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.