One of the most enduring aspects of zone coverage over the last 30 years has been the advent of the Two deep zone coverage. It has been featured in a number of ways, either using man coverage underneath, pure zone, Zone Blitz concepts, match-up zone concepts, and a plethora of mixes of the above.
Let's review what makes up the two deep coverage. The defense will show two deep safeties at a depth of around 10-15 yards deep depending on the game plan. Each of the two safeties are responsible for their deep half of the field, meaning that the deep zones are split in half and each is responsible for that half of the field. Now, there are many variations of coverage that a defense can run underneath.
One of the aspects of Cover 2 is that it can be disguised into Cover 4 relatively easy. The Corners can align at 5-7 yards depth and simply take off down the field with the wide receivers. But if you try this, you had better have great speed at the linebacker positions, because if not the backs and tight ends will eat you alive. But, we are going to address Cover 2 though you can keep in mind what the capabilities of this alignment are.
Cover 2 has some traditional weaknesses:
1) The deep
middle zone between the safeties,
2) The deep fade holes outside the safeties and behind the corners.
What we want to do on to this defense is stretch the width of the safeties as much as we can, send three receivers deep and force them to defend the width of the field in that two deep secondary.
We have three ways of doing this (actually one is a variation of one, the 58 shoot). We will send three receivers downfield into those areas that are traditionally very difficult to defend. This is basically a three-on-two break.
We will begin with the pass protection. We prefer to use
the five man protection plan for this play, but we make allowances
for six
man protection. If we have to protect with seven, then we will look for another
play. Sending three deep with no threat
underneath, basically allows the
linebackers to run downfield in “trail” technique and possibly cover the play
which would
force us into a unfavorable situation. We will use the following
types of rules to utilize our protection to give our QB time.
58 calls
- Double read by the Guards versus 3-4 front
- “Open” away call versus 3
man line
- Versus 4 man line, Center checks inside gaps first before fanning
out into “B” gaps.
- “Viking/Gang” calls versus over or under shift fronts
- ”Lightning” call versus under shift to pick up LB
- “Hot” principle in
case of Sam/Mike blitz (Should pick up Mike in double read by guard)
-
“Cougar” call versus 60 Blitz
*24/25 calls *
- Basic man protection – Possible “open”, “snuggle”, or “gap” calls
-
Versus Nickel, the uncovered lineman has the call side LB (“stay”, ”slide”,
“elephant”, “LA”/”Raider”).
- Navajo- Basic Navajo protection. Alert for
“Gap” situation
- “Open” away from call versus 3 man line; “No Open” versus
4 man line.
Fullback – Outside LB alert for “bag”, “open”, “gap”, “elephant”, and “score” calls. Versus Nickel: check 2nd LB to call side. Release routes could change weekly.
Halfback – Outside LB alert for “bag”, “open”, “gap”, and “elephant” Calls. Release routes could change weekly.
*note- In 324/325 the line never opens away from the call due to the 3-step
drop by the QB. RB’s have “B” & “W”.
We want to give our QB a chance to have protection, but
have some options in his arsenal to react to some of the
different things
that defenses do. His steps must be quick and precise.
The QB executes a 7 step drop on this series due to the depth of the pass being thrown and the depth of the breaks. We teach our QB’s to have his mind made up as soon as his final step hits the ground. This is so he can be in a passing position as he is squaring himself up to make his throw. He must remember the two different techniques as he is preparing to throw:
- If he is throwing down the middle post of the field, he must put a little
air under his pass to get it over the LB’s.
- If he is throwing to the
sideline areas, he must fire this ball into that area, a little too much air
will be intercepted by the safety
rotating over from the inside.
Sometimes depending on how the defense plays this, some air under the ball may
be required.
Route Structure –
This is one of the simplest routes to understand in this
package, the 58 Shoot. The QB simply reacts to what the safeties are doing. By
game planning, we always look for the best match-up, but we will keep ourselves
open to changes if they occur. We want to throw the ball into the biggest void
in the zone that the defense gives us, its that simple! In a basic formation, we
send both the wide receivers and the tight end downfield into those three voids
and try to find the most open receiver.
This is by far, the simplest thing
we do. We will do several things with the backs in this scheme: Shoot routes,
Check routes, and Wide routes. But, it will mostly involve the Shoot routes.
Quarterback –
The QB basically reads what the secondary is doing. If he
sees a two Deep coverage, he knows he will have one of three choices: Put some
air under the ball to the tight end, or zip the ball to either of the WRs. If
the underneath coverage plays tight underneath and runs with the deep routes, he
has some underneath routes to go to. This is either going to be a five or seven
step drop depending on the quickness of the QB, and throw the ball as his back
foot hits the ground. When making the read going to the tight end, we want the
QB to see the strong safety outside the tight end in relation to the route of
the tight
end. We want the QB to see the strong safety outside the tight end
as the tight end prepares to make his break to the middle. This is a key to the
QB after seeing the safeties split. If the safeties do NOT split, then we may
have a cover 3, in which case the tight end adjusts to a crossing route.
Tight End –
The tight end will have a two-fold responsibility on this play. The tight end must get a good release from the line of scrimmage (LOS). He must work for width on his release to get the strong safety in two deep coverage to work for width as well. The reaction of the strong safety in two deep, and the free safety in three deep is the key to this play. The tight end is instructed to read the defense for any snap rotation that may occur during the start of the play. If he sees the safeties split and assume a two deep posture, he is instructed to bend his route at 12 yards into the seam splitting the two deep zone. If he sees one of the safeties rotate over top of his seam route, he is instructed to execute a crossing route at 12 yards. This is where we see the term “Middle Of Field Open” (MOFO), or “Middle Of Field Closed” (MOFC). This is important in the scheme of the play. The tight end and the quarterback must be on the same page and see the defense the same way for the play to be successful.
Wide Receivers –
The Wide Receivers are instructed to split approximately
ten yards from the tight end or tackle ( last man to that side of the
stack.
The Wide Receivers have a pre-snap read on The
corners and safeties to their side of the field. If they see Cover two, then
they know that the fade route is on. If the defense continues to run the cover 2
at the snap, they know the fade is on. The next thing they will check for is the
technique of the corner to their side of the field. If the corner shows outside
technique, the WR will aim at the outside shoulder of the corner for 5-7 yards,
then turn up field deep into the fade hole that cover 2 provides. The purpose of
the outside bend is to give more distance for the safety to cover, in that this
opens up more distance between the corner and safety. If the corner shows inside
technique, the WR runs his fade route in that he runs downfield to a point
keeping a position about 6 yards from the sideline. He must play body position
with the corner as in a basketball position, keeping the corner from
having a shot at the ball.
If the defense either shows, or rotates into cover 3, the
WRs have an adjustment to the Seam route inside the corners. The
Seam route
is basically a skinny post that tries to take advantage of the space between the
corner and the free safety in the three deep zone. The WR plants his outside
foot at about 10-12 yards depending on the speed of your WR. The idea is for the
WR to make his break at precisely the point that the QB releases the football.
The ideal point is for the WR to break at exactly 11 yards, and the ball
to arrive at a point 19 yards deep. This is one of those timed pass routes that
works very well against zone coverage.
Running Backs –
The Running Backs will run the pattern called, but the
primary pattern is the “Shoot” route. This is a two-three yard deep route that
looks for the ball over the shoulder as soon as they come out of their break. As
they are turning to the sideline, they want to make sure they are gaining depth
with the route. What I mean is that they are running the route at a slightly
downfield angle.
This gives the back a better chance to
turn up field after he receives the ball. The Shoot route is good in that it
immediately challenges the underneath coverage and doesn’t allow the LB’s to run
underneath the WR’s pass routes, if they do it will be a big gain up the
sideline.
Pass 58 Twist –
This is the same principle involved as with Pass 58 Shoot. The difference is that the route responsibilities change between the Y End and the RB. The play challenges the underneath coverage of the LB’s and has a “shot” to the deep middle of the field. The Y End (TE) runs the “Whip-Read” underneath the inside coverage, while the RB makes a dash down the middle using the same technique the TE would use. This is a good Red Zone variation as well, on those teams who really bite down on the tight end.
One of the things cover two teams do is to drop the MLB
very, very deep. This is supposed to give help to the safeties
by giving
them a trail technique underneath and force a perfect throw. 58 Twist gives us a
play to use the same down-field principles, while attacking the middle hook zone
and threatening this area to draw up the MLB. If the OLB jumps this play
underneath, then the whip-read still gives us a valid play in gaining separation
and make a positive play.
Pass 24 Double Go -
This is the same concept, but with a different pass protection scheme. The
above mentioned pass protection scheme is more
of a protection first scheme.
The 24/25 package is primarily a protection scheme that gives the back a
check-off responsibility first, then run the swing route to both sides.
Variations
- Both WRs running Speed outs – take advantage of
deeper dropping DB’s
- Both WRs running hook routes – take advantage of
deeper dropping DB’s
- Changing the route package for the RB’s to run Circle
routes underneath the LB’s who are dropping deep or jumping
outside too
quickly.
Practical Application –
Some of you are tired of seeing the 49ers in the illustrations, I have a treat for you! I have some from the Kansas City Chiefs as well!
On this 2nd & 7 play, the Kansas City Chiefs under Offensive Coordinator Paul Hackett, will send the three receivers down the field. Hackett sends both wide receivers down the numbers on the outside third of the field. The tight end, Jonathan Hayes (85), will go down the near hash mark. The Seam routes will break at 8 yards, while the drop by the QB is at a shorter five step drop.
The Raiders are in a 43 Under front, and playing a hybrid coverage, ¼ ¼ ½ behind in their secondary package. The corners for the Raiders, Lionel Washington and Terry McDaniel, are playing under 5 yards off the wide receivers. Washington (48) will play WR J.J. Birden up tight and funnel him inside to his safety help being played by Free Safety Eddie Anderson. This effectively takes Birden out of the available options to QB Joe Montana. This makes up the ½ portion of the ¼ ¼ ½ coverage. Strong Safety Derrick Hoskins (20) and CB Terry McDaniel will take up the other side of the field and separate the other half into two quarters, thus making up the ¼ ¼ portion of the ¼ ¼ ½ coverage package. LB Winston Moss takes away the shoot route by HB Harvey Williams. MLB Joe Kelly rotates over to play “trail” coverage under the tight end Hayes, which requires a perfect throw inside and over Kelly to be successful. Hoskins is playing outside and deep looking to take away the hole in the initial Cover two look.
Focus now on the plays tight end side. CB McDaniel doesn’t
play off the WR to the safety Hoskins, but continues to carry WR Fred Barnett
downfield and playing outside technique. The outside technique is supposed to
funnel the WR into his
inside help, which in this case is the strong safety.
McDaniel plays his technique flawlessly, and doesn’t give up the area outside of
him.
The tight end, Hayes, initially pushes outside in an
effort to move the outside LB, Aaron Wallace (51), and turn up field to
challenge the safety. Wallace in keeping with his technique of staying outside
the shoulder of the tight end, now will get
moved outside further by the
shoot route of FB Kimble Anders. This is a key aspect of beating the coverage in
this particular instance.
With Kelly in trail position on Hayes, and Wallace being
drawn outside in coverage, this opens an alley for Montana to drill a pass hard
inside the corner into a tight area. Kelly cant get over quickly enough, and
Hoskins is tied up with the challenge by Hayes. Wallace is too far outside to
help McDaniel, who is playing outside technique. In this case, the pass is
absolutely perfect. The read by Montana is that Hoskins is INSIDE the tight end
Hayes, making the read perfectly clear. The result is a 13 yard gain, and a
first down and goal on the Raiders one yard line.
From this formation, halfback Harvey Williams cannot run the shoot route. So, this effects the play call as far as pass protection and the strongside flat area. Kansas City will call the 24 Double Go because it gives them the “chip” technique against the defensive ends of the Raiders. This slows down the outside pass rush, and gives a slight edge to the Chiefs in giving Montana time to pass. As a result, the Raiders linebackers Joe Kelly (57) and Aaron Wallace (51) try to hold up Dyal as he tries to release downfield, since there is no threat to the flat from Williams. As the play develops, Dyal is splitting Kelly and Wallace downfield. Kelly sees Williams at the edge and slows to check Williams’ route. Wallace is now in a bad position.
Wallace is playing outside technique on a Dyal who is
charging down into the post 1/3 unhindered. This is a easy read for Montana, who
puts a little air under the ball and delivers a perfect pass for a 26 yard gain.
The Chiefs will execute the same play from another
formation, the slot to the left side. The Broncos will play a Cover two zone
concept, and play over top the Chiefs receivers with Safeties Steve Atwater
(27), and Dennis Smith (49). The Chiefs show good formation variation in
attacking the two deep concept. Hayes and Birden will force the safeties to get
width in their patterns as they attack the outside voids in the coverage. WR
Willie Davis will get depth on DB Tyrone Braxton (34) and make his cut at 8
yards, in conjunction with Montana’s five step drop (notice that on these
shorter routes, the QB takes a shorter drop). DB Leno Lang picks up Davis and
carries him into the deep void in trail position. The outside patterns by Hayes
and Birden force the void to widen, giving Davis a big play opportunity.
The whip-read does manage to draw up the underneath
coverage, Tuggle sees that Jones is coming into his area, and uses his speed to
immediately come up take away the underneath route. George executes his pass
coverage responsibility in keeping on Jones shoulder. There isn’t anyone close
to Watters to give coverage support and help out Scott Case. Quarterback Steve
young tosses a perfect strike to Watters on time, and in stride.
When you look at how these plays attack the two deep zone
coverage, you begin to see how the defenses will react to certain things. Of
course, having the timing and the appropriate personnel makes a tremendous
difference. Understanding how a particular defense works, and understanding how
to attack it, breeds a certain level of confidence that carries over into other
areas of your offense. Confidence breeds success, and success can carry
over to other areas of your team as well.