As we all evolve our defensive packages this off-season, we are obligated to the fact that everything starts with the Coverage Menu. From a defensive coach perspective we know that everything starts with stopping the run on first especially and second down as well. That is what puts our players in a position to be ahead of the down and distance ruler and on schedule to make tackles for losses and sacks while creating takeaway opportunities.
Ultimately this leads to the ability to achieve the only goal that really matters which is championship-level SCORING DEFENSE a.k.a. allowing our offense to score more than they do. All of this is dependent on the coverages we choose to deploy because that dictates how many people we have available to directly and secondarily fit run plays. Different coverages provide different answers for what the enemy wants to do most and also clearly does best. It is our job as coaches to pick from the menu appropriately and in a timely manner. Some are better for straight run defense, some for might run/might pass, and some are used best simply to stop the pass. All have their merit and the more the players can handle the more solutions to common problems we can provide. What follows below is a sample coverage menu with a simple explanation for each. Clearly each one can merit an entire playbook explanation summary given all the variables and situations. Hopefully, this provides a good starting point for off-season work.
ZONE COVERAGES with 4 RUSHERS and 7 DROPPERS
-4
Automatically adjusting 2 shell coverage which provides a deep zone defender over the top of every vertical pass threat and 9 run defenders in and around the box.
-3
Middle closed post coverage with field/strong safety rotation bringing the 8th run defender to the box and providing help to the free access/quick pass to the boundary or weak.
-6
Opposite of 3 with boundary/weak safety rotation.
-3 BUZZ
Same as 3 except allows the safeties to hold a middle open shell. Provides an answer to field/strong RPO’s.
-6 BUZZ
Same as 3 Buzz just to boundary/weak.
-3 Cloud Strong
Field/Strong Corner Rotation to Force-Flat-Wheel from a 2 high shell. Helps versus field/strong outside run/bubble game.
-3 Cloud Weak
Same as 3 Could Strong just to Boundary/Weak. Different way to “double team” a strong X receiver.
-2
Pass oriented defense to eliminate free access by Z and X receivers. Need to have different ways to stunt to mix-up the box look as it is a 7 man front defense.
-DOUBLE ROBBER
Run oriented defense that also helps to take away #2 receiver to the field. Base 9 man front.
MAN COVERAGES with 4 RUSHERS and 7 COVERAGE PEOPLE
-2 MAN
2 high shell coverage with people covering all eligibles and/or adding pressure to extra protectors. Great for 3rd and 11+.
-1Y
Run oriented call where a designated coverage person finds the TE and allows for man replace run fits with the front adjusting accordingly. This coverage also double teams threatening WR.
-1 BANDIT
Pass oriented coverage for short and intermediate between the hash patterns. With base 6 man protection allows the defense to provide 3 “hole” players for inside and underneath help: low hole/high hole/post.
ZONE COVERAGES with 3 RUSHERS and 8 DROPPERS
-8
Base Cover 4 look with the underneath Curl-Flat and Hook-Curl quadrants accounted for and a deep zone defender over the top of each vertical threat.
-3 DOUBLE CLOUD
Nickel defensive back deployment to a deep third with 5 underneath zone droppers disrupting the vertical entry of all 5 eligible offensive players.
ZONE PRESSURE COVERAGES with 5 RUSHERS and 6 DROPPERS
-4FZ
Pressure defense from a base cover 4 (middle open) look.
-3FZ
Pressure defense from a base cover 3 (middle closed) look.
-2FZ
Pressure defense that allows for a “trap-flat” player to the pressure-side for the quick-answer throw.
MAN PRESSURE COVERAGES with 5 RUSHERS and 6 COVERAGE PEOPLE
-1
Straight “Man-Free” coverage with all 5 eligibles covered with deep-post safety help.
-10
All 5 eligibles covered with safety helping somewhere specifically.
-10 FREE
Match-up Man coverage with game-planned adjustments and deep-post safety specifics.
-10 PEEL
All 5 eligibles covered with deep-post safety help; outside rushers peel all flare/swing routes.
ZONE BLITZ COVERAGE with 6 RUSHERS and 5 DROPPERS
-HOT
Mid-Deep Zone defenders over the top of the #1 and #2 vertical receiving threats to both the field and boundary with deep-post safety help.
MAN BLITZ COVERAGES with 6 RUSHERS and 5 COVERAGE PEOPLE
-0
All 5 eligibles covered with no help.
-0 PEEL
All 5 eligibles covered with no help but with peel/add-in principles.