I've seen people throwing the "Tampa 2" label around a lot lately, mainly in reference to the fact that Lovie loves to run it and Revis is, supposedly, not good for it. Here is a breakdown of the Tampa 2 from Matt Bowen, a former NFL safety. I've also marked the guys we had playing the positions last year to give you an idea of what their responsibilities would be on this play.************Think of this as the first day of meetings during minicamp or the night before training camp opens in a small college lecture hall. Your basic install. We will get into some more exotic blitzes and combination coverages, but for now, we have to start with core coverages.For teams such as Chicago, Indy, Minnesota and the New York Giants with new defensive coordinator Perry Fewell, the Tampa 2 is the base defense that’s always taught first.Cover 2 is your classic 2-deep, 5-under defense with a four-man rush. But in the NFL today, the Tampa 2 essentially turns into a 3-deep, 4-under defense with the Mike (or middle linebacker) running with any inside vertical seam to create a 3-deep look that we would see in Cover 3.Let’s take a look at the diagram. We stayed basic with a base 4-3 look of defense (with a "TEX" stunt along the D-Line) vs. base pro personnel (2WR, 2RB, 1TE) on offense.
The base idea is simple. Drop seven into coverage and let your four man rush force the ball to come out with pressure — allowing the defense to rally to the football, make a tackle and get off the field. That’s why Chicago paid big money for DE Julius Peppers, the Colts rely on Dwight Freeney and the Vikings can play coverage with the pressure of Jared Allen.It looks like a lot going on, but let’s simplify it by position…DE: Rush with contain principles. Force the QB to step up into the pocket. (Clayborn)N: Rush A-gap weak with a two-way go on the offensive guard. (Spence)T: TEX (Tackle/End stunt) with the DE. Contain Rush. Tackle stunts first. (McCoy)DE: TEX (Tackle/End stunt) with T. Scoop to strong side “B gap." (Gholston/Bowers/DTN)WLB: Read run/pass. Drop to weak hook, a depth of 10-12 yards between numbers and hash marks. Slide with the eyes of the QB. (David)MLB: Read run/pass. Open strong and run with any inside vertical route by No. 2. If no vertical by No. 2, drop to a depth of 15 yards and react to any underneath throw. (Foster)SLB: Read run/pass. Drop to strong hook, a depth of 10-12 yards between the numbers and the hash. Slide with the eyes of the QB. (Casillas/Watson)C: Jam and re-route No. 1 to force an inside release. Drop to a depth of 12 yards with zone technique (back to the sideline) to protect the deep 7 (or flag) route. Rally to any ball thrown to the flat. (Revis/Banks)SS: Read release of No. 1 for run/pass key. Drop to a depth of 15-18 yards at your landmark — top of the numbers. Protect the 9 (or fade) route and react to any inside vertical. Verses two verticals, get depth and break downhill on the throw. (Barron)C: Jam and re-route No. 1 to force an inside release. Drop to a depth of 12 yards with zone technique (back to the sideline) to protect the deep 7 (or flag) route. Rally to any ball thrown to the flat. (Revis/Banks)FS: Read release of No. 1 for run/pass key. Drop to a depth of 15-18 yards at your landmark — top of the numbers. Protect the 9 (or fade) route by No.1 and react to any inside vertical. (Goldson)A couple of keys to look at…The Mike Backer is the key to this defense and the reason I highlighted his drop in red. He has to be able to run with that inside vertical throughout the route and only at the throw will he get safety help. Think of Chicago and Brian Urlacher — fast, athletic linebackers who can run. A necessity for this defense.The corners must force an inside release by No. 1 or the safeties will have to widen off their landmarks (top of the numbers), which opens holes in the deep half. Plus, they have to sink deep enough to protect the safety on the 7-route that can hit the hole in the defense.The Will and Sam Backers move their zones based on the eyes of the QB. This is key for the Will Backer, who can jump routes coming from the strong side based on the QBs read. Think of Derrick Brooks during his time in Tampa. He made a living intercepting underneath routes in the Tampa 2.*********************Now, here's the things you have to remember:There are not always stunts in the Tampa 2, it just so happens that the one he described here had a TEX stunt.There are also different styles like "Over", "Under", and "Stack" coverages that move the LBs around. There are a lot more than that, but those are three examples.There are packages that include LB and CB blitzes.There are packages that include SS/FS blitzes.The Tampa 2 has a TON of different things that can be done within it, but this is a look at a VERY simplified version.Lovie is also known for running Cover 1, 3 and 4 man coverage. Cover 4 is usually a prevent defense (in the 4-3 scheme), but doesn't have to be.Lovie also loves the Nickle which is a version of the 4-3 that removes a LB and inserts a CB instead.I hope you learned something! I'll try and find more posts about defenses that Coach Smith likes to run and post them for you throughout the off-season.
You just had to add in McCoy stunting outside for contain!
Trying to discuss pro defensive philosophy based on one very simplistic diagram is like trying to understand computer wiring after seeing a diagram of a simple circuit. With all do respect there are just way too many variables to defensive design for intelligent discussion in this forum.
Trying to discuss pro defensive philosophy based on one very simplistic diagram is like trying to understand computer wiring after seeing a diagram of a simple circuit. With all do respect there are just way too many variables to defensive design for intelligent discussion in this forum.
So because people around here are idiots, no one should bother trying to learn more about the game of football because we're all too stupid to get it? Sounds legit.You used "do" when you meant to use "due". The next time you insult everyone's intelligence around here, at least use correct grammar.
Trying to discuss pro defensive philosophy based on one very simplistic diagram is like trying to understand computer wiring after seeing a diagram of a simple circuit. With all do respect there are just way too many variables to defensive design for intelligent discussion in this forum.
People are getting started early on the race for the "dumbest post of the year" award, I see.
Great explanation, this is almost exactly how I learned it back in High School. Lovie's D isn't really a true Tampa 2 in that he rarely plays it, and instead is used as a contain play or a "change of pace" if you will. It's predominantly a Cover 1 and he rotates coverage assignments and leaves his Corners on islands simply by virtue of the Cover 1 and the FS playing a robber/bandit role or playing last man. The SS plays underneath support or also gets robber responsibilities, it really depends on personnel available and the initial reads. There's. more often than not, at least one Corner on an island. If Revis returns to form, it will most likely be him out 1-on-1.Leslie I think plays soft zones more often (simply because he had a lack of talent across the board). Hopefully, however, we stay in Cover 1 more often and apply some of Rex's scheme and learn to trust our Corners more. BTW, I expect to see significant improvement from Banks, CB is by far one of the toughest positions to learn and adjust to, and we definitely gave him a big load. If he can hold his own, at least with solid No. 2's, our secondary should look improved, so long as we rush the passer more and stop stunting so much.
Great explanation, this is almost exactly how I learned it back in High School. Lovie's D isn't really a true Tampa 2 in that he rarely plays it, and instead is used as a contain play or a "change of pace" if you will. It's predominantly a Cover 1 and he rotates coverage assignments and leaves his Corners on islands simply by virtue of the Cover 1 and the FS playing a robber/bandit role or playing last man. The SS plays underneath support or also gets robber responsibilities, it really depends on personnel available and the initial reads. There's. more often than not, at least one Corner on an island. If Revis returns to form, it will most likely be him out 1-on-1.Leslie I think plays soft zones more often (simply because he had a lack of talent across the board). Hopefully, however, we stay in Cover 1 more often and apply some of Rex's scheme and learn to trust our Corners more. BTW, I expect to see significant improvement from Banks, CB is by far one of the toughest positions to learn and adjust to, and we definitely gave him a big load. If he can hold his own, at least with solid No. 2's, our secondary should look improved, so long as we rush the passer more and stop stunting so much.
My next post will be all about the Cover 1 actually. I'll be doing it tonight or tomorrow.
