Defending Trips-Defending 3x1 with Zone Coverage Concepts
NFL Zone Coverages vs 3x1
3x1 checks are a big part of college football and the nfl. Teams usually can check with zone, man or combo coverage.
Zone Coverages is another way that NFL Teams handle 3x1. You will see cover 2, cover 3, 1/4 to trips with half field safety coverage and some other crossing concepts where the safety looks for 2/3 on the crossing route with cover 3 principles. There are many variations but here are some of the zone coverages you see in the NFL.
JMU Cover 42
3x1 side Cover 4
single side cover 2
Pressure 5 man with the OLB and ILB coming off the side to the 1.
The Left DE drops to the curl to the 3x1 side.
New:
Baylor's zone concept: Quarters to 3x1 and cone to the single side. Cone is where you play a read technique to the 1 wr side with the CB and safety.
Weak CB- IF #1 releases inside you will get help from the safety. #1 releases outside, he's yours expect no help.
Weak Safety- #1 releases in side help on him. #1 releases outside, look to help the other way on a #3 vertical route.
You see the cone concept to the single side.
quarters to the top of the screen.
Baylor Sim Cover 2
They get formation into the boundary with the trips into the boundary.
They send. the mike and play cover 2
Cover 2 hole the Buffalo Bills Vs The Jets
Cover 2 is a basic cover 2 with a middle hole safety as the hook player. It is very similar to Tampa 2 but they do it with a db in the middle of the field.
The Bills are in nickel and they use the weak safety as a middle hole defender. They play cover 2 with everyone else but have the safety play the hole at 18 yards.
Offense runs a dig pattern behind the post. Its a good concept but the Bills defend it well.
They get good depth and take away the dig and the smash.
Cover 2 hole
The Lions version.
The free safety drops to the hole and the safeties who were aligned in the curl at 6 yards become the deep 1/2 players.
disguise was good and the execution was very solid.
Cover 3 variations
3rd and 8
The Texans go cover 3,
They switch the sam and nickel on the snap. One playing the hook and the nickel aligned over #3 buzzes the flat. Presnap looks like a cover 1 look.
They buzz the flat.
Pocket breaks down and they get sacked.
Another cover 3 variation
Colts go cover 3 bring the safety weak down to play the curl flat against the Texans.
Another cover 3 variation
see that it develops.
Traditional Cover 2
Cover 2 example #1
5 man pressure
The Bucs bring 5 and play cover 2 after showing single high presnap.
Nice disguise
The disguise works well.
Cover 2 example #2
cover 2 nice coverage but Mahomes reads it.
Tampa 2
Seahawks run a cb fire. DT drops to play the curl and they roll to a cover 2 look. Nice pressure concept, forces the check down and the Seahawks hold them to 1 yard on the reception.
Mike is walling #3 to #2
cover 4 variations
1/4, 1,4 ,1/2
Here the Steelers play the coverage.
Down and distance 3rd and 4 1/4 coverage to the trips side with cover 2 to the 1 wr side. The qb throws the swing even though it isn't man and the cb makes the tackle for no gain. He should have worked the mesh.
Steelers do a nice job and get off the field on a 3rd and 4.
These are just some of the zone concepts you will see from NFL teams. I will add more as the year goes on.