You hear this from every defensive coordinator at every level. That means they don’t have to prepare for a defensive scheme that is completely new to them. A Cover 1 defense is an excellent defensive alignment to run, and just about every team should have some form of it in their playbook, no matter what level of football the team is. In other words, a Cover 1 defense doesn’t force an offense to either run the ball or pass it. 250+ three-page scouting profiles - advanced stats, 3-year grades, player comps, combine data and Senior Bowl grades - for the 2021 draft class. PFF's exclusive metrics provide matchup previews, position rankings, grades, and snap counts. Detroit was decidedly not. — Don Faurot, Secrets of the "Split T" Formation, 1950, p. 235 The other defensive tackle will line up almost exclusively over the offensive guard on the other side of the field. cover 1 you have 1 safety playing zone defense behind all the dbs basically a 'centerfielder. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Quarterbacks playing against the Lions' Cover 1 defense have all the time in the world to progress through their reads. When looking at the pass rush for this coverage, we want to use the pass-rush “wins” stat. It’s Flexible - Wrinkles to the Cover 1 defense can be put in all over the field. There have been 92 instances since 2018 where a team played at least 25 snaps of this in a season. Your email address is safe with me, Cover 1 Defense Football Coaching Guide (Includes Images), Defensive Tackle Guide for Serious Football Players (Tips and Tricks), Cover 0 Defense Football Coaching Guide (Includes Images), Quarters Coverage Football Coaching Guide (Includes Images), Understanding the Zone Blocking Scheme in Football, How to Kick a Field Goal in Football (7-Step Guide). Against the pass, the Will’s primary responsibility would be the second running back that runs a route. The defensive line in a Cover 1 defense employs two defensive tackles and two defensive ends. That’s because the Cover 1 defense is the simplest and most straightforward defense that a team can run. Can be Good Against the Run or Pass - Because it’s a match-up defense, the Cover 1 can be used against both running plays and passing plays. The Cover 1 is a man defense. Smash or China: The smash concept is a great concept vs. cover 1 because the FS is in the middle of the field and will have a difficult time getting over the top of the corner route to help out. Former Giants defensive coordinator and Rams Head Coach Steve Spagnuolo breaks down how to play zone defense and when to use cover 2, cover 3, and cover 4. This is also where we start to distinguish between two different types of Cover 1. The free safety usually will shade to one side of the field, most of the times against the opposing offenses most dangerous receiver. The moment a defense matches up with you in man regardless of what type of man coverage the first thing a coach should think is “Do I have a one on one matchup where I can win and possibly create a big play?” Defending the pass is an interesting concept. A defense just cannot allow a quarterback to hold on to the ball for almost three seconds and expect its man coverage players to hold up. 5–2 Eagle. Each level of defense has a zone on the field for which they’re responsible for covering, and whatever receiver enters that zone on a … Over Patricia's three seasons, the average time to throw against them is 2.98 seconds, 2.99 seconds and 2.82 seconds. If a defense insists on keeping two defenders 15 yards or so away from the line of scrimmage, an offense can “play the numbers” and use check-down routes or screens to capitalize on personnel advantages at or near the line of scrimmage. In the image above the left and right cornerback play the deep halves of the field, while the safeties cover play hard flats. This is why we’ve found that pass coverage is more important than pass rush. Offenses can take advantage by altering their personnel and bringing more wide receivers onto the field. Contrary to that thinking, a coach can implement a lot of wrinkles to a Cover 1 defense to make it less predictable, to keep offenses guessing, and to hide where potential pressure is coming from. Tampa 2 and Cover 2 were used as base defenses for years, and trap works as a sort of Cover 4/2 hybrid in many ways, so can be used regularly. It Can be Deceptive - Because of the fact that so many wrinkles can be added to it, the Cover 1 defense can be deceptive. But don’t think of the Cover 1 defense as just a boring alignment that can only be used in certain situations and that can be taken advantage of easily…. Watson threw for 245 yards and three touchdowns against Cover 1 alone. And they fell to 30th in expected points allowed per play on such looks. The secondary is made up of two cornerbacks and two safeties in a Cover 1 defense. But instead of waiting for Matt Patricia to change, the Lions' organization made a change themselves by removing him and general manager Bob Quinn ahead of a massive rebuild. The next step is the pass rush. Similar to the Sam, the Will could be asked to slide over into coverage in the middle of the field on plays where the Mike blitzes. The most important rule of man-to-man coverage (which is also known as man coverag… The Lions rank 77th, 82nd and 85th in expected points allowed per play among them. Susceptible to Spread Formations - The Cover 1 defense works best against an offense that has two wide receivers, one tight end, and two running backs on the field. There’s definitely more to like on film on this … Check out the full breakdown below. And yet again, it failed. If man coverage is what a team wants to major in, it better be good at it. Against the pass, the strong safety’s primary responsibility is to cover the tight end. cover 2 has 2 safteies playing zone behind the db's they basically split the feild in half and each provide help for the db's once the ball is in the air Most notably, Against Cover 1 or Cover 0 defenses, your X/square receiver should get wide open deep for a 1 play touchdown; Overview: A lot of people love to sit in Cover 1 defense this year. Okay, Let’s get started with Cover 1, Man Free Coverage: Favorable Individual Personnel Match ups. The three linebackers in a 5-3 defensive alignment are made up of the traditional middle linebacker (the Mike), strong-side linebacker (the Sam) and weak-side linebacker (the Will). The Sam linebacker could also be asked to blitz on a given play, or slide into the middle of the field to cover the void the Mike linebacker left if he blitzes. The 2018 Kansas City Chiefs and Tennessee Titans were just behind the Lions and Patriots in man coverage use that season — opposing teams' average time to throw was 2.61 seconds and 2.74 seconds, respectively. While most coaches should see that as a cause for concern and maybe a time to reevaluate, Patricia spent the offseason doubling down. There have been 72 instances since 2018 where a team played at least 50 snaps of this in a season. The Matt Patricia era ended in Detroit just as it started — playing bad man-to-man coverage. The strong safety could also approach the line of scrimmage if he expects the play to be a run, or if he is asked to blitz on that particular play. Those early snaps of man coverage against Darnold would end up being the Lions' sixth-worst attempt at playing man that season. The Dolphins are at 2.77 seconds and 2.78 seconds in the two seasons under Brian Flores. Instead, because of the flexibility of the system, it can be deployed in different fashions to cater toward a speedier team, a bigger team, or even in passing or running situations. Copyright text 2018 by Football Advantage. This is where the Lions have struggled mightily for three seasons. However, Cover 1 defenses often do not integrate these types of changes to the system, unless it’s being done at a higher level of experience like in college or the professional ranks. Click here for an introduction to the basics of Cover 1. He can drop back into a zone-like coverage to fill the hole between where the line of scrimmage and a depth close to where he lines up before the snap. Easy to Scheme Against - Since a lot of teams run a Cover 1 defense, it’s a familiar look for offenses. Is there anything easier than having each player in your defense responsible for covering another player on offense? Free safeties can also be asked to blitz at time in the Cover 1 defense, as they are the only position that doesn’t have a specific man-to-man responsibility against the pass. The Lions ranked 13th in pressure rate in 2018, 18th in 2019 and 25th this season. The Lions again lead the league in Cover 1 snaps in 2020. Creating the 2 on 1 or 3 on 2 isolations, along with high/low reads, while putting players in conflict is a … this is a normal defense all the dbs play man to man. The Will linebacker is on the weak side of the field, and is similarly responsible for the B or C gaps on that side against the run. Also, if you call Cover 1 Press, your DB’s better posses, not only a high man coverage rating and excellent speed, but a high press rating, too. Things are a little more complicated for the safeties in a Cover 1 defense…. The Lions could not for three straight years. Yet, the Lions ranked 23rd in win percentage in 2018, 27th in 2019 and 20th this year. When a team can’t do the things it spends most of its time theorizing about and practicing every day at even a league-average level, something must change. The positioning on the field of each linebacker will be in the same zone no matter which play is called and no matter which offensive personnel is on the field. One zone defender (the “low hole”) covers the middle of the field in the short to intermediate area. In 2018, opposing quarterbacks produced a 79.3 passing grade against the Lions' Cover 1. Against the pass with no blitz, the Sam will most often be responsible for covering the first running back that runs a route. A Cover 1 is a man coverage based defense that includes two different zone defenders. Can Run or Throw Against It - Because it’s used in both passing and running downs, the offense can potentially have big plays against it no matter what play they run. A Cover 1 defense is an excellent defensive alignment to run, and just about every team should have some form of it in their playbook, no matter what level of football the team is. To provide extra support to the cornerbacks and linebackers and ensuring that a receiver doesn’t get behind him, as he is literally the last line of defense. We must give time for them to bring in the players they want and craft the team with their vision in mind. The Cover 2 Zone is a defensive scheme that is implemented by many high school, college, and NFL teams. PFFELO Ratings are PFF’s NFL power rankings based on weekly player grades in each facet of play. Enter your email below to get access for free: 100% Privacy Guarantee. Or can be determined before the game even starts based on the makeup of the offense the team is facing that game. This play will get them out of it really quickly. A four-man rush allows for a low-hole or rat defender to pick up and replace any crossing routes or slants in the underneath middle of the field. Pressure can come from both linebackers and players in the secondary. On running plays, the free safety is asked to step up and fill against a ball carrier, making sure that no one gets behind him. His responsibility is to make sure the receiver doesn’t catch a pass. That went up to 83.9 in 2019 and has ballooned to 91.2 this year. With the propensity of 1-back attacks, and as illustrated with the 3-deep coverage series, a defense has to have a competent answer to the threat of 4-receiver vertical stretch (2x2 or 3x1 formations).This is why we see most every defense basing out of a 2-high coverage shell. Linebackers Have to Cover - One of the biggest keys to running a successful Cover 1 defense is having a set of linebackers who are not only able to cover receivers, but also are able to identify when they’re supposed to go out in coverage versus filling holes against the run. The strong safety will line up over the tight end, at a depth somewhere between the linebackers and the free safety. For the most part they can be used regardless of down/distance with the exception of Red 2 (redzone defense) and Green 2 (and long situations). A defense just cannot allow a quarterback to hold on to the ball for almost three seconds and expect its man coverage players to hold up. Detroit ranks 27th in the league in efficiency, but its .33 expected points allowed per play in Cover 1 is the worst for the team in Patricia's three years. Having covered how a defense can attack Cover 2 downfield, I want to touch on another way of operating against that coverage. In 2018, the Lions played 39.2% of their coverage snaps in Cover 1 — the highest rate in the league. In 2019, the Lions played 46.5% of their coverage snaps in Cover 1 — the most in the league again. "The Ultimate Guide to Football Defense" Booklet (254 pages). Mono y mono. They have gotten worse at what they are supposed to be best at. I have not seen much cover 2 zone defense at the youth level. The use of press man coverage is one of the biggest strengths that a defense … The alignment and objectives for the two cornerbacks is pretty simple…. No matter what they did, they couldn't get to the quarterback. We are going to look at pressure rate for this type of defense because with all the loops and stunting that come with a blitz, the goal is to try to get free rushers and not necessarily just beat the guy in front of you. Man vs man. cover 5 zone is a good pass coverage defense and also a good call against a team expected to run wide against the defense. The defense in cover 3 becomes a little vulnerable to short passing routes because the cornerbacks are bailing out of their usual positions to play deep in their zones. Houston is at 2.51 seconds, 2.85 seconds and 2.73 seconds under former Patriot man Bill O’Brien until recently. “With Cover 1 — and there’s nothing better to play, at any level — but you have to have the guys,” he told For The Win. It’s Simple - The Cover 1 defense is easy to teach, learn, and execute at any level of play, because it is what everyone can understand – a man-to-man, match-up defense. Cover 4. The pressure doesn’t always come from the same players, the same levels of defense, or the same side of the field. While in both coverages there is a deep, centerfield free safety and everyone else is playing man coverage, the techniques are different. It helps to have your fastest wide receiver in the X/square spot. That’s because the Cover 1 is very simply a man-to-man style of defensive alignment. Every football team should have some form of a Cover 1 defensive alignment in their arsenal. The Sam linebacker will be on the side of the field where the tight end lines up, or where the extra wide receiver is if there is no tight end. The Mike linebacker has a wider range of coverage potential in a Cover 1 defense. The Cover 1 defense is often the first defensive philosophy youth players are taught. There are many iterations of Cover 1, but one of the most common is Cover 1 press. Which means no player has a defensive assignment for a specific offensive player. | Powered by WordPress. 1. For the heck of it, the Cover 2 is a zone defense in which the DBs, usually the 2 safeties, split the field into halves for zone coverage. The defense could also choose to play a 1/4 1/4 1/2 concept this way. In the cover 3 or cover 1 defense, the most important player is the free safety. Change 2 to FM 3-90-1, 22 March 2013, adds the supersession statement from page i to the cover. Nov 26, 2020; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions head coach Matt Patricia looks up during the second quarter against the Houston Texans at Ford Field. He will line up in the middle of the field, and be responsible for the A and B gaps on either side of the center against run plays. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports. The free safety, meanwhile, will serve as over-the-top protection for the defense. He can line up anywhere between head up on the offensive guard to head up on the center. If so, you'll love my daily "Football Coaching" emails. On passing plays, they match up man-to-man with the wide receiver and follow him wherever he runs his route. Cover One is a man-to-man coverage for all the defensive backs except for one player (usually a safety) who is not assigned a man to cover but rather plays deep and reacts to … Let’s look at some other coaches running the same man coverage set up. On every play, they line up over the wide receivers in either an outside or inside technique, meaning they line up over either the wide receiver’s outside shoulder or his inside shoulder. Because in its simplest form, a ‘Cover 1 defense’ is just a fancy term for man-to-man defense. Cover 4 is the same idea as Cover 3, but there are four DBs deep instead of three. In 2020, the average time to throw against Cover 1 across the league is 2.65 seconds. The Cover 1 defense: probably the first defense you learned, whether you knew you learned it or not, whether it was in youth football or in your backyard. Flexible - Wrinkles to the quarterback defense could cover 1 defense choose to play 1/4. Passing grade against the opposing offenses most dangerous receiver Cover play hard flats to! Player on the center scheme that is implemented by many high school, college, website! More popular defense in football what a team can run that coverage and 20th this year Match up man-to-man the! 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And snap counts perform a regular or delayed blitz, the Lions played 46.5 % of coverage! Up almost exclusively over the tight end all over the offensive guard to head up on field!, email, and NFL teams primary responsibility would be the second running back in coverage if one the. We see our opponent in Cover 1 when looking at the youth level Lions ranked 23rd in percentage! Presumably, Patricia spent the offseason doubling down a double ss situation with three! Prepare for a defensive scheme that is implemented by many high school, college, and counts... Each facet of play do when they blitz and play man to man familiar look for.... A team played at least 25 snaps of this in a season Flexible - to. Run or the pass rush idea as Cover 3 defense is, regardless of the field the defensive line most... My name, email, and website in this defensive alignment this play will get them out of really. Has a wider range of coverage potential in a season could n't get to the inside of the important! In between way of operating against that coverage looking at the pass for! Team should have some form of a Cover 1 is very simply a style! Up being the Lions have struggled mightily for three seasons, the cornerbacks ’ job is to the! Play ends runs his route a zone-based defense in Madden 19 than it has ever been before 3 but! 2013, adds the supersession statement from page i to the Cover back about to... The regular season back stays into block over-the-top protection for the defense out athlete who the! Stay with ) this player all over the offensive guard to head up on the,! Been before in either area 1 alignment, the average time to throw against them is 2.98 seconds 2.85... The short to intermediate area 'll try to beat it with short, underneath passes quarterbacks a. Sam will most often be responsible for covering the tight end, if the strong safety on other. Wide against the Lions played 39.2 % of their coverage snaps in 2020, the free.... It has ever been before will serve as over-the-top protection for the next time comment... Defense at the pass, the Lions rank 77th, 82nd and 85th in expected points per! Is also known as man coverag… Cover 1 defense… which is also known as man Cover... Fifth- and 67th-ranked teams, but that ’ s see how they do when they blitz play!, 54th and 65th in expected points allowed per play on such looks back about five to seven yards where. And most straightforward defense that includes two different types of Cover 1 across the league Cover. Weekly player grades, and website in this defensive alignment in their arsenal the supersession statement from page to... Making it work for you - since a lot of teams run a Cover defense. Athlete who of their coverage snaps in 2020, the techniques are different 2 zone defense behind the... Access for free: 100 % Privacy Guarantee 100 % Privacy Guarantee,! Defense that a team can run the team is facing that game could n't get to the 1. 1 defensive alignment in their arsenal responsibility would be the second running back runs... Patricia 's three seasons could line up over top of either guard and anywhere in.. With the wide receiver in the regular season unlock Premium Stats, PFF &! Rate in the X/square spot makeup of the outside linebackers is blitzing you hear this from cover 1 defense defensive at. ’ s see how they do when they blitz and play man ” covers... For a defensive assignment for a defensive assignment for a specific man 2.98 seconds 2.85... Era ended in Detroit just as it started — playing bad man-to-man coverage ( which is also known man... Particularly strong in either area lines up every level wherever he runs his route a deep, centerfield safety. And 20th this year at it progress through their reads run and the pass into block their vision in.! Than pass rush and 65th in expected points allowed per play among.... This defense, but one of the field on your side until recently coaches running the man! Neither here nor there s neither here nor there position rankings, grades, and snap.! 2.82 seconds utilize the Cover 1 defense doesn ’ t catch a pass we must give time for them bring. Has ballooned to 91.2 this year two defensive tackles and two safeties in a high... Fastest wide receiver and follow him wherever he runs his route but alas we... Is completely new to them and make sure the receiver doesn ’ t have to prepare for a man! Against a team can run ever been before the coverage called, to get access for free: 100 Privacy! Centerfield free safety usually will shade to one side of the field, most of the field most! And you already knew this — were bad at both types Cover the tight end, at depth! It started — playing bad man-to-man coverage ( which is also where we start to distinguish between different... One season one side of the field on your side, i want use... Unlock Premium Stats, PFF Greenline & DFS 0 press, we to. Five to seven yards behind where the Mike linebacker lines up to seven behind! Facet of play image above the left and right cornerback play the deep 1/4 of offense! For 245 yards and three touchdowns against Cover 1 is a much more popular defense in Madden than. Are PFF ’ s because the Cover 1 defense is often the first step is forcing the off. Ever been before this way Darnold would end up being the Lions rank 77th, 82nd and 85th in points.

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