Quick UF Zone Read Looks

Florida running a few variations of zone read vs FAU. Pulled these clips from extended highlights, so this may not be every zone read snap from this game. 

I enjoyed the multiple wrinkles Florida threw into their zone reads. Arcs, square pulls, chops, and hinging back on the read man to open a lane. 

See full cutup here :

1) Give read. BST chops the near backer. HB cuts backside B gap.

2) Give read. BSG square pull to frontside, wraps to C gap for overhang. HB follows and hits frontside C.

3) Give read. Y slice backside, slices past DE for possible arc block on 2nd level OR pass option. HB hits backside B gap.

4) Give read. HB cuts backside C gap. BSDE makes tackle on squeeze.

5) Keep read. Y slice backside, arcs DE and kicks safety from alley. TD.

6) Keep read. Y slice backside, arcs DE and leads to safety in alley. 

7) Give read. BST zone steps inside, then hinges back for BSDE. HB cuts into B gap. Overhang is quick to the run and unaccounted for on the read side.

Assortment of Plays #1 - NFL

Handful of plays I watched recently and wanted to note down. Either old youtube videos or recent games. 

1. Fake Power Screen Away

• The fake same side power action by the Sniffer and OL has the LBs pushing away from the screen, creating favorable angles for the linemen getting out to block for the screen.
• Faking same side power with Sniffer lead and RG kick.
• LT, LG, C all block down but they make sure to stay on the LOS, to avoid getting downfield before the screen is thrown.
• LG and C take a 1 second count on their block, then shed out to the screen.
• HB fakes like he is picking up the Ni blitz after the PA, then olays and goes for screen.
• WRs run off the underneath coverage.

2.  QB motion spinout

• The QB taking the snap with speed to the boundary, as well as the offensive line blocking down and the HB leading to the edge, all encourage the line backers to flow boundary. This opens a window for the crosser when the QB spins out.
• QB steps to the field, then at a run back towards the center takes a snap in the gun (think jet motion). QB spins out to the field after taking the snap.
• Offensive line zone blocks down the line, with HB lead making it look like QB zone lead.
• TE hinging on the backside to seal the edge for the spinout.
• LBs flow with the backfield and OL actions, and CB steps down to set the edge, putting them all out of position against the crosser.

3. Punt - Jet RPO

• The jam/cornerback is conflicted 3 ways: jet away, punter running to him, and post behind him. This is an old game and the adjustment is probably to have everyone on the punt team to have peel rules for non-blockers, to have the LT accounted for on his route here. If there is a better solution please let me know. 
• Gunner jets on personal protector signal.
• Ball snapped when jet intersects punter.
• Punter keeps and runs to jet origin.
• LT releases on a corner, aiming behind the CB.
• CB is left in no-mans land between the jet, the punter with the ball, and the post behind him.

Romeo Crennel Pass Defense: Part 3 - Man Coverages and Rules

This is part 3 of the Romeo Crennel 2010 defensive coverage series. This article will outline some man coverages and the rules within them, including vice/cone double coverages and funneling.

Man-free and 2-man are not included here. Man-blitzes will be in a separate writeup.

Part 4 will be a continuation of man-coverages, looking at more man-matched calls including C4 Quarters.

VICE - Double Coverage on #2

Man-matched coverage call. This is a coverage built to distribute stress by alignment. Having the backer aligned inside taking inside routes, and safety aligned outside taking outside routes from #2. 

Vice Route Distributions

• Cornerback: lock on #1, outside and on top of the route. Late help from Will or WS to the inside and under. 
• Will: Cover #2 inside-out to 12yds (WS take #2 vertical). Carries #2 across formation on unders. If #2 breaks out, look to #1. 
• Weak Safety: Cover #2 outside-in and vertically. if #2 breaks out, take him man. If #2 breaks under, rob the curl of #1. Take all of #2 vertical. 

CONE - Double coverage on the #1 

Man-matched coverage call. Technique used to double the outside WR in and out. Called against tight split #1. Run force changes based on release of #1.

Cone Route Distributions

• Cornerback: Press #1 outside-in. Responsible for all outside and deep routes. If #1 under, get depth and play QB. 
• Will: Cover running back man-man on everything. Expect no help.
• Weak Safety: Read release of #1. Cover #1 inside and deep. If #1 out, drop to deep 1/2 and play QB.  

Cover 1 Funnel (3-4)

3 on 2 funnel, with 3 backers funneling the 2 backs. 

• Man/Man coverage, with weak safety in the post and linebackers man-matching. 
• The backside outside linebacker will be tagged to rush (Roy/Lee call). 4man rush call.
• Vs 2 back sets, linebackers funneling 3 on 2 against 2 backs.
• vs 1 back sets, linebackers funneling 3 on 2 against HB and TE.
• Manned safety is free to align deep or come down pre-snap.

Funnel Technique

• This coverage employs a 3-on-2 funnel, with three backers on two running backs, or an HB and TE. There are three base distributions. 
• If both backs go STRONG, Sam takes first out, Mike takes second out, will sits in the hole
• If both backs go WEAK, Will takes first out, Mike takes second out, Sam sits in the hole
• If backs SPLIT, Sam takes the strong back, Will takes the weak back, and Mike stays in the hole. 

Funnel against LOAD FLOW (2 backs release strong)

• If TE shallow, Will picks up TE and SS robs the in-breaker from the opposite side. (SS must see the Y picked up by Will before releasing)
• If TE up or out, Will replaces Mike in low hole and hunts crossers.
• If both backs release same side, the backers initially taking them will carry them everywhere. 

• Load Flow Rules
• Sam/Will
• Take first back to my side.
• If he goes shallow, release calling "under under", push to the hole. Opposite outside backer will pick up this release shallow if the 2nd back is not shallow. 
• If both backs away, Push to the hole. Look for first crosser.
• Mike
• Take second back to my side.
• if he goes shallow, release and look to the flow side for a follow crosser.
• Think a release like a back coming out in the "down" and breaking across the formation, followed by an angle route. You are releasing the down back and picking up the angle. 

Funnel against SPLIT FLOW (1 back strong, 1 back weak)

• Mike takes first crosser across his face
• Sam/Will are passing the first crosser and looking opposite for a return crosser. 
• After distribution of backs, the free backer will prioritize cutting the TE.

• Split Flow Rules
• Will/Sam
• First back to my side unless shallow (crossing). Release shallows.
• If shallow released, check opposite side for first crosser coming my way.
• If shallow released and no crosser, robot and cut the TE.
• Mike
• First crosser (Sam/Will call UNDER)
• No crosser, robot and cut the TE

NFL Run Game - A Small Collection of Unique Run Calls

Taking a quick look at a handful of less-often seen runs, or standard runs with a bit of unique window dressing. 

Notes are focused on the concept to be taken away from the clip, which can be applied across different calls and situations. Some of these concepts might be very basic or simple.

DAL vs MIN

HB is motioned from behind the QB, out to behind the first attached TE. 

Concept: Sets up the near backers to be blocked at the second level with more favorable angles for the RG and TE, thanks to widening with the HB.

NE vs CLE

Gun toss sweep, with a tight bunch to gain a shortened edge. 

Concept: Attacking the edge quickly has a chance of causing over pursuit. Keep an eye open for a cutback, or design to have blockers wall the pursuit away from desired cutback.

OAK vs LAC 1

Split zone with a counter/misdirection. Slicing TE skips PSDE.

QB/HB showing split zone before re-routing to follow the slice, as well as OL blocking away, has PSDE step down too far to deal with HB coming his direction, gaining a blocker to that side by leaving PSDE unblocked.

Concept: If you are getting hard step-downs by the backside DE on zone block away, you can come back around with a puller/slicer and either log him inside or arc him as he takes himself out of the play.

OAK vs LAC 2

Another misdirection, this time with a detached HB coming jetting across. TE to the jet slices opposite. 

Concept: Getting split flow independent of the ball carrier presents a very difficult situation to defenders.

SEA vs TB

End-around action by #1 to the field pulls the field safety away from the play, which leaves the alley open for the HB. 

Concept: WR actions will typically disrupt the overhangs or 3rd level defenders. Aim the ball to the outside to attack this.

Amoeba Front - Miami Dolphins 2020

Call this front by any name. Miami has been running it fairly often, particularly as a 3rd down passing defense. In week 10 vs the Broncos, Miami called this 6 times, 5 of 6 on 3rd downs. 

Results of this call are:

1 INT

2 PBU

2 Allowed First Downs

1 Tackle short of the 1st

This front works well vs the pass thanks to the constant movement and shifting causing uncertainty in the QB and OL pass blocking call.

Typically Miami has their standard pass rushers in and does send them, but there is the possibility to run very light packages like the dollar to further hide who is coming and who is dropping. 

The dolphins often will run line twists or looping blitzes with this front, as well as overloading a single side of the line. 

The ability to drop or rush from various locations also lends itself to many different easily disguised coverages. 

1. 3rd&10, 1st quarter, INT

DOLLAR personnel. 4man rush, with a strong addon (sam-aligned player). Looks like a C3 variant. 

2. 3rd&9, 1st quarter, PBU

DIME personnel. 5man rush with strong addon (sam loops inside-out). C1 spy. 

3. 3rd&10, 1st quarter, 12yd scramble

QUARTER personnel. 4man rush, 3 strong. 3 deep 4 under. 

4. 3rd&5, 2nd quarter, 4yds

DIME personnel. 4man rush, strong slot blitz. C1 robber. 

5. 3rd&3, 3rd quarter, 15yd quick out

DIME personnel. 4man rush. C1 spy. 

6. 3rd&8, 3rd quarter, PBU

DIME personnel. 5man rush, Mike addon. C1 robber. 

Miami Dolphins - Run Fits - Quick Notes

2020 Week 11, vs Denver Broncos

In this writeup, we are taking a look at how Miami used their DBs in the run fit. 

This is primarily in their 3-3-5, with OLBs on the line presenting a 5man front and SS in the box to the strength with the Nickle close to the box on the backside. The only LB not on the LOS is the Mike. 

This is not only snaps from this alignment. Also not all snaps in the game from this alignment.

Miami DBs have good impact when playing downhill between the tackles, getting to their gap, finding the ball carrier, and securing tackles. Miami's nose tackle in these plays also has very good impact. 

Problems begin to arise when the ball carrier takes an outside path, with lead blockers taking on the edge. 

See film cutups at the bottom of the page.

SOLID FITS

1. 

Mike is making the Nose right, with nose playing either A gap. The nose shows his helmet to the left, forcing the ball carrier to the right and then shedding the Center and getting hands on the ball carrier.

The blitzing down safety to the strength meets the ball carrier in the hole, beating WR insert block to the inside.

2. 

The Nickle to the backside plays patiently in the run, since the backside is fully gapped out and he is a +1. When the ball carrier heads to his side, the Nickle triggers down and meets the HB in the hole. 

Like the prior play, the Nose is staying square on the Center and threatening both A gaps. Nose shows his helmet to the right in the strongside A gap, and after the ball carrier bounces to the backside A gap the Nose sheds his man and again gets to the ball carrier at the line. 

3. 

TE meant to come up off his playside double and pick up #21 misses his block. #21 makes the tackle at the line. 

MISSED FITS

4. 

Double fold blocks with the Center pull here gives a +1 to the playside for the offense. Due to the front, there are no defenders able to adjust to the center pull.

Down safety #21 following TE motion is the target of the Center pull, and does get kicked out of the picture leading to an explosive run. 

5. 

TE forces #44 to go under the block, taking him behind the ball carrier. #53 gets kicked wide.

Down safety #21 gets over the crack block untouched, but gets beaten to the sideline for an explosive run. CB to the playside stayed on the crack runner and did not replace the edge fast enough, also gets beat to the sideline.

6. 

Denver pulls 3 blockers. Miami #44 and #21 would need to both gap down with pullers, but were both a step too slow. #44 misses 

#29 to the strength gets kicked out wide on his blitz. 

7. 

Playside edge gets logged by pulling guard.

#29 meets pulling BST on the edge., and gets tossed to the ground.

While sound against interior runs, Miami did have some struggles this game with runs to the edge, thanks often to the mismatches their alignment and personnel created against pulling linemen. See film of these plays below. 

Keiser Seahawks - Screens

 This is part 2 of our look at the Keiser Seahawks, aiming to get an idea of what they have been doing across all 3 phases to achieve their dominant start as a program under head coach Doug Socha.

Like part 1, this is from their first game as a program back in 2018.

8 total screen calls. 

• 5 Bubbles
• 2 HB Slips
• 1 Now Screen

SEE FILM AT THE BOTTOM.

In order of appearance in the game:

1. HB Slip

Field edge sinks to the hook, while Will sits in his hook to curl and eyes QB. Blows up the play as HB gets the ball. 

The 3 interior linemen all pass-set and begin working out to block after a 2 second count.

2. HB Slip

Here we have a full pivot play-action to the bubble, with the QB turning his head far behind the LOS directly towards the orbit runner. 

With the slip, the HB comes down as if picking up a block and after a 2count releases with the guards. RG turns around to see the pass rather than pick up his block, who gets into position to make an immediate stop if the pass to the halfback is completed. 

3. Bubble HB

QB eyes the slot crossing, keeping the overhang honest. 

After a 1count, the LT, LG, and RG come off their blocks. LT works to the swing side, while the guards both run the opposite direction. Camera does not show what happens to the boundary side where both guards are working. 

4. Bubble Slot

Soft PA with HB picking up the backside C gap, while the O-line full slides to the boundary.

The slot bubbles with crossover steps, while #1 and #3 pace themselves to take most dangerous and create some defined lanes for #2 to attack. 

5. Bubble Slot (1st-level RPO)

O-line full slides to the field with a Y arc, leaving the PSDE unblocked. Play may be DOA if PSDE continues his path to the mesh at full speed. 

QB pulls on DE crashing mesh, and throws the bubble. 

6. Bubble Orbit

PA, followed by QB setting feet and looking deep MOF as a timing mechanic to allow the bubble runner to get additional width.

O-line zone blocking left, pulling the defense away from the orbit. 

7. Bubble Slot RPO

Zone blocking left, leaving PSDE unblocked to be read. QB reads step-down, so keeps. 

QB then progresses to read the Will who expands with the QB keep, and then comes down on the ball. Seeing this, QB throws the bubble. Solid execution.

8. Now Screen

#1 takes a couple jab steps vertical, before turning inside for the ball.

#2 widens outside slightly before approaching a block. C and LG both take a 2count before releasing for their blocks.

FILM CUTUP

Keiser Seahawks - Jet Sweep Series

Keiser put up an impressive record in their first 3 years as a program, going 24-6 overall. This is part 1 of who knows how many writeups, looking at some of the things they do well and attempting to get an idea of how they have been so dominant. 

In this part, we are looking at their jet sweep series in their first game as a program back in 2018. 

Keiser gets a favorable alignment out of their 2x2 jet, in 3 of the 4 jet calls. Great angles to block the Sam or Will to the interior. 

There are 3 calls in their first possession, and one in the 3rd quarter. This does not include one call where there is no sweep action since ball is snapped after the jet motion is across. 

See cutup of these plays at the bottom of the page.

1. Fk Jet Duo

Line blocking duo, driving doubles and only coming off once backers declare. Y off slices backside. Ball is jumbled at the mesh. +2yds.

2. PA Jet Flood

All OL open to sideline and begin running to block for the sweep. QB fakes the jet give, and boots away. HB olays the standing DE and goes flat. Backers are influenced by the sweep action with no reaction to the split flow. HB ends up uncovered for a solid gain. +10yds.

3. Jet sweep lead

OL playing for doubleteam reach blocks on playside DL. C and LG drive nose into Mike 6yds deep. HB aims to lead up the edge, to the first threat (this time PSDE).  +7yds.

4. Jet sweep lead

Same offensive call as above, now in 3rd quarter. PSDE does not get reached, and CB plays hard on edge. +0yds. 

FILM CUTUP

Crack Bounce - Tampa Bay 2021 Superbowl

A quick look at some of Tampa's run calls, cracking the alley and bouncing the ball out to the CB. 

Key Points

• OL generally blocking head-up to inside gap
• OL working to second level slowly, letting LB come to them. Think DUO. 
• HB is getting downhill for the handoff and ~2 steps after handoff before bouncing outside.
• Think DUO. LB in the hole - HB bounce. LB scrape - HB hit an inside gap. (this is not a hard rule for Tampa)

• Cutup of TB WR cracks, as well as inserts from the Super Bowl: https://youtu.be/E4FxXXz5kYQ

Working to Deep Safety

• From a 4-3, 2-high look Tampa may have a WR slide motion towards the core and work inside towards the near safety.
• The ball carrier drives downhill on snap, banging to the outside late.
• OL are all zone-stepping to the field (away from the bounce), getting defense to flow with blocks.

Cracking Down Safety

• Against a 4-4, 1-high look, Tampa brings WR in motion to the core again and has him work to get square on the down-safety, who is flowing with the rest of the defense towards the counter footwork. 
• HB bounces outside hard and is put in a 1-on-1 in space with the CB who had bailed pre-snap on motion.

Inserting to Bring Safety Down

• On motion CB sinks to defend pass while SS comes down to replace in run fit. This makes is much easier to for TB get a blocker on SS, while making it convenient to leave CB unblocked. 
• The runner again departs downhill, bouncing to the outside quickly to exploit the mismatch on the perimeter vs a lone cornerback. 

Tampa Bay 3-High Structure: SB 2020 Season (vs KC)

KEY POINTS

Against a team looking to push routes deep down the field, a 3-high structure can provide great value. Tampa Bay saw good success with this against KC in the Super Bowl. See more details on a 3-high defense here.

• It removes middle field open / closed reads presnap (from 2high and 1high looks respectively)
• Adds flexibility in coverages. Particularly in top-down rotations.
• Can align potential deep defenders at a better depth to stay over any deep routes from a speedy receiver. 

Tampa played five snaps of 3-deep presnap looks. 

• Two snaps of a 1-deep, 5 under STICKS coverage..
• Two snaps of a boundary rotation cover 3.
• One snap of straight cover 3.

• Outcomes: 1 Int, 2 Inc, 2 checkdowns allowed.

Note TB played a bunch of 3-deep prevent calls at the end of the game, which we are not including here. 

FILM

If you are not able to see the film here while on a phone, either open the page in "desktop mode" or open it on a computer.

1st Quarter, 11:34, 3&8 - STICKS (1-deep 5-under)

    Boundary and Middle safety drop to hook/hole at sticks. Here we can see all 5 underneath defenders within 2yds of the 1st down marker. Nobody matches either vertical route up the middle. Compare this to the next play.

1st Quarter, 5:22, 3&11 - STICKS (1-deep 5-under Dbl outside blitz)

    Here we see a great sample of the flexibility of a 3-high look. BCB and Sam (Ni) blitz both edges and are replaced in coverage by the outside safeties, while mugged backers drop out into the hooks at the marker. In coverage, note both corners playing top-down on the possible outside verticals, to make sure the single deep safety is not outnumbered as he was the prior clip. 

2nd Quarter, 2:00, 1&10 - Straight C3

    While not a standard 3-high look with the outside CB as 3rd high defender, it ends up playing like a standard 3-high with the Sam (Ni) here replacing the CB as flat defender. Pausing halfway into the play, you can see the distributions of the 3-deep 4-under. 

3rd Quarter, 6:30, 3&13 - C3 Boundary Rotation

    Boundary and Middle safety are dropping, while both CBs are taking deep 3rds from a backpedal on snap.  With no vertical, a CB will continue to zone off to his deep 3rd to make sure he takes away any deep crosses. Boundary corner #24 here s pulled down a bit by the hunt route of #87, while #10 is running the deep cross behind him. #24 manages to get back and make a great play on the ball to cause a turnover.

4th Quarter, 6:22, 2&10 - C3 Boundary Rotation

 

   Same rotations as prior clip. While not targeted, KC does run another deep cross aimed behind the boundary corner. 

Tampa Bay Turnover Creation - 2020 Playoffs

Quick Notes

• Using pressure up the middle to disrupt QB.
• Secondary (and backers) relating well to the receiver when in zone coverage. No covering grass.
• High level man coverage.
• Getting hands on the ball in the air.
• On tackle, making solid contact with the ball when possible with a punch/shoulder. 

• Players Involved
• LB #45
• 2 F REC
• 2 INT
• CB #23
• 3 INT
• S #31
• 1 FF
• 1 INT
• LB #51
• 1 Pressure
• LB #54
• 1 Tip
• 1 Pressure
• DE #90
• 1 Pressure
• S #32
• 1 INT
• S #33
• 1 FF
• CB #24
• 1 Tip

• Totals
• FUMBLE RECOVERIES: 2
• INTERCEPTIONS: 7
• Influenced by pressure: 3
• Influenced by tip: 2

CUTUP

Iowa State: 3-High Safety Defensive Structure - Introduction, Aligning, and Coverage Calls

A handful of college programs over the last couple years have been  implementing a 3-high structure as an additional tool in the toolbox alongside zero, 1-high, and 2-high shells. Iowa state has been one of the early adopters, running a 3-high structure regularly alongside their 3-4 Hybrid Nickel. 

KEY POINTS

• Core Rules

• 3-down front.
• Mike/Will in the box typically. Sam coverdown often.

• Goals of the Structure

• Encourage run with a light box read. Stop run with aggressive middle safety (H) and overhang fits.
• Stop the RPO with overhangs.
• Prevent deep shots with pre-snap look. 3-Deep takes away MOFC/MOFO read pre-snap.
• Match gap creation across the formation with fits from deep safeties.
• Utilize multiplicity in 8th coverage man. Rotating coverages, blitzing into a 7-drop coverage, inverting coverages. 

• Alignments

• Safeties typically 8-10yds off the LOS.
• ILBs typically 2-3yds off heels of DL, over A or B gaps.
• Sam is pretty much always coverdown or apexed outside box.
• 0tech nose in most fronts.

• Run Fitting

• 3-down line are added on to by inside backers, with the playside backer becoming functionally a 3tech in the run. 
• Box players are spilling to the run-fitting safety.
• In run, the missing backer is replaced in the fit by the H (or BS, by formation). Safety fits to the playside edge generally. Misdirection can cause problems for these fits at times. 
• Against Y-Off, Sniffer, and FB sets, H and BS are able to match gap creation across the formation from depth.

• Pass Rushing

• Base rush is 3-down slanting to a side aiming to spill the QB out of the pocket in a single direction
• Mike will often add-on to the rush on a delay, shadowing QB to the spill side. 
• Other common call is to have DL rush central gaps looking to break the pocket inside-out, with Mike playing same role as above. 

• Multiplicity

• With a 3-down front and 3-high safeties, Iowa St. can call a drop-8 coverage on every snap. 
• This allows any of the 8 droppers to blitz, and maintain the integrity of a standard drop-7 coverage distribution.
• From 3-high, Iowa St. calls rotations and inversions of their coverages often. Corners, safeties, and overhangs will exchange assignments frequently. C1/C2/C3, Tampa, Quarters, and mixed calls are all on the table. 

ALIGNING and COVERING 

Depending on formation, Iowa State will play both split field coverage calls as well as full-field calls. 

3 RECEIVER SIDES

TRIO (3 split)

1. Cover 0. Man across the board, with BS/Sam sharing RPO rules. To the QB eyes hangs in coverage (Sam), and to the QB backside inserts to fit the run (BS).

2. Essentially a poach call, but the 3rd safety plays the role of poacher from an alignment to the strength, instead of from the backside in a 2-high shell. H takes the vertical of #3 while the #1 and #2 are covered with a 3-over-2 quarters call. 

3. Cover 1. H & SS man up to let backers play aggressively. Still trying to encourage short passes with depth of alignments. 

4. Tampa 2. Underneath defenders collision receivers before zone turning and gaining some depth. 

5. Cover 3 Boundary Rotation. H is hanging in the hole closing the seam, and driving down on ball thrown. Field CB is midpointing verticals of #1 and #2. 

6. Cover 2 H-man. One of the unique features of a 3-high is the ability to erase a man from the coverage, and still maintain drop-7 coverage distribution. H eliminates the #3 from the zone coverage, and Iowa State ends up with balanced 3-over-2 coverage to both sides. 

TREY (TE attached)

• Iowa State aligns 3-over-2 to the split-out WRs, with a safety and a backer stacked 1-2yds inside the #2. 
• Backer is either hanging to take away RPO, or folding into run fit. This depends on QB eyes to him/away from him, and backfield action. 
• The middle safety (H) is likely to be put man/man on the TE, fitting run on TE block. 

Rarely see Trey formations in the film I have access to. Both examples have QB eyes to the Sam. Sam is hanging and defending RPO before triggering to run play. 

2 RECEIVER SIDES

SLOT (2 split receivers)

• Iowa State makes a point to end the distribution with a 3-over-2. One of the main benefits of having 8 possible defenders in coverage is you can align/end the coverage with a numbers advantage look as long as you use the right RPO rules. 

1. Cover 2 Invert (Tamp2 Invert), mirrored. Safety pushes out to #1 right now, middle safety pushes to the seam/curl, mike drops to the hole, and CB bails fast to midpoint #1 and #2. 

2. Tampa 2. Mirrored. Starts as a drop-8 rush-3, with the mike spying the QB and blitzing on a delay.

3. Cover 3 Boundary Rotation. 

PRO/HBK (TE/HBK and split receiver)

• Safety and Corner play similar to how they play over a single-WR side (next section). The main difference is a backer or the H (middle safety) alignment depending on TE location. 

1. Corner run support (cloud). 3-over-2. Full-field call is C3 with the 3-high all dropping.  

2. Safety overhanging/run support (sky). Inversion of the previous technique. 

3. Against tight set "wing" looks, Iowa State aligns 4-high by bumping a cornerback to depth. Coverage is 4-man 4-under, with the unders playing run-first and the H/SS following TE/FB on gap-creation across the line from depth (pulls/kick-outs). 

SINGLE WR SIDE

• Pre-snap look always puts 2-over-1.
• Safety to the single side typically aligns 6-10yds deep, apexed between WR and EMOL. 
• Corner alignment is flexible, typically matching the technique and split rules in relation to the safety.
• When safety is 6yds deep, CB typically 5yds deep aligned inside eye. 
• When safety is 8-10yds deep, CB may align outside / press. 
• Nearly always playing aggressive to the run on single-sides.

1. Corner blitz. Safety will take #1 vertical or zone off unders.  

2. Safety blitz. Coverage call here is Cover 2 with the middle safety pushing over from the strongside to the backside deep-half, and the BCB collision #1 to the outside and sinking under the vertical. 

3. CLOUD call. CB is force and playing fast to the run. Can aggressively collision #1 while reading backfield action. Safety is taking all of #1. 

4. SKY (or invert) call. Safety is reading backfield action and triggering fast to the run. Corner takes all of #1. Must stay on top of all #1 routes. 

NUB SIDE (TE only)

• Depending on opposing team / expected run schemes, the edge/force player can be swapped between CB and Safety. 
• One player will align LOS, 1yd outside TE and fight any reach block and trying to keep outside arm free, maintaining the edge and forcing runner inside no matter what. 
• Second player will align 6-7yds deep, head-up on TE, fitting the last inside gap before the edge on run. 
• No film of pass plays from Nub sides / coverages.