Installing Cover 3 with the 4-4 Defense

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I could just refer you to any number of articles on running Cover 3 that I have written before. But we want to keep this simple, so a bunch of links does not accomplish that. You can check out the Zone Coverages section on the Members page for tons of Cover 3 stuff.

For the 4-4 Defense to be quick to install, we need a simple but effective coverage. We will not be doing any pattern reading here.

I remember watching one of the old Coaches Choice videos – the one’s where it was just a coach in front of an overhead at a clinic somewhere – that focused on Cover 3. I do not remember who the coach was, but he was a major Division I coach, sometime in the early to mid-90′s. What sticks out is that he was against pattern reading. He did a study and found that most passes were being thrown on the hash or on the numbers.

The offense is running their routes to a spot. So why not spot drop?

It makes sense. You can come up with a million reasons and ways to combat the argument, but there it is. You have vulnerabilities in spot dropping. But if your team needs work on technique more than scheme, this is the way to go.

Spot Drop Cover 3

Cover 3 means that we have three defenders covering the three deep zones of the field. The corners are responsible for the area from the hash to the sidelines. The Free Safety patrols the middle of the field.

Spot Drop Cover 3 diagram

Align your corners 6-8 yards from the line of scrimmage, one yard inside leverage of the #1 Receiver. On the snap, they back pedal slowly reading the Quarterback’s release. This helps them break on quick passes to the flats. The flats are one of the most vulnerable areas of Cover 3, along with the seams (down the hash).

The Deep 1/3′s of the field extend from 14 yards depth all the way back to the back of the end zone.

After the 3-step drop, if the Quarterback has not released the football, Cover 3 receivers should speed up their back pedal and peek at the #1 receiver. They must stay deeper than the deepest player in their zone, so if a #2 receiver is running vertical in their zone, he needs to be deeper than him.

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Filed Under: 4-2-5 Defense, Members, Zone Coverage

Defending the Spread Offense in the 4-3 Defense Web Clinic (April 16, 2013)

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Aligning the 4-3 Defense to TripsWe’re stopping the Spread Offense with the 4-3 Defense in this Web Clinic. This presentation is by Coach Daniel and is about an hour and 45 minutes of defending the spread.

This is focusing on playing the 4-3 Defense with our Quarters Coverage package including multiple ways to defend both Doubles and Trips formations. The Web Clinic includes:

  • Alignment to Slot, Doubles and Trips Formations
  • Multiple checks versus Doubles Formations to help you both defend the pass and adjust to keep Linebackers in the box and stop the run
  • Three Trips Formation checks you can use to handle whatever the Offense has to throw at you
  • Multiple ways to play the Zone Read
  • Our favorite blitzes against Spread Offense teams, regardless of what type they are
  • Run fits against Zone Read, Outside Zone, 1-Back Power, Speed Option and more

We had some great questions throughout the Web Clinic too, so be sure to watch the entire presentation to get every drop of information.

If you are not a member, you should sign up for a  7 Day Free Trial to watch this Web Clinic and all of our past Web Clinics! Visit http://football-defense.com/membership to sign up today!

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Filed Under: 4-3 Defense, Members, Web Clinics, Zone Coverage

Coaching Basics: Man Coverage vs. Zone Coverage

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Zone Coverage AlignmentIt’s all about building your overall defensive structure. Your philosophy, your core teachings, your basic principles of defense are centered around your coverage and your front. Unfortunately, the fun stuff like your blitz package, your line twists, your disguises, do not figure into your basic defensive structure.

We have talked about the fronts, but it’s important to remember that your coverage determines the front. In this installment of our Coaching Basics series on Football-Defense.com, we focus on the difference between Man Coverage and Zone Coverage.

When deciding what kind of team you are going to be, you will need to choose between being a Man Coverage or Zone Coverage team. Each has it’s advantages and disadvantages that we cover in this video.

We also include some live game footage to show the difference in a “Man Turn” and a “Zone Turn.”

To start from the beginning in our Coaching Basics series, watch the first video here.

The entire Coaching Basics series is available to members of Football-Defense.com, and you can sign up for a 7 Day Free Trial Here if you are not a member yet.

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Filed Under: Coaching Basics, Man Coverage, Members, Secondary, Videos, Zone Coverage

Texans Get ‘Luck’-y with America’s Fire Zone

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Nobody loves toys more than I do, and so I’m continuing to play with the NFL Game Rewind. I continue to find a lot more enjoyment in the NFL when I can look at what is really happening, rather than what the announcers are telling me.

Today we’re looking at the Houston Texans 3-4 Defense in Week 15, taking on Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts. In the 3rd Quarter, with the Colts backed up deep in their own territory on a 3rd Down and 15, the Texans brought the popular America’s Fire Zone blitz and forced an incompletion. The Colts had to punt from their own end zone on 4th Down, and Houston went on to win the football game 29-17.

By the way, I don’t use many of the actual player’s names because 1) I don’t know them and 2) I don’t care. This isn’t a Fan blog.

Let’s take a look at how the Texans ran America’s Fire Zone…

Texans Fire Zone

Lined up against a Trips Formation, the Texans show a Cover 2 look pre-snap. Aligned with double 3-techniques, a strong 5-technique and the weak side OLB walked up, the Texans appear to be bringing a 4 man rush. On cadence, the strong side OLB walks into the box as the weak side safety rolls over the top and the Strong Safety works down to play the flat.

After the Defensive Linemen take their initial steps up the field, the Nose crosses the face of the Guard to the A Gap and the End crosses face to the inside as well once they read the pass set. The Outside Linebacker comes off the edge, and the Mike Linebacker comes off the hip of the long sticking Defensive End.

On the weak side, the Outside Linebacker checks run, but when he reads the High Hat of the pass setting tackle, he drops off into the weak side flat. He will be underneath the curl route of the single receiver.

The 3 Under, 3 Deep Zone coverage is perfect for this situation. The Colts Receivers are running their routes for the sticks (presumably, though if you watched the games on Sunday it doesn’t seem like receivers do that anymore). The 3 deep shell stays over top, while the 3 underneath defenders take away any easy throws.

With pressure in his face, Luck has to get rid of the ball quickly. The only throw the Texans have left him is the longest throw, to the far sideline. The long throw gives the Corner plenty of time to break on the ball and force the incompletion. (note: There was also Offensive Pass Interference on this play, which was declined)

America’s Fire Zone is a great Single Edge pressure, that still gives the security of a 3 Deep shell behind it. Couple that with the flexibility of the 3-4 Defense, and the blitz is easy to disguise and attack with great angles.

Want more on Fire Zone Blitzes? Get a 7 Day Free Trial Membership for tons of blitz articles, and read Dominating Football Defense with the Zone Blitz, my eBook on bringing pressure with zone coverage behind it.

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Filed Under: 3-4 Defense, Blitzing, Free Articles, Zone Coverage

Confusing the QB with Cover 3 in Your 4-3 Defense

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Cover 3 from 4-3 DefenseThe Base Coverage that we use behind our 4-3 Defense is Quarters Coverage, but sitting in one coverage all season will eventually get you in trouble. Our Dime Coverage package is a roll Cover 3 package that shows a 2-high safety shell pre-snap. This makes it difficult for Quarterbacks to pick up what you’ll be running.

The Dime Coverage also works perfectly with our Zone Blitz package’s 3 Under, 3 Deep coverage. The combination of the three packages makes it difficult for the Quarterback and Offensive Coordinator to ever be sure who will be covering what.

This Cover Package is not limited to the 4-3 Defense. It can be coupled with any 2-High Defense, like the 3-4 Defense or even a 4-2-5 Defense basing out of Cover 2.

Take a look at the video, and if you have any questions post them on the Forum! [Read more...]

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Filed Under: 4-3 Defense, Members, Zone Coverage