If the EOL give a pass read, high hat, the corner reroutes the receiver outside and gets his head back to read the release of No. 2 and No. 3. If No. 2 is vertical, reroute receiver (No. 1) and sink. If No. 2 receiver comes outside, gain width outside and play deep to short.

The safeties primary keys are the QB and the No. 1 receiver to their side. Their initial step is to gain width to protect the deep half field to their side. Their aiming point is 2 yards deep to the top of the #'s.

The strong and weakside linebackers want to force the No. 2 receiver to their side, outside and build, and inside wall on them reading No. 3 to No. 2, Curl droppers.

The Mike backer will enter the No. 3 receiver. He will build an inside wall on No. 3 and carry anything through the post deep.

Diagram 6 - Sam with No. 3 away, hold hook. Mike enters with No. 3. Will with No. 3 to him, expand through No. 2 to China call.


Diagram 6

Receiver Releases

In teaching the corners the fundamentals of playing a cloud corner, we work different releases with the receivers. We always have a No. 3 receiver in the drill for the corners to key. We put a corner in as a backer to learn how to play a Curl technique in 2 Deep. This gets him ready for Nickel.

Diagram 7 - Start off inside technique. The 1st release is having the No. 1 receiver releasing outside wide. If he is wide, zone turn inside, hold off the fade, getting his eyes back to the No. 2 receiver.


Diagram 7

Diagram 8 - The next drill we use is the hi-low concept. The receiver runs a 5-yard hook route, the TE runs a corner route. The corner begins to sink reading the QB's arm action for the deep or short throw. He gives a China call to the inside curl player. This tells the Curl player he can expand to No. 1 when the No. 3 receiver comes to him.


Diagram 8

Diagram 9 - Another hi-low concept is the Flat-Corner route. This is a 5-step drop so the corner must understand he cannot jump the flat route. Initially, he will begin to reroute No. 1. With the No. 2 receiver releasing outside fast, the corner forgets about the reroute and weaves outside anticipating a possible corner route by the No. 1 receiver. Again, always keying on the QB's arm action.


Diagram 9

Diagram 10 - Another drill will be the vertical drill. No. 1 and No. 2 are going deep. The corner reroutes the receiver outside and again zone turns keying for No. 2. the No. 2 receiver is going deep, the corner can continue to sink with the No. 1 receiver.


Diagram 10

Teaching concepts:

There are many ways to teach two deep coverages: spot, drop, and pattern recognition. We teach pattern recognition, which means we teach the concept of the passing game. Pass patterns come in some form of combination routes. You have a high-low combination which can happen inside on a backer or outside on a corner.

Diagram 11 shows hi-low on corner, with the No. 1 receiver sits down, the corner pattern reads No. 2 and begins to gain depth playing deep to short. China calls, tell the backers to expand to No. 1.


Diagram 11

Diagram 12 shows another hi-low on the corner with the flat-corner route. If the No. 2 receiver is releasing outside and the No. 1 receiver is releasing inside, the corner gains width and depth anticipating the No. 1 receiver running a corner route. Again the corner keys the QB's arm action. The safety keys No. 1. The No. 1 receiver is releasing inside so he now gains depth and not width. He will play inside out on No. 1.


Diagram 12

Diagram 13 is the hi-low on backer as Mike enters with No. 3 playing the deep route, the outside backer takes the angle route by the back. Sam plays over the top of the back to his side. The corners reroute the receivers outside. If the backs keep crossing, the outside backers pass the routes to each other.

The next concept we see is the flow pass, four receivers strong. We give a flow alert call, which tells the weak corner to cover the No. 1 receiver man-to-man on all crossing routes, and for the weak backer to take any short crossing route from the strong side.


Diagram 13

In Diagram 14, the weak corner forces No. 1 outside and trails him man-to-man. The weak backer takes the No. 1 crosser along to weak. Mike plays with depth over No. 3. FS gains depth and comes back to the middle because of the release of No. 1 weak. The SS gains width and depth playing inside technique on the post pattern. The corner should also reroute his receiver outside now he settle up to 15 yards keying the QB.


Diagram 14

Diagram 15 shows flow alert call Vs. trips. The corner aligns one-yard inside the receiver and takes No. 1 on all crossing routes. The weak backer (Sam) has 1st shallow crosser from strong to weak. The Mike enters with No. 3 gaining depth. The strong backer squeezes back inside. The safeties always start an angle pedal, keying No. 1's release.

The fourth concept is the 3-step passing game, all slants and slant-flats. Normally in two deep, the corners are playing outside technique, which makes it hard to stop the double Slants. Playing inside technique destroys the route.


Diagram 15

In Diagram 16, both corners align inside technique and reroute the receivers outside. The outside backers alignments are inside the No. 2 receiver to their side. Mike enters with No. 3 gaining depth. Both safeties settle to play the slant and go.


Diagram 16

Diagram 17 shows the corners seeing the No. 2 receiver coming outside with a 3-step drop. They can now jump the flat route. Because of their initial alignments the slants must go farther inside, which helps the backers. Both outside backers read No. 2 to the flat, gain width to No. 1 to their side. Mike enters with No. 3. The safety keys No. 1 to their side and settles, playing inside out for slant and go.


Diagram 17

Our goal as a defense is to have a solid formation, base defense. Many people are multiple on defense, but their players sometimes struggle with adjustments. Our players can adjust to any formation an offense can use. This gives a team a chance to be successful. The key to winning is what can the players do well. Too much is not always the answer. Hopefully, each one of you can find something in this article that can help your team.






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