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Keys and Reads for Cover 2 in a 3-4 Scheme

by: Glen Brittich
Defensive Secondary Coach Carthage College
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At Carthage College, we start with Cover 2 as one of our base coverages. I will discuss how we run Cover 2 out of our 3-4 defensive scheme along with our keys, reads, and alignments vs. a 10 personnel (1 RB, 0 TE) doubles formation.

Alignments: (See Diagram 1)

Corner - 6 ˝ yards – outside wingtip #1 WR.

SS/FS - 11 yards from LOS, 1 yard inside OLB (Sam or Will).

Sam/Will - Apex (LB depth, splitting the difference between end man on LOS and #2 WR).

Mike/Buck - LB depth, over the OG.

Carthage Secondary’s #1 Rule: Always see the ball come out of the quarterback’s hand. This seems to be an elementary concept, but many times in zone coverage DBs tend to focus on receivers but do not realize when the ball is in the air and therefore cannot break fast enough on the ball. Our DBs read what we call the “Triangle.” The triangle is their keyed receiver to the ball to the quarterback. This way they can see and react to everything pertinent in their zone.

In our 3-4 scheme, we will always blitz one of the linebackers in order to give us four-man pressure on the quarterback. The rest of the linebackers will determine which backer has what drop based on who is blitzing. We call our underneath linebacker drops based on which number receiver they will be dropping to. We number our receivers from the outside in (i.e., most outside receiver is #1; second receiver is #2, etc.). So we will end up having two “2 Drops” and one “3 Drop.”

2 Drop – The two outside-most linebackers left after our blitz will be our 2 droppers. They will first take two short steps, reading the end man of the LOS to determine his pass/run read. After he has determined pass, he then turns and takes a pass drop in which he will intersect and be able to collision the #2 receiver. His sole job at this point is to make sure the #2 receiver does not have a clean vertical release. If he sees #1 cross as he is dropping to #2, he will then flip his hips back facing the quarterback and settle at 12 yards, reading the quarterback and watching for any receiver to enter his zone.

3 Drop – The middle most linebacker will be our 3 drop (See Diagram 2).
His drop varies based on if the offense is in a 2x2 or a 3x1 set. In a 2x2 set, the #3 receiver is the tailback. Therefore, his drop will be based on where the QB opens. He will take his two quick read steps and then open up the same direction of the QB and push to the closest threat in that direction while gaining as much ground vertically as necessary. For example, if #2 is pushing vertical, the 3 drop linebacker will end up playing in between the #3 receiver and the QB, taking away any throw to that receiver except a high and deep throw. This enables our safeties to play deeper because they will not have to worry about that 12-18 yard throw and can focus on taking care of any vertical threats across the field.


If there is a 3x1 set, the 3 drop will drop in the direction of and underneath a vertical by #3. The proper play by our 3 drop enables us to have the ability to play Cover 2 vs. a 3x1 set. The 3 drop must be underneath and tight to a vertical by #3, forcing a high throw which gives the backside safety enough time to see the ball thrown and then react.

FS/SS – Both our safeties both have the same reads in a two-receiver set, are always 2 to 1, and are as follows:

-l Their first movement is to “Hop Hop Take a Picture.” This is giving them just under two seconds to chop their feet and then read the routes of the WRs based on two very simple principles – vertical or not vertical.

-l If 2 goes vertical, eyes go to 1. If 1 then goes vertical as well, he does a crossover run and flips his hips square to the line of scrimmage 6-7 yards over the top of both WRs as a vertical landmark. He also splits the middle of the two receivers minus two yards as a horizontal landmark. If one does not go vertical, the safety will cross over, run and flip his hips while playing inside leverage over the top of 2. This is now his only vertical threat.

-l If 2 does not go vertical, eyes then go to 1. If 1 goes vertical, the safety will cross over run, then flip his hips square to the line of scrimmage 6-7 yards over the top of and 7 yards inside #1. This will give him enough time to react to and play on any vertical ball thrown to the #1 receiver, but will also (with his hips square so he can see everything) give him the ability to see if any receiver is entering his zone post-snap (such as behind the middle linebacker).

- If neither receiver goes vertical, the safety will just keep his head on a swivel and make sure nobody gets behind him on any trick play or play action scenarios.

Corners – Our corners will read #1 receiver to #2. Our corners will start at 6 ˝ yards on the outside wingtip of #1 WR with their eyes on the triangle (See Diagram 3).
When the ball is snapped, the reads are as follows:

-l If #1 goes vertical, force him inside, be physical and sink to 12 yards.

- If #1 does not go vertical, eyes go through #1 to #2 and if #2 goes vertical, sink to 12 yards.

- If neither WR goes vertical, play over top of #1 and play the ball when the quarterback releases it. This will either be 3-step game or a run.

-l If #1 runs a slant route or shallow crossing route, the corners eyes go through #2 to #3. If #2 goes vertical and there is no #3 threat, then the corner is man-to-man on the crossing route. We call this drive technique. This will take away from letting the offense run a shallow crosser in the area vacated by our 3 drop. The reason we have the ability to do this is because if there is no #3 threat and #1 has run shallow, there is only one vertical threat for our safety to cover.
Corners 12/20 Landmarks

We have found when giving corners their reads in Cover 2, it is important to give them landmarks. Just giving them a vague term such as “flats” does not give them a clear place to be based on their reads. Our corners know that if they get a vertical route by either #1 or #2, they are to be physical, not allow them outside, and sink to exactly 12 yards, but are expected to be able to cover up for 20 yards. We have found this is the optimal amount of distance to make sure the ball is thrown over the head of the corner, but also gives the safety enough time to make his break on the outside breaking corner route (the toughest route to cover in this coverage). At the same time, this gives the corner plenty of time to break on any hitch routes by #1 (See Diagram 4).


These are some of the principles that we have used to make our Cover 2 successful at Carthage. Keep in mind a few things. #1: Always see the ball come out of the quarterback’s hand. #2: Give your DBs clear cut landmarks and coaching cues. In the secondary, every inch counts, so being vague in their keys and/or reads, could mean the difference between an interception and a completed pass.






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