By Patrick Moynahan, Linebackers Coach
Kenyon College
Spy Match Coverage
As previously stated we encountered issues with covering vertical route combinations with traditional 3-Deep, 3-Under zone coverages. To counteract these problems, we now play variations of our read quarters coverage behind most of our zone pressures. We’ll tag these coverages with the term “Spy Match” or “Spy Special.” Spy alerts the secondary that the front is blitzing and therefore one less underneath defender.
The diagram above illustrates our base coverage distribution for a 2 x 2 spread set. “Silver” alerts that both corner and safety are in combination coverage on the #2 and #1 receivers. Each corner aligns 1×7 inside #1, but reads #2 pre-snap. Any outside route from #2 he will jump. If #2 runs an under or slant he will play #1 man to man. If #2 is vertical, the corner will look to match #1 on any route past 7 yards. The safeties will align 1×12 inside #2, and also read #2 pre-snap. Any outside release from #2, he will push over top of #1. If #2 runs an under, the safety will rob off the QB; against a slant the safety will look for the sluggo before breaking on the slant. Any vertical release from #2 the safety will match down the field2. Both underneath players we will assign the “Clear” responsibility. Clear is a combination of curl and curl/flat assignments. They will drop to the curl, and reroute any vertical release from #2. They will expand to the flat based on two scenarios – a flare from the tailback, or a “Hitch” call from the corner. Any shallow combination will be passed off between the two underneath players. The following illustrations will demonstrate our coverage distributions:
2 Depending on the split between #1 and #2, or if #2 is an attached TE we can make a “Solo” call which will assign the safety to an outside release from #2.
routes we see.
Against an outside route from #2, the corner will take him man to man. The safety will then push overtop to play #1. Against bubble, the safety will defend the bubble & go. If #1 stems inside, the safety will flatten his peddle. He can be late to the dig because he has underneath help from the clear player.
When #2 breaks inside – be it on a slant or an under – the corner will then play #1 man to man. The safety will be slow against an inside route from #2. If it is a slant, he will sit on the sluggo. If #2 runs an under he has the freedom to rob off where the QB’s vision. If the QB looks his way, he’ll double #1, if he looks away he’ll double the first inside threat.
Both these scenarios involve the Clear player expanding to the flat. When the corner makes a “Hitch” call against the Smash route the Clear player will expand underneath the hitch, so both DB’s can cover the corner route. Against a flare from the tailback the clear player will again expand to the flat so he’s not out leveraged on the perimeter.
Against trips we will stay in our match coverage check to trips, but again maintaining two underneath defenders. We’ll tag this adjustment “Spy Special,” again to alert the secondary that we are pressuring.
To the trips side we will play an extension of our read quarters rules. The field corner will align 1×7 inside #1 and read from #3 to #1. If #3 runs an under, he will squeeze #1. If #3 releases outside or vertical, he’ll match #1 on any route past 7 yds. The $ will align five yards off #2 in a side run. He will turn his back to the sideline and shuffle vertically, reading from #3 to #2. He is responsible for matching #2 vertically, and any outside route from 2 or 3. Should #2 release inside, the $ will expand underneath #1. Depending on the matchup the FS will align anywhere from 9 to 12 yards inside #3. His read is from #3 to #2. If #3 is vertical, he will match #3. If #3 releases outside or under he’ll look to match from #2 to #1. Backside the corner is responsible for #1 unless he runs an under. Underneath we will still have two underneath defenders, but instead of two Clear players, we’ll have a hook player to the trips side, and a curl/flat player opposite the trips. The hook player is responsible for the first underneath threat. In his drop he will progress from the pre-snap #3 to the post snap #3. His drop will be no deeper than 8 yards and initially flat to the hip of #3. The backside C/F player will only expand to the flat if the back flares, or if the QB looks backside. In the subsequent illustrations I will illustrate the coverage distributions for the common trips routes we see.
Against the Stick route, with #2 releasing outside the $ will jump #2. The Sam, as the hook player in this illustration, plays #3 as soon as he stops at 5 yards. If the Sam is blitzing, the Dime LB is responsible for #3. Depending on the game plan we can tell the FS to be aggressive to the hitch to help the Dime.
When #3 immediately releases outside, the $ will drive to him. The corner, also reading 3, will let #1 go because he has not crossed the 7-yard threshold. Instead he’ll push for the nearest vertical threat. When #3 bubbles, the FS will then push to match #2. The hook player progresses from 3, to 2, and settles on the spot route from #1.
A route we see frequently in the red zone we call ‘Chicago.’ This route puts the most pressure on the $ and hook player. As #3 runs vertical, the $ will look to match #2. When #2 breaks inside, he’ll let him go to the hook player. He’ll then transition help on the #1 receiver. It’s imperative the corner give an “In” call to the $. Similar to Spot, the corner looks to match #1 when #3 goes vertical. When #1 makes his break, the corner will again progress to the nearest vertical threat. The hook player will let #3 release vertical, and progress to #2. He must be careful to not spend too much time with #3 so as to not be out of position to drive on #2.
There are a myriad of ways to rush 5 defenders to defend the QB run and cover the myriad of pass and RPO combinations an offense can run. Our Inferno package combined with 2-deep match coverage has proven to be effective for us, but can be tweaked and redefined to fit many defensive systems. This could be using the blitz with 3 deep coverage or changing the pressure but maintaining the coverage structure.
