Football Cover 3 variations and concepts at the NFL and College Level

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This article takes a look at some cover 3 variations that you see at the pro and college level. We will look at some different cover 3 rotations both strong and weak from a 3, 4 and 5 man pass rush.

The big difference between the NFL and college is NFl teams will carry the seem routes vertical for 14-18 yards and give up those short flat throws at times. They will match often with #1 on the outside with the cb taking all of 1 vertically. They are more match based in the nfl and you will see some examples below.

Also, in the NFL you don't have hash marks so it's more of a 3 strong, 3 weak concept. In college you have the added hash marks so you will see some more coverages to the field. 

COVER 3 WEAK 

The Patriots run cover 3 weak vs. the Chargers. The coverage confuses Herbert as it starts as a 2 high. He takes the check down as the pressure forces him to take the easy completion on 3rd and 9. The Patriots rally and get off the field.

The game they run gets home. Excellent design and pressure combined with excellent coverage downfield.

COVER 3 PLUG WEAK.

This is a 3 read situation vs 3x1. The weak safety is playing the curl and looking for a crosser weak vs 3x1.

Here's some clips of the Bills running cover 3 vs the Chargers

The Broncos run a 3 weak variation vs the SF 49ers. They do a great job of understanding the 49ers routes and do a great job matching vertically. 

49ers motion and then post snap Kittle goes across as they full slide in protection. This allows the LCB to match #1 vertically as he has no other threat vertically.

The LCB and RCB are matching both outside wr vertically. 

Jimmy G tries to hit the comeback but is very well covered. 

The Seahawks run cover 3 weak out of their bear front. 

Haskins checks it down to the back for a  2 yard gain.

COVER 3 STRONG

One thing teams will do is try to run a stick concept vs cover 3. Texas A & M tries to run it out of 12 personnel. Your Mike lb has to be aggressive in his 3 to 2 progression. Here Florida does a nice job with their mike and ss. The SS takes the flat defender and the Mike does an excellent job pushing to #3. The will gets under the dig and their is no place to go with the football. Nice job matching it off by Florida.

3 MAN RUSH 8 MAN COVERAGES

COVER 3 STRONG

Kentucky vs Miss State

Here's cover 3 at the college level with a 3 man rush. The ball is on the defensive right hash so Kentucky runs cover 3 to the strong side of the field.

On 1st and 10, they play it again, cover 3 to the field with the safety inserting and the sam LB buzzing the flat.  Costello works the man side and could have thrown the ball to #2 on the bottom of the screen but took the check down and ends up getting 5 yards. For much of the day Kentucky took away the deeper passes with coverage.

Again, these are just 2 variations of cover 3 strong.

COVER 3 FIRE ZONE 5 MAN PRESSURES

3rd and 9

Seahawks in a load front and bring the extra defensive back.  They  bring the Sam and the Mike and the pressure causes a quick throw

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In the 2nd example they go cover 3 fire zone and force Haskins into working the man side. Nice disguise and Adams makes an excellent play on the weak side of the fire zone. If he worked the zone beater side he had an easy first down with the spacing concepts.

Here are the 2 clips of the plays above. 

Here Florida plays the Texas A & M Aggies and they bring a fire zone pressure from the boundary. They match the route concepts nicely and force a really tough pass on the shallow cross concept. Texas A & M does a nice job sliding that way and picking up the pressure on the backside. 

These are just some of the cover 3 concepts you will see at the NFL and college level. I will be adding some more real soon.