Attacking Cover 3

7/28/2019 Attacking Cover 3

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Cover 3 is used by many different teams, at all levels. In some schemes Cover 3 can be

the foundation of pass coverage; or considered a cog within a machine, in others. Therefore, any

offensive coach must know how to attack it. This article details a few gridiron tested, Cover 3

Beaters, but first here are some common ways Cover 3 is used:


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Cover 3 uses three different players to protect the deep parts of the field. This coverage is

used in many different ways, but the most popular includes Cloud and Sky. In Cover 3 Sky the

SS is responsible for the flat, while cover 3 Cloud holds the Strong Safety responsible for a deep

1/3 of the field.


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Planning Against the Cover 3

Questions to Ask

Can We Read the Coverage Pre Snap? Do They: Disguise? Rotate? CB Depth? How do they: Back peddle? Bail? CB vs. Quick sets! Do they: Sit-on Routes? Key QB Drop? How do they read? Weakest CB? Best Matchups? Where does the FS an SS line up? Is it Cloud or Sky Coverage? How is the Flats Covered? Who Covers Them? LB, DE, CB, S? LB Reactions? LB Depth? LB Coverage? Do They Blitz? Who Blitzes? How Many?

Cover 3 Beaters

4 Verticals

4 Verticals is proven against both Cover 1 and Cover 3; if you have the personnel for it,

you should use it, for its multiplicity alone. This package is defined as a full field route. If the

outside receivers cannot beat their man by 14 yards, they break back to the quarterback, however

Cover 3 creates a double seem concept. The weakness resides in the deep seems, when all

downfield seems are attacked. If the Call Side Receiver does not beat the defender by 12 yards,

they must sit down and work the field, finding a hole. The back side receiver will stay vertical.

Reading the Play:


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As the play starts the Quarterback looks downfield, to the vertical route opposite the call side;

this tends to pull the safety away, widening the deep right seem. If the Safety moves towards the

call side receiver, the quarter back will throw to non-Call Side receiver.

Flood Routes

Flood Routes are good against any type of zone defense. This concept attempts to put

more receivers than defenders in a certain zone(s). In all levels of football, the Quarterbacks

read will be based on the defensive secondarys tendencies. Some coaches, like to add a

Backside Post, reading that route first, than working from the middle to short flooded zones.

While other strategies, like the sprint-out flood package, applies pressure to the deep secondary.

Play-side Fade or GO Routes are good for clearing out defenders, and attacking short coverage.


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Flood packages can be designed to look like other established passing concepts in a coachs

current system.

Curl/Flats

The Curl/Flat concept is used to stretch out the flat defender. This concept is looking to

attack the hash at 12 yards, while also attacking the numbers area at 5 yards. In other variations,

coaches use to Curl/Flat concept to attack the middle of the field; at 5 yards. This concept is

good for creating a triangle of receivers, for the Quarterbacks read. This concept is a staple for

attacking Cover 3; in addition to Cover 2 and Cover 4. This concept allows for other elements to

be involved, such as double moves.

Reading the Play:


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This play is quite simple to read, in lower levels of Football, the Quarterback Should only

focus on one side of the field. The read is the Flat defender, or the Flat area. If no defender

covers the flat, then the ball should be immediately delivered to the Flat Route. If the flat are

covered, the Quarterback should look for the Curl Route. If the Curl Route is covered, the

Quarterback can look for a middle receiver or run for yardage.

Option Routes

`Option Routes are designed to allow the receiver to adjust their route, based on the

defensive coverage. Due to their vast route combinations, Option Routes are ideal against any

type of coverage, zone or man. However the Quarterback and Receiver must have a fluid rhythm.

Quarterbacks must read their receiver, and throw based on the receivers break. The Option


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Route is generally the Quarterbacks primary read. However, other routes can be used in

conjunction to attack different areas of the field.

Drags and Shallows

In most schemes, the drag can be defined as a weak-side read, while shallows are

considered strong-side reads. However, in basics, both the drag and shallow are the same type of

route. Additionally, Shallows are good for including 3 receivers into the attack; attacking the

coverage at three different levels. Making the defense focus on the underneath lanes, opens

potential threats downfield; most commonly in the lane under deep coverage. Drags are best

combined with Curl and Dig (Square-In) Routes. Crossing Receivers help to avoid jamming, but

is not necessary. Combine packages to create defensive confusion.


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Double Posts

If you a Quarterback with Arm Strength, the double post can help you beat the Cover 3.

This play can be ran off both strong and weak sides, both receivers run post routes; however the

low post must break under the FS. This concept is designed to isolate the FS, and force him to

make a decision on which route to cover. Building in and using, other concepts allow for outlet

passes, when both post routes are covered. Running backs and tight ends can be used as hot

reads, in addition to or 4th

weak-side Receivers. This play can be successful with one-back

protection.


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Mesh Concept

In classic terms, the mesh concept uses both picking and rubbing routes between two

different receivers, commonly the outside receiver and Tight-End. The goal of this concept,

which is deployed against many different schemes, is to rub-off the defenders in traffic. This

concept offers a high percentage completion rate, allowing an offense to move the ball in small

portions. Additionally, this concept can be ran from multiple formations, and is commonly seen

in the Multiple, Pro, and Spread offensives. Additional concepts can be incorporated, using the

non-meshing personnel.


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Digs and Clear-outs

One of the known vulnerabilities of the Cover 3 defense is the lanes or allies, between the

Linebackers and Safeties. Clear-out Routes can help pull the deep secondary back, stretching the

deep lane. This creates a wide lane in the coverage, for the Dig (square-in) Route, where the

receiver can expect to be delivered the ball. Other combinations can be used to occupy different

coverage personnel. For instance, releasing a running back into the flats will occupy the flat

defender, further widening the deep lane.


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Crossing Routes

Crossing concepts uses a receiver that crosses the entire field. Against zone coverage that

receiver will settle into an open hole. These routes can be run in both the shallow and deep lanes of the

field. Crossing routes works well against any coverage, especially M4M. Other combinations can be

built in to help disguise these routes, or supplement the quarterback with alternative receiver(s).


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Pass Protection

When considering different football concepts, none can be more complicated or simple as, pass

protection. In every game, the opponent will influence which concepts are used; and potentially how

they are used. When designing pass protections for the Cover 3, first review the facts:

Seen as: 3 Deep/ 3 Under3 Deep/ 6 Under 3 Under (Most Common) = 5 Man Blitz 4 Under (Generally Pressed) = Possible Secondary Blitz (from Nickel and Dime Formations) Zone Blitzing, while dropping the DE, and/or blitzing secondary Fire Zone Blitzing Ran From 7 or 8 Man fronts


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Can be disguised, but will rotate before or at the snap.Apply these principals to your evaluation of opponent play; this adds a significant amount of

value to the weekly game plan. The key to victory is determining your strengths, and how they can

be used to attack your opponents weaknesses. Here are some gridiron tested Pass Protection

Schemes:


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Attacking with the Rush

When designing rushing schemes, it is best to review how your opponent employs Cover

3. In theory, when the SS is responsible for the Flat, weak side runs are more favorable; build in

an audible(s) to combat weak side blitzes. Against rotational coverage, weak side runs are

effective; however, attacking the rotation can lead to the Play-Action Pass downfield. Inside runs

and draws prove to be effective against Cover 3 Press. However, use prior film study to target your

runs towards the dropping linebackers and soft-spots of the zone.


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Attacking Cover 3