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Cover 2 is crucial in today's NFL
Cover 2 is crucial in today's NFL
With offenses expanding, this coverage still sells. Matt Bowen
When we talk about the Tampa 2 scheme in the NFL, the conversation usually shifts to Chicago, Indy and Minnesota. A core defense that is installed on the first day of training camp. Teach landmarks, techniques, run-pass keys and let your guys play football.However, don’t assume that Cover 2 is a scheme that we only see from those three clubs. Because even the pressure defenses (Jets, Packers, Saints, Steelers, etc.) will use the 2-deep look on Sundays in certain situations.
And with the expanding playbooks of NFL offenses, I expect to see more Cover 2 in the 2011 season.
Empty sets, spread looks, three (and four) wide receiver sets, plus the ability of today’s TE (think Heap, Gates, Finley, etc.) to stretch the field. That puts stress on defenses to win matchups in the passing game.
Go back to Super Bowl XLV and the Packers play calling. They took advantage of the lack of ideal depth in the Steelers secondary. And that was a major issue on that night from a defensive perspective.
I don’t want to call Cover 2 a “safe defense,” because that isn’t the angle I am going for here. But it doesn’t put you in a position where you don’t have to adjust to every alignment and pre-snap motion from the offense. See a slot, bunch, stack or empty set? That doesn’t matter—because you play what is called in the huddle.
Plus, defense still check to Cover 2 (usually two hands to the helmet or an “Omaha” call from the Mike Backer) when the offense aligns in empty coming out of the huddle. That is pretty standard practice across the league.
Now, I know first-hand that Cover 2 can be beaten and have broken plays down here at the NFP specifically designed to put stress down the middle of the field or on the two deep safeties. Run the Flat-7, 999 (four verticals) and test the technique of the defense.
I get that, but I can also draw up offensive plays to beat man-coverage, zone blitzes and anything else we can put on a chalkboard. That’s football.
The point here is that offenses in this league are not going to slow down. They will get more creative, more complex and push the envelope in terms of play calling and personnel.
No question you have to blitz (which we do see from core Cover 2 teams) and play Cover 1, but if you don’t have three corners that can consistently win outside of the numbers and in the slot (plus a safety that can walk down over a good TE), it is going to be a long afternoon in the NFL.
Instead, play some more Cover 2, take away the deep ball with the your Mike backer running the inside vertical seam and force offenses to work down the field. Rush four, drop seven and attack downhill to the football. That’s why it sells and the exact reason it is around to stay.
And if I am coaching, it is near the top of my call sheet on Sundays. Because it is a defense I can trust and play vs. anything the offense wants to throw at my team.
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Instead, play some more Cover 2, take away the deep ball with the your Mike backer running the inside vertical seam and force offenses to work down the field. Rush four, drop seven and attack downhill to the football. That’s why it sells and the exact reason it is around to stay.
And if I am coaching, it is near the top of my call sheet on Sundays. Because it is a defense I can trust and play vs. anything the offense wants to throw at my team.
And that's the key for the Bears tampa-2.. attacking with front seven, forcing teams to long drives, and not giving up the big play- by doing this might be 'boring" to some, but its winning football, and more times then not, the "O" will make a mistake, be it a fumble or INT, or a incomplete on 3rd down, and force the Punt... and because as bowen said, you dont get fooled by multiple shifts or calls at line, much less likely to be burned by a long play
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Good read and from what I can determine a good analysis of the cover-2's strong points as well. All that aside though the Bears need to move their CB's up into more aggressive positions prior to the snap. We sit back waaaaaayyyyy too much and play far too soft with teams like the Packers and they can pick us clean when we do that. That's an adjustment that needs to be made.
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. 
Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
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Originally Posted by
soulman 
Good read and from what I can determine a good analysis of the cover-2's strong points as well. All that aside though the Bears need to move their CB's up into more aggressive positions prior to the snap. We sit back waaaaaayyyyy too much and play far too soft with teams like the Packers and they can pick us clean when we do that. That's an adjustment that needs to be made.
Yes and no Soul- agree we can 'sometimes" be more aggresive, BUT will also say, forcing teams to dink/dunk also is very effective( although Fustrating to fans at times).. heck even the packers only scored 2,1 and 2 td's agains the "D" in 2010 and 2 td's each of the 2009 games... that is a ver effective "D" and not beign "picked clean".. yes give up Some yards, but also get turnovers and 3rd down stops... its a "balance"..and patience sometimes can be fustrating : )
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Originally Posted by
dabears54 Yes and no Soul- agree we can 'sometimes" be more aggresive, BUT will also say, forcing teams to dink/dunk also is very effective( although Fustrating to fans at times).. heck even the packers only scored 2,1 and 2 td's agains the "D" in 2010 and 2 td's each of the 2009 games... that is a ver effective "D" and not beign "picked clean".. yes give up Some yards, but also get turnovers and 3rd down stops... its a "balance"..and patience sometimes can be fustrating : )
Early in the Championship Game they did pick us clean. It was when we tightened up at the corners that we began to control and frustrate their passing game. I realize there is a time and a place but overall we need more aggressive play on a regular basis. I think if we can make another step forward with our pass rush we can afford that without too much risk.
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
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High Fives / Like - 2 BEAR DOWN!, 0 Dislikes
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Originally Posted by
soulman Early in the Championship Game they did pick us clean. It was when we tightened up at the corners that we began to control and frustrate their passing game. I realize there is a time and a place but overall we need more aggressive play on a regular basis. I think if we can make another step forward with our pass rush we can afford that without too much risk.
yep, agree "sometimes".. but also then run the risk of the big plays over the top.. Just think you need to "mix it up", and sometimes be agrressive, but also OK to sit back at other times..
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Originally Posted by
dabears54 yep, agree "sometimes".. but also then run the risk of the big plays over the top.. Just think you need to "mix it up", and sometimes be agrressive, but also OK to sit back at other times..
Safeties with better range (Conte?) might help with that over the top issue. Manning has always seemed to have a problem with that. It's not that he lacks the speed but I just don't think he anticipates or reads it well and often gets in position late. Poor instincts?
I don't have major problems with the "bend but don't break" philosophy of Lovies cover-2 but there are times when we need more aggressive CB play. Not a major philosophical change, just an adjustment.
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
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Originally Posted by
soulman Early in the Championship Game they did pick us clean. It was when we tightened up at the corners that we began to control and frustrate their passing game. I realize there is a time and a place but overall we need more aggressive play on a regular basis. I think if we can make another step forward with our pass rush we can afford that without too much risk.
See? That's where I'm not totally against Tim Jennings being our starting CB. He did do well when Marinelli and Lovie told him to tighten up his coverage of his man. Look what he was able to do to the Packers from the second quarter onward in the NFC Championship Game. He essentially shut down the receiver (Greg Jennings, I believe) and the deluge of scoring stopped.
But yes, you are absolutely correct. I would rather be aggressive than be passive about covering a receiver. That's just all there is to it. If we had done that all year long, we would have shut down more passing games.
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Originally Posted by
Dagan81 See? That's where I'm not totally against Tim Jennings being our starting CB. He did do well when Marinelli and Lovie told him to tighten up his coverage of his man. Look what he was able to do to the Packers from the second quarter onward in the NFC Championship Game. He essentially shut down the receiver (Greg Jennings, I believe) and the deluge of scoring stopped.
But yes, you are absolutely correct. I would rather be aggressive than be passive about covering a receiver. That's just all there is to it. If we had done that all year long, we would have shut down more passing games.
The trouble with Jennings is that his size works against him with bigger more physical WR's. For instance, the Brandon Marshalls land Larry Fitzgeralds of the league would eat him alive. His strength is in his quickness, his ability to quickly change direction, and his tackling skills all of which make him a very good NB or DB. He should be covering slot guys.
The skills our CB guys need is the ability to keep the play in front of them or run with their guy and break on the ball and/or the WR. Get a pick, PBU, or tackle. Absolute cover speed is not as essential as anticipation, ball skills and tackling ability. That's why top man to man cover corners are an expensive luxury in this system.
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
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Originally Posted by
soulman The trouble with Jennings is that his size works against him with bigger more physical WR's. For instance, the Brandon Marshalls land Larry Fitzgeralds of the league would eat him alive. His strength is in his quickness, his ability to quickly change direction, and his tackling skills all of which make him a very good NB or DB. He should be covering slot guys.
The skills our CB guys need is the ability to keep the play in front of them or run with their guy and break on the ball and/or the WR. Get a pick, PBU, or tackle. Absolute cover speed is not as essential as anticipation, ball skills and tackling ability. That's why top man to man cover corners are an expensive luxury in this system.
And why we would never go after Asomugha: because of his asking price.
(I'm not calling the Bears cheap in any way. I was just making reference to what you just said.)
Last edited by Dagan81; 05-16-2011 at 03:51 PM.
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