PATTERN READ

COVER THREE

WHY PATTERN READ

Match up underneath coverage to route
being run as oppose to dropping a
landmark and solely reacting to QBs
intention.
Take away receivers freedom to adjust
to a stationary zone defender.
Reduce vertical seams in zone
coverage.
Greater means of taking away favorite
routes or patterns of weekly opponent.

OUR DEFENSIVE STRUCTURE

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CURL

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READ 3-2

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READ 2

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CURL

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PATTERN READS COVERAGE

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COVER 3

CURL

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3-2 PLAYER

CURL

2 PLAYER

OUTSIDE
THIRD

OUTSIDE
THIRD

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MIDDLE
THIRD

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COVERAGE RESPONSIBILITIES

COVER 3

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FORCE/
FOLD

E
B

W
FORCE/
FOLD

SECONDARY
CONTAIN

SECONDARY
CONTAIN

PURSUIT

PURSUIT

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ALLEY

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RUN SUPPORT

COVER 3

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RUN SUPPORT

BASIC CONCEPT
CREATE FOUR MAN RUSH:
FRONT THREE + ONE

REPLACE BLITZER IN COVERAGE

X Strong

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COVER 3 Pop

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X Strong Cover 3 Pop

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CURL

READ 3-2
LEFT

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CURL

READ 2
RIGHT

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COVERAGE RESPONSIBILITIES

Backer Plug Cover 3 Pop

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CURL

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READ 3-2
LEFT

CURL

READ 2
RIGHT

MIKE LINEBACKER REPLACES

BLITZING BACKER AS PATTERN
READ PLAYER ON 3-2

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COVERAGE RESPONSIBILITIES

Rover Plug Cover 3 Pop

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CURL

READ 3-2
LEFT

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READ 2
RIGHT

CURL

MIKE LINEBACKER REPLACES

BLITZING ROVER AS PATTERN
READ PLAYER ON 2

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COVERAGE RESPONSIBILITIES

Will Go Cover 3 Pop

W
C
CORNER PLAYS AS MAN
VERSUS ALL THREATENING
RELEASES

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R
CURL

M
READ 2

B
READ 2

LEFT

RIGHT

ROVER LINEBACKER
REPLACES BLITZING WILL AS
CURL PLAYER

S
CURL

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COVERAGE RESPONSIBILITIES

Will Go Cover 3 Pop

S E

CURL

READ 3-2
LEFT

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READ 2
RIGHT

CURL

ROVER LINEBACKER
REPLACES BLITZING WILL AS
CURL PLAYER

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CORNER PLAYS AS MAN

VERSUS ALL THREATENING
RELEASES

COVERAGE RESPONSIBILITIES

CURL/BUZZ TECHNIQUE

CURL TECHNIQUE

3
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**FLAT-FOOT
READ

SINGLE WIDTH ALIGNMENT

BUZZ TECHNIQUE

BUZZ - FLAT

VERSUS SINGLE WIDTH - BUZZ THE FLAT AREA

BUZZ TECHNIQUE

IDENTIFY A FLAT RECEIVER -- QUICK SET CLUES A SLANT/HITCH -- USE SPLIT TENDANCIES

BUZZ TECHNIQUE

S
SETTLE

IF NO IDENTIFIED FLAT THREAT -- SETTLE BACK UNDER #1 -- ZONE QBs EYES

BUZZ TECHNIQUE

IF FLAT BY#2 MATCH FLAT AND CARRY WHEEL

BUZZ TECHNIQUE

IF #2 QUICK TO FLAT MATCH FLAT AND CARRY WHEEL

CURL TECHNIQUE

2
7

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**FLAT-FOOT
READ

TWO STAND UP ALIGNMENT

CURL TECHNIQUE

S
SETTLE

WORK TO DEPTH OF 10-12 YARDS OVER NORMALLY AGLINGED WIDE RECEIVER

CURL TECHNIQUE

VERSUS QUICK GAME BREAK EARLY AND CUT #1

CURL TECHNIQUE

WITH #2 VERTICAL -- SETTLE CURL AND PLAY OFF QBs EYES

CURL TECHNIQUE

IF #2 QUICK TO FLAT -- HOLD CURL -- CORNER WILL SECURE WHEEL

CURL TECHNIQUE

S
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VERSUS ANY SCREEN -- CURL PLAYER TRIGGERS

3-2 PLAYER TECHNIQUE

3-2 PLAYER

LB

PATTERN READ OFF #3 TO #2 RECEIVER

3-2 PLAYER

LB

DROP OVER #3 AS YOU READ HIS ROUTE -- NO RECEIVER THREAT DRIVE ON #3

3-2 PLAYER

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DROP OVER #3 AS YOU READ HIS ROUTE IF THREAT BY #2 WALL OFF AND ROLL

3-2 PLAYER

LB

MUST CARRY #3 VERTICAL

2 PLAYER TECHNIQUE

2 PLAYER

READ RELEASE OF #2 AS WORKING FOR WIDTH AND DEPTH

2 PLAYER

CUT SLANT BY #2

2 PLAYER

IF #2 TO FLAT -- LOOK FOR NEW #2 FROM OUTSIDE AND DEFEND THROWING LANE

2 PLAYER

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CARRY #2 VERTICAL LOOK FOR BREAK INSIDE BY #2 OR BY #1

2 PLAYER

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ROLL WITH DIG BY #2

2 PLAYER

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COME OFF #2 VERTICALLY WHEN #1 RUNS DIG

FIRE-ZONE
PACKAGE

WHY FIRE-ZONES

Pressure the point of attack versus running game.

Attack pass protection weakness QBs confidence.
Reduce the big-play exposure by taking the backend out of man coverage.
Create negative yardage plays get offense off
schedule.
Reduce the volume of offense from opponent.
Zone adjustment to offensive change of strength.
Zone drops often cause quarterback to hold ball in
pocket allows for pressure to develop.
Cannot run off perimeter run support.
Offense must be protection-orientated over hotorientated in the passing game.

BASIC DESIGN PRINCIPLE

PRESSURE ELEMENT:
FRONT THREE + TWO

COVERAGE ELEMENT:
TWO SEAMS + ONE HOLE
THREE DEEP ZONE

TEACH PLAYERS HOW TO

READ ROUTE COMBINATIONS
TEACH CONCEPT OF PLAYING
MAN WITHIN YOUR ZONE
MUCH LIKE A MATCH UP ZONE
IN BASKETBALL

SEAM

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HOLE

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SEAM

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COVERAGE ELEMENT BEHIND FIVE MAN BLITZ

Double Plug Seam

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Backer Smoke Hole

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Rover Smoke Hole

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SEAM TECHNIQUE

SEAM TECHNIQUE

3
5

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**FLAT-FOOT
READ

VERSUS SINGLE WIDTH

SEAM TECHNIQUE

S
10 YARDS
DEPTH

PLAY AS NORMAL CURL ZONE DEFENDER

SEAM TECHNIQUE

2
7

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**FLAT-FOOT
READ

VERSUS TWO STANDS UPS

SEAM TECHNIQUE

READ ROUTE OF #2 RECEIVER

SEAM TECHNIQUE

S
HOLD
CURL

IF #2 QUICK TO FLAT -- WORK TO NORMAL CURL AND HOLD

SEAM TECHNIQUE

IF #2 QUICK TO FLAT -- WORK TO NORMAL CURL AND HOLD

SEAM TECHNIQUE

IF #2 RUNS SLANT -- CUT AND CARRY THROUGH QBs EYES

SEAM TECHNIQUE

IF #2 VERTICAL -- COLLISION AS NEARS RE-ROUTING OUTSIDE

SEAM TECHNIQUE

IF #2 VERTICAL -- COLLISION -- PLAY MAN ON ALL STOP/OPTION ROUTES

SEAM TECHNIQUE

IF #2 QUICK CROSSER -- PASS OFF TO HOLE PLAYER - SETTLE AND ZONE QBs EYES

SEAM TECHNIQUE

S
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VERSUS ANY SCREEN -- SEAM PLAYER TRIGGERS

HOLE TECHNIQUE

HOLE TECHNIQUE

LB

PATTERN READ OFF #3 RECEIVER -- OFTEN BACK IN BACKFIELD

HOLE TECHNIQUE

LB

DROP OVER #3 AS YOU READ HIS ROUTE -- NO RECEIVER THREAT DRIVE ON #3

HOLE TECHNIQUE

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DROP OVER #3 AS YOU READ HIS ROUTE IF THREAT BY #2 WALL OFF AND ROLL

PULL TECHNIQUE
1

R
**FLAT-FOOT
READ

LB
**WIDEN AS
NEEDED

VERSUS THREE STANDS UPS

PULL TECHNIQUE

LB

WORK PULL WITH HOLE -- INSIDE/OUTSIDE CUTTERS

PULL TECHNIQUE

LB

DO NOT CUT SLANT OF #2 IN PULL HOLD CURL IF YOU GET FLAT -- HOLE PLAYER DRIVE NEW #3

BANJO TECHNIQUE

LB

HOLE PLAYER WILL CUT SHORT CROSSER SEAM PLAYER WILL PLAY AS TWO STAND UPS

BANJO TECHNIQUE

LB

HOLE PLAYER CARRY VERTICIAL BY #3 LOOK FOR CROSSER FROM #2

PULL TECHNIQUE

LB

HOLE PLAYER DRIVE NEW #3 SEAM PLAYER HEAVY OVER #3

FREE SAFETY
PLAY

FREE SAFETY PLAY

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ALIGN IN MIDDLE OF FIELD PERFORMANCE IS PRIORITY

FREE SAFETY PLAY

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BALL ON HASH -- SPLIT DIFFERENCE #2 AND BALL

FREE SAFETY PLAY

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ZONE MIDDLE THIRD FAVOR TO SKILL BE FAST ON QBs INTENTIONS

CORNER PLAY

CORNER PLAY
40
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VERSUS NORMAL WIDE RECEIVER SPLIT

CORNER PLAY
40
1
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VERSUS WIDE SPLIT BY WIDE RECEIVER

CORNER PLAY
40
2
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VERSUS TIGHT SPLIT BY WIDE RECEIVER

CORNER PLAY

SINGLE WIDTH: PLAY AN INSIDE THIRD MAN ALL THREATENING RELEASES POST PROTECT

CORNER PLAY

PUSH OUT TO SLOW PEDDLE - KEY FOR QUICK THREE STEP PASSING GAME AT SNAP

CORNER PLAY

BREAK UP ON ALL NORMAL BREAKING ROUTES

CORNER PLAY

BREAK UP ON ALL NORMAL BREAKING ROUTES

CORNER PLAY

TURN AND DRIVE ON DEEP SHOULDER OF RECEIVER ON POST

CORNER PLAY

CLOSE AND PLAY CHASE ON DIG

CORNER PLAY

TURN AND GAIN HIP POSITION ON FADE

CORNER PLAY

40
7

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VERSUS MULTIPLE STANDS UPS NORMAL SPLIT

CORNER PLAY

40
3
7

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VERSUS MULTIPLE STANDS UPS WIDE SPLIT

CORNER PLAY

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VERSUS MULTIPLE STANDS UPS PLAY DIVIDER TECHNIQUE TRUE ZONE

CORNER PLAY

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VERSUS MULTIPLE STANDS UPS PLAY DIVIDER TECHNIQUE TRUE ZONE

CORNER PLAY

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VERSUS MULTIPLE STANDS UPS IF #2 CANCELS OUT DRIVE ON #1