Tampa 2 - Part 1: Pass Coverage

Tampa 2 Part 1 – Pass Coverage

                Tampa 2 is a 5 under 2 deep zone pass coverage that calls for the “Mike” linebacker to run the deep middle of the field (middle run through). This accomplishes two things for the defense.. A. it takes away the split route and other routes that look to split the 2 high safeties and B. it allows the half safeties to push further off the hash when necessary which helps on smash routes.

                Granted you need a Mike LB that can move he does not have to be a freak athlete as most of the nay-Sayers would argue.

Part 1 – High Hole Dropper (Mike) –

                The first thing we need to do is decide which side the Mike linebacker will initially open to. His drop rules are as follow.

1.       Numbers – The Mike Linebacker will always drop to the side with more receivers

2.       Field – If the ball is on the hash he will drop to the field (unless there is some sort of 3x1 into the boundary, then we refer to rule #1)

3.       Speed – If its 11 personnel 2x2 in the middle of the field the Mike will open to the side of the slot (the faster, and more threatening pass receiver).

4.       Arm strength – If its 10 personnel 2x2 from the middle of the field (completely balanced) the Mike LB will open to the side of the QB’s arm strength.

Coverage Responsibility and Technique:

1.       On the snap of the ball the Mike will execute a slide out technique. He will slide in a quarter turn and “Clear the Quick Game”. This means he will slide out until the QB has cleared a 3 step drop. We don’t want the Mike to turn and run out of the middle if the offense is throwing 3 step pass.

*Note as the Mike slides out if the QB is looking the opposite direction of his initial drop then he will “Baseball Turn” to work to the QB’s primary side.

2.       After the Mike has cleared the quick game he will now cross over and run. He is playing the “off hand/shoulder” key of the QB. This means he is playing the intentions of the QB’s shoulders.

-          If the shoulders of the QB are set to the Mike’s left he will continue to work his drop up the left seam. If the QB Pulls “Palm Off” (Takes his non-throwing hand off the ball) the Mike will break and hunt up the nearest seam threat.

-          As the Mike is dropping we give him the “never coming back rule”. This means if the QB starts one direction and comes back another direction he will never come back to his initial side (if he does your pass rush needs work). This means if the QB starts looking left, and then turns right he will never come back to the left. If this occurs we tell our Mike LB to “Baseball Turn” and hunt up the nearest seam threat.

·         It is important to note and understand the real purpose of the Mike LB (or whoever you have as the middle run through). His job is to deny straight line throws into the seam, and force air underneath the football. His job is not to run man to man with a slot up the seam.

Part 2 – Flat Defender (Corners) –

Alignment:

-          We have our corners line up 5 yards off the #1 receiver with outside leverage. We tell him to point his outside toe to the inside foot of the Receiver (this opens the corners hips and gives vision into the backfield)

Key:

-          We have out corners in cover 2 key the End Man On The Line Of Scrimmage (E.M.O.L.) for high and low hat.

Coverage Responsibility and Technique:

-          If the Corner gets high hat (Pass) he will Squat, Jam, Look, Carry, Hole.

1.       Squat: The Corner will square up and mirror the Release of the #1 receiver squatting at 5 Yards

2.       Jam: The Corner will do what he has to do in his squat to maintain outside leverage (funneling the #1 inside). Once the #1 gets to the Corners “Cylinder” he will execute a 2 hand jam. When jamming we tell our corners to “punch and pop-off” This will reduce lunging to make contact and whiffing.

3.       Look: Once the corner gets his two hand jam he can now look back inside and make sure no #2 receiver is out flanking him to the flat, and bring eyes back to the QB.

4.       Carry: Once the corner brings his eyes back to the QB he will carry the #1 for 3 steps on an Inside Release, and 2 steps on an Outside release.

5.       Hole: After the corner carries the #1 he will flip his hips, put his butt to the bench and begin to hinge. The hinge is a ¾ speed shuffle back into the “hole” (the hole is 18-22 yards deep and 2 yards in bounds).

-          Once working back to the hole the Corner has two triggers:

1.       Low Shoulder – If the QB turns to throw a check down or flat route the corner will side plant and drive on the flat route

2.       High Shoulder – If the QB elevates his shoulder to throw deep into the “hole” the corner will cross over and run.

Part 3 – Deep Halves (Safeties) –

Coverage Responsibilities:

-          No matter what the disguise we want our Safeties at least a depth of 12 yards on the snap of the ball (15 vs. 3x1 to the side of trips).

-          Our Safeties always align with their inside foot up, outside foot back (so hips are open for quick fade)

-          We use to have the Safeties execute a “slide back” technique for the quick game, however have found it is not necessary and slowed our safeties down too much.

·         Our Safeties rule Vs. Pass is: Quarterback - #1 – Quarterback

Quarterback: On the Snap of the ball our safety will get into a back pedal and read the intentions of the QB for the quick game.

Number 1: After the Quarterback has cleared the quick game he will bring his eyes to the #1 Receiver and read his release.

-          If #1 is attempting an inside release, the safety will square up in his back pedal because the #1 and #2 receivers are in close proximity to each other. There is less chance of being stretched.

-          If #1 is attempting an Outside Release, the Safety will widen in his back pedal (while still working for depth) because the distance between the #1 and #2 receivers is greater and the safety must put himself in a position to play both

-          As the Safety is reading #1 if #1 hitches (Smash concept) the Safety knows he can over play #2 to the corner.  

Quarterback: After getting a read on the release of the #1 receiver the Safety will now bring his eyes back to the QB and Read the “Off Hand Shoulder Key”.

-          If the Shoulders of the QB are set outside the Safety he will expand to the #1 Receiver (Because the Mike will be under the seam).

-          If the Shoulders of the QB are set to the opposite side of the Safety, he will squeeze the backside seam (because the mike LB will be carrying the F.S. seam, and the F.S. Safety will be expanding to the #1 – Figure 1).

** The Safety has the never coming back rule also. If the Shoulders of the QB start outside of him, and come back the other way – he will never come back, the Safety can “baseball turn” and hunt up the closest seam threat.

** If the shoulders were set away from him and then came back outside he would open and run over #1.