Sunday, April 30, 2023

Steve Spagnuolo pressure packages-Cover 2 fire zones

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Steve Spagnuolo Pressure Packages

Steve Spagnuolo runs several cover 2 fire zones and has been very effective with the blitz.This article looks at some cover 2 pressures used in the Chiefs defense.  We will take a look at how he effectively used 4 and 5 man pass rush pressures utilizing traditional and Tampa cover 2. 

He is very good at creating the free rusher, often times away from the rb. He has a good read on protection and knows how to scheme pressure! He really knows how to create a free rusher from various looks. 

He ran a few of these pressures in the super bowl and ran them throughout the 2022 season. With so much condensed and stacked formations, this technique allows you to run several different pressures but also play cover 2, a relatively safe coverage package. 

This article looks at some cover 2 pressures used in both the NFL and college football. We will take a look at effective 4 and 5 man pass rush pressures utilizing traditional and Tampa cover 2. 

Chiefs cover 2 5 man pressure vs Jaguars Playoffs 2022

Jags motion to 2x2

One of his favorite concepts is  to bring 2 lb/db off each each and drop a defensive tackle. 

You have 2 curl defenders mike and the DT that drop out to play the curl

The blitz gets home with someone in Lawrences face as he throws. 


They force the protection and back on the sam. The LT and LG are 2 slow to react and get out on that side with the DT dropping.

Nice design aa he gets a free rusher.



In the 2nd example, this is vs the 49ers early in the year. This is similar to the coverage concept above. 

Down and Distance:  The 49ers come out  in 12 personnel, wing te to the boundary and stack to the field. They motion Mccaffrey to the  twins.


With the motion the will LB creeps up to the line of scrimmage. Not sure if this was a motion check or just a call they kept. 
The will and the sam lb come on the pressure. They drop the defensive tackle to the curl on the left and the other lb to the curl on the right. 

Spags creates the free rusher scenario as the will comes clean. The guard has to respect the Dt so he can't get out and the tackle is locked on the de. The rest of the line the center, left guard and left tackle are working to the left side and handle the pressure to that side. By the time Jimmy sees it its too late.


Nice design and look from coach Spags


4th quarter game on the line

Similar type cover 2 pressure
First the cover 2 pressure.
PRESNAP-Its a cover 1 look presnap. 
They bring 4 to a side, they bring the will and nickel to the tight end side of 2x2.
They drop the strong side defensive end. The DT contain rushes.


They get great pressure with the 4 to a side blitz. The Nickel and LB both go inside and the LB comes untouched and forces an immediate throw.

They look like presnap cover 1 but rotate to cover 2 on the snap.

You can see the safety get over the top as he takes a great angle. 

Nice defense by the Chiefs. 

In the 4th example.

1st and 10

They go from cover 2 pre snap to cover 1 then back to cover 2 on the snap. Once again they get a free rusher and force a very quick throw for a short gain. Jimmy G sees it and throws into the pressure.

The weak safety creeps up to the line of scrimmage and comes on the snap. The sam drops and becomes the deep 1/2 player. 
See the safeties rotating and the timing is very good. At the snap it still looks single high.
They continue to rotate and if Jimmy G doesn't see it and throw hot it would be another sack. 

The safety comes clean as a result of the design. Another great scheme by Spagnolo and the Chiefs staff.

The ball gets out for a short gain, but a nice design by Coach Spags.

The Last one was in 2021 in the Conference championship vs the Bills.


These are 4 concepts you  can use in your cover 2 fire zone packages. Look at my post for more to come!

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