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Adjust Your Defensive Backs – Coaching pattern-read coverage vs. trips and single-width formations.

by: Jared Wigger
Defensive Coordinator • Labette County High School (KS)
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Pattern-read coverage continues to be a sound defensive scheme that is employed on all levels due to its ability to aggressively attack routes and disrupt the timing of an offense. One of the first principles we teach when installing our cover 4 is “don’t cover grass”. We want our players to understand that even though our coverage begins with a zone concept, at some point in the progression of the play, everyone should be matching a route based on each receiver’s release.
   

One area that has traditionally challenged pattern-read coverages are 3 x 1 and single width sets. We began double calling our coverages a number of years ago to handle this, which led to the necessity of coaching pattern-read within a cover 3 type of scheme. As we began teaching this scheme, we developed a system of keys and coaching points that  have been very effective in helping our players understand their responsibilities.
  

  We begin with the strong safety because his position involves the biggest change in technique and alignment when we roll down to trips or single width. His base alignment is on the outside shoulder of the #2 receiver in a press position or “in his grill”. His key is dependent upon the number of receivers aligned to that side of the formation. Versus a twins set he will simply be keying the release of #2 after he receives his pass/run key from the uncovered OT. Keeping his feet square, he will execute a press technique by forcing the receiver to release through him on any outside release (See Diagram 1).


On an inside release by #2, his eyes will go immediately to the #3 receiver. We coach him that if #3 comes to him, that is his man. If #3 stays or goes vertical he continues to drop under #2 while looking for crossers (See Diagram 2).


   

The strong safety will key a trips look slightly differently. Although his alignment will be the same, he will key the release of #3. If #3 releases vertically or inside, then #2 becomes his man. If #3 releases to him, then #3 becomes his man (See Diagram 3).


 

   The free safety is coached to align halfway between the two #1 receivers at 10-12 yards in depth. We tell the FS that his job is basically to protect the post and seam routes. His key, once he receives his run/pass read from the OT is the #3 receiver and the technique is much the same as he employs in cover 4. If #3 releases vertically, then he becomes his man. If #3 releases outside, his eyes immediately go to #2. If #2 does not come to him, he simply continues getting depth expecting a post route from #1 and protecting the middle of the field (See Diagram 4).


    The beauty of rolling down to a cover 3 structure vs. trips and single width is that it allows us to keep all three linebackers in the box, keeping with our philosophy of selling out to stop the run first. Although our two outside linebackers should be interchangeable, our Will linebacker is a little better in space and he will usually play away from the trips when there is not a TE. Regardless, both linebackers must understand that their pass responsibilities change when there is a safety rolled down outside them. When this occurs, they become the “extra” defender to the trips side and their job is to widen the release of the #3 receiver (to help the FS) dropping to the curl area and playing off of the SS’s drop. This effectively translates to playing any late release of a back to the flat or a wide screen to the back. The linebacker away from the trips or single-width side simply plays his normal cover 4 technique covering “first to the flat”.
 

   Finally, the two corners must understand that in cover 3, they will effectively be playing the same technique as they do in cover 4 on the front side. They will align slightly deeper (9 yards) with inside leverage while continuing to read through #1 to #2. A vertical release by #1 is still covered by the corner. On an inside release, his eyes must immediately go to #2. He will continue to have all wheel routes over the top and rally up aggressively vs. any slant or hitch routes. We work extensively with our CBs on keying the QB’s drop so that we can be effective in this part of our coverage.
   

The backside corner must understand that he will have very little help and is effectively on “an island”. We coach his alignment based on the game plan and actual situation, but essentially the player is coached to align inside and up (7 yards) to get a jump on the slant route, while expecting that any outside release will turn into a fade route. Versus a TE set, he will align directly over the top of the TE (based on the hash mark) at a depth of nine yards (See Diagram 5).



    The versatility of pattern-read coverage continues to be one of its greatest assets.  Once your players understand their reads and can execute the fundamentals of man-to-man coverage, you can game plan weekly for the route combinations your opponent runs. Coach every detail of the game and give your players the tools they need to be successful on the field. 






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