Demeco Ryans defense- fronts, run fits base coverages and 3rd down package.

 

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This section looks at their 4-2, 4-3 and bear package. It also takes a look at some 3rd down concepts which includes their load front and mug pressure package.

Fronts 

In addition to their  nickel 4-2 they have certain packages vs 12 personnel and heavy packages.

vs 12 you will see them play some traditional 4-3 with either cover 3 or 2 with 3 lb's in the game. Below, the DE is the d gap players, sam has c, mike has A gap and the will B gap.

Example #1

Nice job of everyone doing  their jobs in the base front vs 12 balanced.

Example #2 vs Seattle. 

Movements

One of my favorite run stunts is when they move the DT from a 2i across the centers face and fill the offside LB to the A Gap. Good against all defenses 

                                                

Bear Package

In addition to their traditional 4-2 and 4-3 fronts vs 12 you will see them be in bear at times and they used  it vs the Seahawks in the playoffs.

mike 54 plays front side A and 57 the will plays the c gap on the backside. CB plays the edge if it spills  and Bosa 97 is the d gap player.

Another 12 formation, this time 3x1 and they stay in their 4-3 base package. They slide the LB's over because it's 3x1 and they bring the Safety Hufanga 29 down around the ball weak and play 3 weak.

 vs 13 personnel

In both clips below you will notice they play it the same way to the 3 te side.

1. DE plays crease technique on the TE and h back

2. SS comes inside the 3rd tight end because he knows the cb is outside playing it tough.

Technique stays the same with both fronts.

4-3

do a nice job on the front side and the lb with the nice run thru

Bear Front vs 13

You can see all heads in a gap. Great across the board. 

Ball gets bounced to the cb who is there to make the tackle. 

Kicks out to. the cb and he makes the tackle forcing 4th down.

Film shows both schemes below.

Coverages

They will play a handful of 3 weak, 3 strong, cover 2 and man free on early downs. I will post some clips shortly.

cover 3 strong  is one of their base coverages. (film below)

cover 3 weak is another.

They play it 3x1 with the safety Hufanga rolling down weak. (film below)

2 clips 

Another example is when the Hawks come out in 21 and run boot. The 49ers go 3 weak and get underneath the deeper route and force the check down on the boot.

3 weak vs Chargers

similar concept as shown earlier.

3rd down

You will see some 3rd down coverages. One is they play 2 hole with some of the condensed formations. They take away the windows in the middle of the field. Heres an example of the defense below. 

They go double mug which forces the Seahawks to keep their rb in. They then play cover 2. Seahawks run a nice route combo and get the first down.

Load Front

Here's another 3rd down and they run the load front. They run a game with the defensive end and the nose guard. They play 3 weak and get the sack with the excellent coverage down field.

Empty formation. Presnap 2 shell.

post snap, start moving to 3 weak with safety to top of the screen strarting to come down.

THE LDE and LDT running the game from the load front. (3 d lineman on the same side)

As the pocket collapses you can see there is no place to go with the ball. Excellent spacing defensively getting underneath routes and the safety playing great divider technique between #2 and 3. 

Another Load Front

Mike goes on the pressure.

They play man free with the LB responsible for the running back playing underneath once the running back blocks.

Here it is, load to the left. with the mike and will mug look. Interesting here because Fred Warner is the 4th de as it's really a 3-3 formation grouping

You can see here #54 Fred Warner is a de on the right. It's 3-3 personnel.

The mike will go 56 to the left a gap with the nose going to the right A gap.

57 drops and has the rb but he stays in and blocks so 57 drops and acts as a rat defender.

57 linebacker helps on the in route where the qb wants to go with the ball so it works out well and they get the coverage sack.

film below.

Pass defense-2 man lurk coverage at the NFL and College Level

 2 man lurk is a coverage you will see that is successful vs 3x1 and 2x2. The whole concept is to use one of your safeties as a hole defender and the other as a deep 1/3 player. It starts from a 2 high shell and then shifts to this.

Teams will often use the concept off the pass route concepts they expect to see. This will often be determined by formation and splits. Teams that have a tendency to throw those intermediate type routes will often see the defense from opponents.

Here's some examples of the concept below

2 man hole(lurk concept)

Saints vs 49ers 

3rd and 4

The Saints are in a load front with 3 defensive lineman to one side. The Saints show 2 high but play 2 man hole and the lb blitz engages the rb. The safety opposite trips is looking for a crosser.

Saints show 2 high to start and rotate on the snap

Safety dives and lurks. Plays the hole

3rd and 8 The Eagles go 2 man hole vs the Seahawks.

The Hawks run 1 and 3 on 8 yard in routes and they hit #1 on the 8 yard in for the first down. The Eagles took away #3 with the hole defender but #1 was open.

The safety dives down and plays the hole with the other safety going middle 1/3

Nice design

3rd and 10 vs Chargers

Really this is man free but the cb and fs weak make this really interesting. The pats put the safety on #1 if he goes across, which he does and leave the cb weak to play crossers. Really an interesting concept.

Nice design as they pass it off and the safety takes the crosser.

Nice execution by the Patriots defense as the safety and CB play a combo concept.

Man free 5 man pressure- 4 -2 look with a lurk concept oppoisite 3x1

Bills bring 2 inside rushers and play man free with both DE peeling for the RB and tight end. Good design vs 3x1 and the jets passing game.

safety drops down opposite 3x1. Teams will often pick the player based on formation.

Safety takes the crosser away and is in great position.

Nice defense

2 man lurk concept to the side of the 3x1

Steelers  run man free with using the free safety as a rat. They end up getting a huge interception for a pick 6. Great changeup by the Steelers and great read by the free safety.

Broncos seal the game vs the 49ers using the coverage.

You can see the weak safety just sitting in the hole waiting for a crosser.

He sees the crosser. The mike has the RB but is a rat defender which because the rb blocked, stays underneath as a rat defender. 

Nice defense.

Good execution as they disguise from a 2 high look and drop down to play the lurk concept.

Patrits Defense

The Patriots are great at calling coverages by recognizing splits and formation. Here they recognize the Jets in their stack set. The Jets run a shallow cross with the dig concept and the safety is in perfect position to take away option 1 and 2, which is the shallow cross to the dig. 

Here the Patriots version

safety drops down to play the crosser

They take away option #1 and #2

They do a nice late game with the concept. RB stays in and the LB probably has him. 

The stunt up front

This is 3rd and 5. They play man free with the safety looking to jump crossers.

The Bills run an option route with Beasley underneath. Beasley wins the 1x1 matchup but the coverage downfield was very good. #14 Diggs was taken by the safety playing the crosser and double teamed.

The safety is opposite 3x1 diving into the hole area.                

The safety is there to take away the crossing route.

Here they run it vs 3x1 vs Kittle and the 49ers.

Take away kittle as the safety is looking for him crossing. Really the game plan looked like your guy doesn't release, help on Kittle. 

It's 3rd and 2

The qb tries to force it to kittle instead of the check down vs man free lurk concept.

The coverage starts as a 2 high look with the safety helping on any deep crossing route. The single cb is on an island in man to man. 

                        

They rob it with the safety opposite the trips. Nice job by the safety.

Nice job as the safety is in the middle of the field robbing it. Nice jb by the rat defender getting in the passing lane as well.

Good scheme and design by NE

Concept # 4. Man free with the cb as the lurk/robber

Here is the free man robber concept with the cb playing the crosser. 

3rd and 10 vs Chargers

Really this is man free but the cb and fs weak make this really interesting. 

Here's the concept to the 1 wr side. 

The rule is the Cb and safety read the release of the #1 wr. If  #1  goes across, which he does the safety will take him  and leave the cb weak to play crossers.If the wr releases outside, the cb will take him and the safety will take the crosser.   Really an interesting concept.

Nice bo with the CB robbing concept

They have droppers underneath.

Michigan runs it with Minter vs Penn State in 21. They play 2 man lurk and really do a nice job getting the safety playing off #3. The Rb and te are being played by the 2 LB in combo technique. One will take the te if he goes inside which they end up doing. Penn State runs a nice play vs it with the rb rail route on the wheel. 

They play lurk off 2 and 3 strong

they play combo on TE and RB

Michigan has the safety watiting for the wr with the double team.

               Nice coverage concept by the Michigan Defense  

Hope you enjoyed this explanation of 2 man lurk coverage.