Defending Empty Formations
Empty formations are all over the league.Some teams use it like the Chiefs to dictate coverage: When teams walk a ss or lb out on the rb or te who is flexed, it is a clear indication it is man coverage. Some teams won't disguise and check the coverage when they motion that man back in.
Then there are of course the plays team will run out of empty. Some defensive teams check to empty other teams run the coverage called in the huddle. Not sure what each teams philosophy is but here's a look at some variations of what teams have shown.
The biggest flaw is that many teams make it easy on teams from a protection standpoint. In the NFl you don't see many teams playing or showing cover 0 to it.
That being said you need to ask yourself these questions as a defensive coordinator:
1. What route concepts will they run?
2. Will those route concepts be progression based and universal or man/zone beaters built in. Meaning if you get man I will go here with the ball and if I get zone coverage will I go here with the ball.
3. What will they do when they feel cover 0 is coming. Do they have an answer for cover 0 and can you possible disguise, get them to check cover 0 and maybe change the coverage post snap and get some rat defenders underneath. Bluff one way and drop to the site of where they are throwing hot.
4. Will they run the qb if they get the look they want. Example, 3x1 motion to empty and we run the lb out. Will they run the qb draw. Those type of questions.
Here are some coverages and ways team play it at the NFl and College Level:
For example:
Cover 3
When you align a safety at 15 yards you basically are telling the offense it's a 5 man rush. It makes their protection calls rather simple because they just have to make a right or left call.
The Titans used the concept 2x vs the Jaguars. They get an interception. The Titans engage their 2 ILB and then drop them into the hook. It's successful as Lawrence doesn't see the Rat defender and gets a nice pick.
2nd and 11
Wisconsin Defense
cover 2 presnap- cover 3
They go with an odd look, show cover 2 but convert it to a cover 3 with a spy defender on the running qb Justin Fields. Starts cover 2 pre snap
Cover 3
Here you see a cover 3 look, the SS at 18 and the fs at 6 yards. Pretty clear indicator you are getting cover 3/1 pre snap. Post snap becomes 3 and the Texans hit the choice route by #3 for a 44 yard touchdown. He runs past the hook defender to the void( he could have broken it in or run a whip back outside) is my guess but they hit it based on the easy read and progression.
At half time the Rams make an adjustment in empty. they check release the tight end and rb. Here another double mug look but the Dolphins go cover 3
Rams are tentative, leads to a Dolphins sack as the mug look, sim pressure gives the Rams headaches
But the single high look should give away they are probably going to bail on 3rd and 13
Cover 3 from a mug look
Cover 3 5 Man Pressures
Penn State overload cover 3 (4 to a side). Penn State brings 4 and plays 3 under 3 deep cover 3. DE drops to the flat weakside. Ohio State reads man pre snap and tries to work to the boundary.
They guess Ohio State is throwing hot off the right side of their offense.
Bills vs Chargers
bring the Mike 5 man pressure cover 3
Bills show pressure and dictate the pass call moving the center to the left. The olb bails and they bring the mike thru the b gap. He comes clean and they knock down. Great design by The Bills.
When you align 2 safeties at 12-14 yards. You may get some kind of 1 high look from the 2 high with either 2 man lurk or cover 3 but again, the protection should be sorted out. Heres an example of cover 2 pre snap and post snap. It seems like everyone likes this concept with a stick option up top or the hitch at the curl defender with the slant bender behind it. Easy 10 yard completion for the Texans.
Falcons
4 man sim pressure cover 2
2nd and 10 The Falcons are in nickel, They are showing with the 2 ilb but bring the nickel off the edge.
Bear Cover 2
95 comes clean from depth
Nice Design.
Man to Man Conepts
5 man pressures
Man Free:
The Bears run a man free stunt in 2019 with Fangio as the dc
The odd front occupies the center and creates an advantage with the sam coming off the edge.
Get the free rusher
nose creates the 3x3 on the left side
Here the Bills run a cover 1 pressure vs the Jets
The Jets see it throw to the flat but the quick pressure on White causes an errant throw.
5 man pressure with man free. Sam coming off the edge. Mike has the rb man to man. TE played by the other lb.
Here's a clip of the below:
Ravens bring 5 with a nice edge pressure and play man free. Wink gets into his exotic look with 5 players standing up and brings the nickel sam off the edge.
They get the free rusher with alignment, They play the TE man with the OLB
Nice design by Wink Martindale
Eagles defense
COVER 0 with and without mug looks
What you don't see enough of at the pro level is showing cover 0 and playing from there. If you show cover 0, with some mug pressure looks you will force the following:
1. They may bring the TE in and make it a 6 man protection to help vs cover 0.
2. They will throw hot and you may be able to get them by moving from a cover 0 look to some kind of zone/man free concept.
3. They may full slide it and that could free up one of the defensive ends if you mug it and that may free up a defensive end in pressure and then you can get cute and drop a defensive lineman or LB back into coverage.
Here the Dolphins go double b gap look showing cover 0 ?Why double B, you force a slide protection and the end comes free. They ran this pressure the first 2 times in the Ram game. One incomplete, one interception.
COVER 0 RAT
After 2 times of running the double b mug look with 6 man pressure, still man but they drop 2 men into the passing lanes and get a pick. Again its a cover 0 look but the double mug, you will often get an alert route with the slant/out combo or someone running a slant. They get it and get the pick based on the pressure.
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| Rams Drop def lineman and LB as Rats |
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| Def Lineman gets the interception |
After 2 times of running the double b mug look with 6 man pressure, still man but they drop 2 men into the passing lanes and get a pick. Lets explain
Here they run a slant and the Dolphins send 6 man pressure, straight man to man
So the next time, they show the same look and drop 2 players underneath.
Its a Simulated 6 man pressure with 2 rat defenders
The Dolphins get smart and drop two players anticipating the short throw. Nice design and change up.
Combo coverage(part zone, part man)
Falcons bring 4 and drop the de. They play 4 over 3 to the trips side with man on the backside. Do a nice job dictating the coverage and getting the free hit by the LB.
1st and 10
The Ravens D show cover 1 or 3 presnap. Turns out to be combo coverage, cover 3 to the 3wr side and man free to the bottom of the screen
Ben works the man beater side.
At half time the Rams make an adjustment in empty. they check release the tight end and rb. Here another double mug look but the Dolphins go cover 3
Rams are tentative, leads to a Dolphins sack as the mug look, sim pressure gives the Rams headaches
But the single high look should give away they are probably going to bail on 3rd and 13
The Steelers vs Ravens.
The Steelers are tough because they are in empty as much as any team. The Ravens tried many different defenses against the Steelers.
First Half 3 snaps of empty , 2nd Half the Steeler ran 21 snaps of empty after they realized they couldn't really run the ball against the Ravens
Coverage chart for the 24 snaps:
vs 4 man rush Man free. 2/4 14 yards (1 pass int penalty)
vs 5 man rush man free 5/6 for 37 yards
vs 4 man rush cover 3. 3/6 for 40
vs 4 man cover 2/2man/2trap 7/7 for 71 yards 2 tds
Falcons
4 man sim pressure cover 2
2nd and 10 The Falcons are in nickel, They are showing with the 2 ilb but bring the nickel off the edge.
Heres a 5 man pressure the Jets brought vs the Rams .They do it from their 3-2 dime look.
They bring 2 off the edge and the lb gets free and causes a fumble with a big hit on Goff. They do a nice job in man free downfield.
Notre Dame Defense vs clemson. goes cover 0
