football defending 3x1 formations part 3 zone coverage

 Part 3-NFL Zone Coverages vs 3x1 

Zone Coverages is another way that NFL Teams handle 3x1. You will see cover 2, cover 3, 1/4 to trips with half field safety coverage and some other crossing concepts where the safety looks for 2/3 on the crossing route with cover 3 principles. There are many variations but here are some of the zone coverages you see in the NFL. 

New: 

Baylor's zone concept: Quarters to 3x1 and cone to the single side. Cone is where you  play a read technique to the 1 wr side with the CB and safety. 

Weak CB- IF #1 releases inside you will get help from the safety. #1 releases outside, he's yours expect no help. 

Weak Safety- #1 releases in side help on him. #1 releases outside, look to help the other way on a #3 vertical route. 

Cover 2 hole the Buffalo Bills Vs The Jets

The Bills are in nickel and they use the weak safety as a middle hole defender. They play cover 2 with everyone else but have the safety play the hole at 18 yards. 

Cover 2 hole

Cover 3 variations

3rd and 8 

The Texans go cover 3,

They switch the sam and nickel on the snap. One playing the hook and the nickel aligned over #3 buzzes the flat. Presnap looks like a cover 1 look.

Another cover 3 variation

Colts go cover 3 bring the safety weak down to play the curl flat against the Texans.

Traditional Cover 2 

Cover 2 example #1 

5 man pressure

The Bucs bring 5 and play cover 2 after showing single high presnap.

Cover 2 example #2

Tampa 2

Seahawks run a cb fire. DT drops to play the curl and they roll to a cover 2 look. Nice pressure concept, forces the check down and the Seahawks hold them to 1 yard on the reception.

 

Mike is walling #3 to #2

cover 4 variations

 1/4, 1,4 ,1/2 

Here the Steelers play the coverage.

Down and distance 3rd and 4  1/4 coverage to the trips side with cover 2 to the 1 wr side. The qb throws the swing even though it isn't man and the cb makes the tackle for no gain. He should have worked the mesh.

Nice job by the Steelers with the quarters coverage RG 3 reads the coverage as man and goes to the back .(poor read)

Steelers do a nice job and get off the field on a 3rd and 4. 

Here’s another example, chiefs get 4 over 3 to the 3x1 vs the saints.

Flat defender, Sam as curl defender and cb  and safety have 1/4

These are just some of the zone concepts you will see from NFL teams. I will add more as the year goes on.