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.

Demeco Ryans- Coaching Football Defense 49ers Early Down Safety Blitzes

The 49ers are primarily a 4-3 defense but will be in a 4-2 nickel at times awe ll. they have an excellent defensive package, playing cover 3, cover 2 and man free concepts.

Let's look at their pressure package in which they will often play cover 3. They ran these packages on early downs often with their safety Hufanga who is an excellent blitzer. They had great success with the package and were a top 5 defense again in 2022. As a result, Demeco Ryans got a head job in Houston.

Pressure Package

 On first down you will often see the 49ers bring their safety blitz or pressure in general. It is effective vs teams that like to go play action and throw the ball on 1st down.  They did it several times during the season and in the playoffs vs the Cowboys. It is a staple that they like, especially on early downs. I often see them Bring Hufanga who likes to prowl on the line of scrimmage. 

They play press bail (man turn which I find interesting, but play curl, hook, curl underneath. Basic cover 3 underneath.

In the picture below, Broncos throw the fade although they had the stick route to the bottom of the screen. The good coverage forced the incomplete pass as Wilson tried to throw into pressure

Nice pressure with 3 under 3 deep coverages.

Nice design pressure forces quick throw to the 1 wr side.

13 personnel

In example #2, the Broncos go 13 personnel. The 49ers bring the safety to the weak side and keep the cb over the top in cover 3. Nicely designed pressure as the Broncos are trying to run tight zone out of 13 with 4 double teams. 

De slices and between the 2 te and no one takes the safety off the edge.

Heres how they aingn the 13 personnel. with the wing the DE aligns in the gap between both TE.

Denver tries to get 4 double teams but noon blocks the safety.

Safety squeezes and gets home untouched and makes the tackle.

12 personnel

vs the Broncos

Again they bring the safety to the TE wing side.

In the next picture they get 12 personnel and bring the safety again.

They do a great job of cover 3 and always do a nice job with the mike carrying #2 or 3 vertically. 

THE RCB is waiting for the crossing route as #1 his side blocks.

Heres one more clip of Hufanga coming off the edge vs the Broncos. Great timing and just an excellent blitzer.

They also ran a few of the similar pressures on 1st down vs  the Seahawks when the Seahawks were driving. The Seahawks run right into it and they defense shuts it down. 

Nice job with the pressure.

Good coverage downfield

Every gp is filled front side.

No place to run as the DT do the job and 57 is unblocked should it get to him.

So they ran the same stunt a few times vs the Cowboys in the playoffs. Surprised how easily they ran it because it was such a staple in their defense this year.

THey caught them early and late when the Cowboys went to their jumbo package.

Both  times he came clean on the play

Example #1  

29 times it up great and gets great pressure .

Example #2 

Cowboys go 13 heavy and have Gallup on the outside 1x1. The 49ers sell out on the run and you kind of get the feeling Hufanga is coming. I think Dak has to check out here as this is a pivotal play late in the game with the score 16-12. The 1st and 10 set them back 6 yards.

Vs the Saints week 10

22 personnel 

Hufanga comes off the edge. The blitz side DE and DT go inside, DE b gap, DT offside A gap

Hufanga comes clean.

Nice scheme Hufanga disrupts everything.

vs the Panthers 11 personnel

1st and 10 

These are just some of the pressures you will see from Coach Ryans and company. More analysis of the 49ers defense to follow.

Kentucky Using the WR as a lead blocker and wrapper in their run Game

Kentucky in 2021 was a very good offensive football team. They did an outstanding job and scored 32 points per game under Coach Liam Coen, Some of is it was because of some of the schemes he took from the 49ers and Rams before ironically joining them in 2022 in the NFL. 

One play he runs is duo. Kentucky does a great job running duo with the front side wr executing a find block on the perimeter. On the play its Duo blocking with the opposite wr wrapping around to the other side to block #4 in the defensive scheme. It is traditional duo blocking with the RB reading the playside lb on whether to keep it inside or bounce it on the perimeter. 

They do an excellent job with this scheme and ran it in a few games. Great play and execution by Kentucky.

Example #2 vs LSU.

They run a similar scheme.

Example #3 

They run it vs Loulsville out of condensed. Y has the #4 and the wr play side blocks the play side safety on the find block. Nice job with the duo combinations up front for an 8 yard gain.

Example #3 

WR leading on the safety

Here's a variation with the wr leading on the safety. They block power with the H back kicking out.

You can see #84 at the x starting to come across and will lead on the safety

Outside TE block the cb

H back kick out the DE

PST on LB

OG block the Nose

Center combo to the backside LB

As always more clips to come!