Stop the Screen Pass and Save Your Sanity

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The title to this article is a little misleading. It probably implies that I have managed to save my sanity. Let me clarify, what is on paper does not always happen on the field. Screen passes have had me tearing my hair out for years!

Between defending the run, and stopping the pass, from multiple fronts and coverages, it is easy to run out of time to teach defending the screen pass. But you have to! If you can read it, you can stop it, and get back to defending all the things you designed your defense for.Screen to the ReceiverHere we have a pretty basic screen. The Quarterback is faking a Sprint Pass to the right, with the sprint side receivers running typical flood routes. This gets the Linebackers flowing, and the free safety as well. Of course, your Defensive Line is also pinning their ears back to get to the QB out there. [Read more...]

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Filed Under: 3-5 Defense, Coverage, Defensive Line, Linebackers, Pass Rush, Secondary

Man Under / Cover 2 Coverage to Shut Down the Passing Game

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Sometimes you just know the other team is going to throw the ball – and when that happens, you need to be ready. Whether you are up big at the end of the game, or you have just completely shut down the run, having the option of a man-under / cover 2 defense is a must-have.

In this video we look at how to set up your Man Under coverage, the most effective pass coverage in football.

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Filed Under: Cover 2, Coverage, Uncategorized

Coaching the Back Pedal for Defensive Backs

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While I strongly believe in the Open Slide for fast teaching and effectiveness for Cornerbacks, there are times when we still teach a back pedal. In Quarters Coverage, the safety is in a back pedal any time he has alert coverage, for example.

Beyond that, there are times when I think a back pedal may be a better way to go. Usually, that thought comes when I see some stud who looks awesome in his back pedal on TV.

You can’t beat the open slide for teaching a large group of average athletes quickly. But if you have the time to hammer the back pedal, and some above average athletes, there is still a lot of value to it. And some guys just can’t get past the idea of not spending 30 minutes on sharpening up the pedal in DB Individuals.

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Filed Under: Coverage, Man Coverage

Robber Coverage in the 4-2-5

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After asking for suggestions for the 4-2-5 Defense manual, I had one that stuck out. Robber coverage is a coverage that I knew, but never quite understood. So after a little research on Robber Coverage, and a little adaptation to what makes sense to me – and have done in the past – here is my take on Robber Coverage out of the 4-2-5.I have used a variation of Robber coverage in the Quarters coverage used with the 4-3 Defense. The primary difference was using a 2-high safety defense to rob both sides, as opposed to a 1-high safety robbing one side. Some of my take on the Robber out of two-high is going to be skewed by my previous use in the 2-high look, I’m sure. [Read more...]

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Filed Under: 4-2-5 Defense, Coverage

Defending the Air Raid ‘Mesh’ Concept

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Since the Air Raid passing concepts have become so popular all over, we need to be prepared to defend them. If you are coaching at the High School or College level, you’re probably used to seeing Tony Franklin System teams and other styles of Air Raid.

Regardless of what you do, these teams are going to work to spread the field on you. Some are spreading the field to run, other are spreading the field to pass.If they are a passing team, the Mesh concept is probably in the arsenal. This is a great route concept designed to attack both man and zone coverages. [Read more...]

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Filed Under: Cover 3, Coverage, Man Coverage