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Bandit 2 Read

Cover 2 Read alignment and techniques
by: Scott Orloff
Defensive Coordinator/Secondary Coach, Orange Coast College
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Our base defensive alignment is a 4-3 gap control defense while we play a 2 read coverage behind it. I first learned the 2 read coverage from Sonny Lubick when he was the defensive coordinator at the University of Miami. I feel I have really refined Sonny’s scheme over the past 14 years.

By using 2 read as our base coverage, it not only allows us to execute multiple coverages and disguises in the secondary, but most importantly, this coverage gives us the opportunity to run a coverage predicated to pattern combinations instead of calling just a single coverage. We will run a lot of duel coverages on one defensive call. For example, we might run 2 read on the strong side of our opponent’s offensive passing formation and run zero coverage to the weak side. I will focus on the key coaching points on our 2 read coverage as well as the secondary’s alignment and techniques.

The basis of 2 read is reading the number 2 receiver’s pattern by the corner and safety and on that premise we'll determine their zone. Cover 2 read could turn out to be a zone-in-quarters, quarter-quarter-half or the original cover 2 scheme-halves. There is a lot of teaching in this coverage because it’s based on pattern read. I have talked with many coaches who are afraid of running this coverage because it’s based on the players’ reads. I feel if taught well, the players will make the correct reads while executing proper technique. It is imperative for the corners to jam the number 1 receiver as they are reading number 2. The corners can never give up the sideline. We like our jams to be at six to seven yards. With any route by the number 1 receiver that is broken off inside of five yards, the corner must give a ‘China’ call so the outside linebacker can find the number 1 receiver right away. The outside linebackers have the curl in 2 read and drive to any number 3 in the flat. Here are some specific rules for the corners and safeties in 2 read:

• Corner’s alignment has his heels at seven yards in depth and he shades the outside of number 1 up to one yard.
• Corners need to shuffle their feet on the snap of the football.
• Corners jam the number 1 receiver if route is after five yards.
• After the jam, the corners turn their butts to the sideline.
• Corners will not get a jam if:

1. The number 1 WR is in a tight formation.

2. The number 1 WR is to the field and inside the hash.

3. The number 1 WR breaks his route inside at five yards or less.

4. The number 2 receiver runs a ‘wheel’ (corners take all wheel routes).

• The safeties alignment is at ten yards in depth and over the number 2 receiver (the safeties alignment is predicated on where the number 2 receiver’s alignment is).
• The safeties back pedal on the snap of the ball as they read the number 2 receiver.
• If the number 2 receiver does not run vertical, the safety has the number 1 receiver over the top.
• The free safety plays at 12 yards in depth to trips between the number 3 strong and number 1 weak receiver. The free safety gives a ‘no henry’ (no help) call to the weak side corner that informs that corner to play man coverage.
• The free safety will take number 3 vertically.
• If the number 3 receiver does not run a vertical route then the safety will continue to get depth and look to help with the number 1 receiver on any post routes.

If the down and distance are less than five yards, we may utilize a press technique by the corners so we can jam the number 1 receiver right away. It is imperative for the safeties to give an ‘in’ or ‘out’ call to the corner in press technique, regarding the number 2 receiver.

Techniques and Assignments vs. Routes:

1. Verticals by number 1 and number 2 – This is not an easy combination route to stop if the corner does not jam the number 1 receiver. The number 2 receiver is considered vertical once he is at 12 yards so the corner will jam the number 1 receiver and take him. The safety will then take the number 2 vertical which turns the coverage into quarters (See Diagram 1).

Diagram 1: Vertical Routes by Two Receivers

2. Smash Concept (Number 1 receiver's route is a five to seven yard stop while number 2 runs a corner route) – Corners have the stop route and the safety has the corner. This is the most popular combination route in all of football. We teach our corners to sit at seven yards and read the quarterback. We want the corners to drive hard to the number 1 receiver if they throw the stop; as the corner is reading the quarterback, they can sink in the hole to help with the corner route. The safety must expect the corner route to flatten out hard (probably between ten to twelve yards) because of the two coverages so he must react and drive hard to the number 2 receiver and come over the top (See Diagram 2).

Diagram 2: Smash Route Concept

3. The number 1 receiver runs a fade route while the second receiver runs a quick out or arrow. This is the easiest combination route to stop in 2 read. After the corner jams number 1, he will drive to the out. The safety will make an out call for the corner and take the number one receiver. It is important for the corner to jam number 1 because if they don’t get the jam it makes the safety’s job a lot harder to get to that fade. This is because the quarterback will try to complete the fade in the hole. The coverage turns into your traditional cover 2-halves (See Diagram 3).

Diagram 3: Receivers Run Fade and Quick Out/Arrow Routes

4. Number 1 has a vertical route, number two runs a deep out route – this combination route takes practice because the corner at first will think that the number 2 receiver is running a vertical route until he breaks the pattern at ten to twelve yards. The corner must jam the number 1 receiver and turn his butt to the sideline thinking that the number 2 receiver is running a vertical route. Once the route is broken, the corner now drives to the number 2 receiver (deep out) and the safety will make an ‘out’ call as he drives to the number one receiver (vertical) over the top. The safeties cannot always assume that the corner will recognize the deep out; that is why the ‘out’ call is a very important call to make (See Diagram 4).

Diagram 4: Receivers Run Vertical and Deep Out Routes

5. Number 1 runs a post route and the number 2 receiver runs a wheel route. The corner may not get a jam on the number 1 receiver during this combination route. The two reasons the corner may not be able to do so are predicated on when the number 2 receiver breaks to his wheel and when the number 1 receiver breaks to his post. Corners have all wheel routes in 2 read. Once the wheel is recognized, the corner should yell ‘in’ and turn his outside shoulder to the wheel as he runs to close the gap. The safety should make an ‘out’ call and drive to the outside shoulder of the post. The coverage turns into quarters to this combination (See Diagram 5).

Diagram 5: WRs Run Post and Wheel Routes






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