This isn’t going to be a long post about carrying receivers and all of that. But there are a lot of teams running the Cover 3, almost exclusively. You may already run Cover 3 and mix it up with man coverage. But doesn’t it seem that if an offensive coach can isolate when you are going to be Cover 3, they can burn you? 4 Verticals vs. Cover 3 is a defensive football nightmare – the offense is winning the numbers game. They are getting 4 receivers into the deep cover zones, while you only have 3 men covering them.
So I’m sure it is obvious to you that one of two things must happen. Either you get another guy back there, or you have one guy cover two!
If you have rules about carrying guys deep, I think that is great. I have concerns about a high school or college player, who may cover on 20 different routes before 4 verticals comes in a game – to pick it up. So, as a good defensive football coach, you must prepare for the other possibility – their two receivers on your one Defensive Back.
Maybe it is a contingency plan for you, but if you are planning to run a lot of Cover 3, your Defensive Backs need to be learning to split two receivers in a zone! And they need to learn it now. It is a difficult skill to acquire, but you don’t need to rack your brain coming up with a drill for it. Run two guys deep, and have the Defensive Back cover them both. Pick one and throw it to him.
The distance of the throw gives the DB time to react and cover either receiver. He must learn to react when the receivers react to the ball being thrown, and break to the near hip of the chosen receiver. Break the basket as the ball arrives. He will swat his hands up through the arms of the Wide Receiver at the split second the ball arrives. This causes an incompletion, and disaster is averted. Do not criticize your DB for not making a miraculous interception – if he had gone for it and missed, its SIX for the offense! Praise his discipline, his awareness, his ability. And praise his working ethic, because you began working this skill with him back in March.
The defense in a football game has to be prepared for all situations!
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