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Terrance had the following question:
I am a defensive backs coach on the high school level and we run a 34 (52) type defense and Cover 3 Sky and Cloud. We are looking for a third coverage to mix in. What type of robber coverage would you recommend and could it be run with only six men in coverage?
Hi Terrance,
With only six defensive players in coverage, you are going to be forced to only cover three medium zones if you are to have three-deep zone coverage. The idea is to be able to bring a fourth cover man into the medium coverage if the offense allows you to do so.
There is a coverage that you might want to consider. Have your six defensive players (two linebackers and either a safety or corner) drop as they would normally for your six-man Cover 3. The FS, who has deep middle, should key the tight end, or the second receiver in the formation, if there is no tight end.
When the tight end or second receiver releases deep up the field on a Post, Up, Seam, or Corner route or breaks to the sideline on a route to the outside, the FS should continue his drop and stay deep in the middle keying the quarterback and anticipate one of the outside receivers trying to get deep behind him as he drops.
If the tight end blocks or runs across the formation, the FS can stop his drop, sit at 12 yards, focus on the QB and be prepared to jump any crossing pattern by either wide receiver based on the quarterback's step and release.
In his coverage, the free safety must continue to drop deep until he is certain of the action of the tight end or second receiver. This is not coverage where the FS can guess, and it will always be easier and safer to come up late than try to get deep late to stop a touchdown, plus his initial drop deep will give the quarterback a definite three-deep read.
Once he determines what the tight end is doing, it is important that the FS really focus on the QB so that he starts moving the instant the QB starts his throwing motion. He should let the ball take him to the receiver for the interception and not look to the outside to see what the outside receivers are doing. The quarterback, and more importantly, the ball will always guide you in the right direction.
It is very important in this coverage that both of your two outside deep cover men use inside technique on the receiver on his side of the field. If his receiver runs an inside pass route, he should immediately break deep to the center of the field to help the opposite corner on a post route by his receiver.
When the deep outside third player on the two receiver side sees his receiver (the outside receiver) break to the Post, he should continue deep in his third so that he is in position to be a positive factor if the second receiver runs an Out and Up.
This is a very effective coverage that you might want to use on third and long situations versus a pass pattern where the offense may feature the tight end on a Cross route, the flanker on a deep In route, and split end on a Post route.
The underneath LB can cover the TE on the cross, the FS can cover the WR coming to the inside (possible getting a pick) and the two corners can combine to cover the other WR running into the post.
As with any three-deep pass coverage, the outside underneath coverage player should be ready to run with any receiver out of the backfield that tries to go deep to the outside on a swing pass.
One added advantage of this coverage is when the tight end blocks or runs a Cross, the free safety is in better position to help on any screen or draw play that the offense may decide to call, rather than throwing the ball down the field. I hope this gives you some help and a few ideas.
Coach Tom Bass
Coach Tom Bass, the technical writer and advisor for USA Football, is a 30-year NFL coach who has also authored several books, including "Play Football the NFL Way" - the first "how to" book ever authorized and published by the NFL. Coach Bass is happy to personally autograph his books to you. Book ordering information can be found at http://www.coachbass.com/.
