Romeo Crennel Pass Defense: Part 2 - Covering Empty

Romeo Crennel in 2010 was bringing essentially two calls against empty, with adjustments for sub packages. One being a Tampa 2 variant, and the other being a cover 0 man blitz. 

STRETCH (FLEX)

This is Coach Crennel's Tampa 2 call vs empty. Stretch is called with base personnel. Flex is the call for sub 3-4 personnel. 

Alignment notes: Mike (low hole) can align as 9tech vs an attached TE, or hipped off the OT vs a detached receiver.

Coverage

• Flat (CB) - outside the numbers, covering all outs and comebacks. Carry WR to the seam before releasing. Keep eye on #2 breaking out. 
• Hook (Ni, Jack) - Covering outside the hashes, and not going beyond the numbers. Take 1st in-breaker, and deliver to the Rat (low hole). 
• Low Hole/Rat (Mike) - This is the extra coverage gained when rushing 3 instead of 4. Typically opens to the #3 receiver side. Jam any crossers, read QB, depth is around 8-12 yds. 
• Post (Will) - Opens to most dangerous side determined by game plan / personnel. Closes the post to any vertical routes (between hashes).

There are no explicit rules on how to deal with a 4th or the rare 5th vertical with the only three assigned deep players (safeties and will).

• Some coverages would have CBs take #1 vertical if #2 is not OUT in the first ~5yds. 
• May be playing to have Safeties and Post defender midpoint over top of all verticals and defend them that way.

RAIN (FALCON)

Rain

Falcon

Rain (Falcon) is a check vs empty, man coverage across the board with a 6man pressure. 

Front

• Defensive line slides to the formation strength (TE here, or 3 WR side), and the backside backer (Jack) becomes the DE on the backside. The front is aligned EVEN. 
• Depending on offensive line slide, either Mike or Will may drop into coverage (if they get a slide TO).
• Vs attached TE, the frontside DE takes the point and the Sam (Ni) will come down and press the TE inside. If TE blocks out onto the DE, DE will man him and Sam (Ni) will blitz. 

Coverage

• Coverage matchups will be determined by game plan or base rules. 
• The coverage is man/man and locked on all motions. If motion ends in the backfield, the defender will match box location. 

In part 3, we are outlining some base man coverage calls, as well as some of Romeo Crennel's core man coverage principles. 

Romeo Crennel Pass Defense: Part 1 - Terms & Definitions

This is based on the 2010 KC Chiefs defensive playbook, which can be found online. 

This is part 1 of a (??) part series. In this first part, we are outlining the core terms of Coach Crennel's coverages during his time at Kansas City in 2010. This is to establish concrete definitions to some of the base terms before getting into the coverages themselves.

After the first few parts of this series going over coverages and rules, we will look at the 2020 Texans film and see how concept have carried over to Romeo Crennel's current team. 

ZONE DESCRIPTIONS

UNDERNEATH AND SHORT ZONES

1. Flat - 12 to 15yds, midpoint 3yds outside numbers
2. Curl - 15yds, midpoint on numbers
3. Slot - 15yds, midpoint 3yds inside numbers
4. Hook - 12 to 15yds, midpoint 2yds outside hash
5. No Cover - Behind LOS, up to 5yds beyond LOS
6. Reroute Level - 5 to 12yds, where receivers must be rerouted or patterns matched

Other Terms

• "Hold the Curl" - Tells curl defender to hang in curl zone as long as needed to prevent a pass.
• "2nd Man Thru" - Refers to second receiver running through an outside zone (curl or flat). Defender responsible for that zone will play the 2nd man all the way. 

INTERMEDIATE ZONES

1. Fade - from sideline +4yds inside, 15-25yds depth
2. Seam - from inside of numbers +3yds, 15-25yds depth
3. Middle Read - Basically between hashes, 17-25yds depth (cover 2)

Other Terms

• "Hold the Seam" - Tells seam defender to hang in the seam as long as needed to prevent a pass.
• "Carry the Fade" - Tells cornerback to sink with the receiver through the fade area.

DEEP ZONES (thirds and halves)

1. Deep 1/3 Zone - Covers 1/3 of field, from 15yds to end line.
2. Deep 1/3 Midpoints - 9yds from sideline, and the middle of the field.
3. Deep 1/2 Zone - 1/2 of field, from 17yds to the end line.
4. Deep 1/2 Midpoint - 17yds, 3yds from inside numbers and extending to the end line.

In part 2, we will look at coverage calls vs Empty sets. 

Kickoff Return Formations in the NFL

The intent of this article is to gain a general idea of what return formations in the NFL look like. It does sample kickoffs from every team, but not every kickoff from the season. 

Formations

6-2-2-1  

6-2-1-2 

6-2-1-1-1 (unbalanced)

5-3-2-1   

5-3-1-2

4/2-2-2-1

• 6-2-2-1 and 5-3-2-1 are the primary/base formations for most of the league.

• Depth, alignments, and splits tend to be slightly different depending on game situation and opposing kicker/coverage team.

6-2-2-1

New England 2019 Passing Concepts

STAFF

HC - Bill Belichick (20th year)

OC/QB - Josh McDaniels (7th year)

TE - Nick Caley (3rd year as TE coach)

OL - Dante Scarnecchia (21st year)

This is not the entirety of the New England passing game / all of their concepts.

Slant Flat Concept

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2019 Passing Concepts

Staff

HC - Bruce Arians (1st year, ARI)

AC - Harold Goodwin (1st year, ARI)

OC - Byron Leftwich (1st year, ARI)

QB - Clyde Christensen (1st year, MIA)

WR - Kevin Garver (1st year, ARI)

TE - Rick Christophel (1st year, ARI)

OL - Joe Gilbert (1st year, U Arizona)

This is not the entirety of the Tampa Bay passing game / all of their concepts.

CONCEPTS

Sail Concept

Miami Dolphins 2019 Passing Concepts

STAFF- 

HC - Brian Flores (1st year, NE)

OC - Chad O'Shea (1st year, NE)

QB - Jerry Schuplinski (1st year, NE)

WR - Karl Dorrell (1st year, NYJ)

TE - George Godsey (1st year, DET)

OL - Dave DeGugliemo (1st year, IND)

This is not the entirety of the Miami passing game / all of their concepts.

CONCEPTS

Curl Flat Concept