NFL Red Zone Defense-Pass defense concepts and coverages

 This post takes a look at some of the coverages you will see inside the redzone. You will see various team concepts and defenses.

I guess this stat doesn't matter as much because the worst team in the red zone defensively is the KC Chiefs, allowing 74% of teams to score touchdowns.

The best teams were Denver and Washington.

Here are some coverage concepts:

MAN FREE

On 3rd and 7 the Denver Broncos have the ball on the Patriots 9 yard line. Patriots man free with 5 man pressure

The Patriots work out of a 3 down 3 lb odd look. The Patriots are sending 5 with olb to the side of the back with peel rules.

Great coverage downfield forces the Broncos to throw it away and settle for a field goal.

Bracket coverage

3rd and 6 on the goaline .Broncos come out 2x2 with te, flanker up t op

Here the Pats run a bracket concept with the 2 safeties looking to help on any in breaking routes

3rd and 5 the Patriots play Bracket to the passing strength, the 2 wr side and straight up to the te, flanker side. Lock has no place to go with the ball and runs it for 1 yard gain, setting up another field goal

Colts 3rd and 5 vs the Vikings

They go man to man and bracket Thielen and Rudolph and go man on everyone else. Nice job as they force the Vikings into a field goal.

Steelers bracket vs Bengals 

3rd and goal from the 5

They play bracket on the inside #2 wr  to the top of the screen and then to the single side they have the safety helping inside on #1. The sam is playing outside man leverage because he knows he has help inside. 

ILB on the tight end and the rb .They get pressure and get the sack.

Bills bracket vs Chargers.

The Bills bracket Henry with inside help from the safety and the #2 wr to the top of the screen. Inside help on both and the lb to the strong side takes the flat and mike takes the curl. 

Zone coverage 

Washington was the best in the league in red zone defense. They play 1/4s with bracket principles. 

Here they run zone with a bracket concept on Gronk and playing the rb with the rb out.

Sam is aggressive to the flat. Mike is aggressive playing off #3 looking for anything inside.

Brady has to throw it away as the pressure gets home and everything is covered. 

Bucs vs. WFT

1st and goal on the 9

cover 4

Bucs rush 3 play cover 4 with 2 flat , 2 hook defenders. They usually go to their 5 man front with Paul and Barrett outside but drop them both this time.

3rd and 5 The Bucs get 3x1 from Washington,

They Bracket to the single side the #1 wr with the rb being played by the lb. To the 3x1 side they end up bracketing the #2 wr.

Lastly a traditional read #3  combo coverage with the safety playing man with the cb and lb to the 1 Wr side.

Here are some of the coverages you will see on the goal line. Like many of my posts I will add more as we go throughout the offseason.