In todays world you have seen an evolution where teams are starting to use 3x1 trips checks involving 3 safety variations. More and more teams are going to cover 2 scenarios with a hole defender and playing 3 buzz from a 3 safety look This article is more old school where we analyze some older concepts that allows you to play 2 safeties over the top to help cap routes by WR and keep the integrity of your 2 high shell. You may play some man on the outside but Let’s take a look at some common 3x1 checks you can utilize in your defensive scheme that allows you to play split field concepts and keep a 2 high structure with some man and match principles mixed in on the outside.
This article looks at Stubbie or what some people call special, Stump, Clip(cut) and Cover 4 Poach. They are 4 common 3x1 checks you see in football from the Nick Saban tree. I will also discuss some of the 3x1 single side adjustments and tools you can use in your toolbox. You need to have variations on the single side for a few reasons. #1, is when teams put their best WR their and you don’t trust your CB enough. Then you may play bracket. If you can handle the #1 WR weak, you may do more with the safety to the field and play poach technique, keying #3 to #2. These techniques and also the ability to send 5 and play these split field concepts will also be looked at!
Let’s first talk about the passing strength of the formation side.
Stubbie coverage or what many of you call special is a popular 3x1 check.
Stubbie (or "Special") is a 3x1 trips coverage that was popular under Nick Saban and Jeremy Pruitt. To the 3x1 strength, locks the cornerback in man-to-man (MEG - Man Everywhere he Goes) on the #1 receiver while playing "palms" or 2-read coverage on the #2 and #3 receivers. It is a split-field coverage where the Nickel (or STAR) and safety form a triangle to handle inside routes, often allowing the linebacker to stay in the box for run support.
Stubbie Coverage Rules
Cornerback: Plays MEG (Man Everywhere he Goes) on #1, usually in press alignment.
Strong Apex/Nickel: Takes all of #2 vertical. If #2 is not vertical, they help with #3 or to the flat.
$ 3 to 2 push to 3 unless 2 comes back inside $ post technique- He is responsible for 2/3 first inside at 5-7 yards. When the linebacker reads a pass, he “posts” the No. 3 receiver. This means he uses his body to wall off the receiver at a depth of 5–7 yards, forcing the receiver to go over the top rather than allowing a clean inside or shallow break. Force the WR over the top!
Safety: Plays deep half, generally taking #2 vertical or bracketing #1 if needed.
Goal: Isolates the outside receiver to allow the rest of the defense to manage the trips structure.
Benefits of Stubbie:
It takes away the #1 WR which is a difficult throw, especially if the ball is on the hash.
It allows you to support the run
You can change the backside #1 rules depending on whose back there. I ll show some examples below. You can blitz a safety or LB and play man. You can poach #3 with the safety depending on the release of #1. You can play zone on that side(cover2 or 4) You have options because 2 and 3 to the strong side are fully accounted for. Lastly, which many teams do, they bracket #1 with the safety. This allows him to be aggressive in the run fit.
This video shows how the cornerback plays man-to-man in Stubbie coverage:
Stubbie Clips
#1 Ravens play stubbie to the trips side. The safety drives hard and breaks up the pass as they are reading 2-3. They are playing cover 2 to the weak side.
2nd Film Example
The Chiefs concept on the front side, quarters on the back side(will get into backside adjustments later)
CB takes all of 1, nickel stays outside playing 2-3 and the $ is 3 to 2 as he looks to wall #3.
Stubbie with a bracket weak
Oregon and Dan Lanning play Stubbie with bracket to the single side. The safety and CB create a bracket defender on #1. This allows him to be an aggressive defender in the run fit.
Stubbie with bracket concept weak. Push call with tear motion. LB widen with the motion but still have the weak safety to get into the run fit.
Oregon Clip #2
Stump Coverage Rules
I consider this very similar to press quarters rules, except the CB is off and not at 2 yards. It’s a good smash Adjustment: If the corner makes an “under” call on a short #1 route, the Apex defender takes the #1 in the flat.
Cornerback: Plays “Mod” or “Off” techniques. Reads #1; if #1 runs a short route (under 5 yards, e.g., a hitch), the corner zones off to assist with #2 or #3.
$ post technique- He is responsible for 2/3 first inside at 5-7 yards. When the linebacker reads a pass, he “posts” the No. 3 receiver. This means he uses his body to wall off the receiver at a depth of 5–7 yards, forcing the receiver to go over the top rather than allowing a clean inside or shallow break. Force the WR over the top!
Mike: 1st back his side, if back goes across- 3/4 push, the Mike becomes the poster and the $ will take the
Safety: read 3 to 2-If TE is attached line up 10/2 outside, if detaches line head up at 10.
Goal: Defends against “smash” route combinations (short hitch + corner route) better than pure man coverage
Again ILB, if the RB goes to the strung side , we make a push call, the $ takes the RB and the Mike will carry the y to the post
Stump film analysis
