Playbook: Smash

"Smash" is a very common two man route combination consisting of a short inward breaking route (or hitch) by #1 and a corner route (aka "flag", "7") by #2:

Ray Rice (#1; yellow) runs a shallow "in" route while slot receiver Marlon Brown (#2; red) runs a corner route

The "Smash" combination provides a "rub" element for the #1 receiver underneath while working to "Hi-Low" a "cloud" corner in Cover-2:

Against Cover-2, the corner playing the Smash combo is in a bind.  The #1 receiver is running through this corner's short zone but jumping the "in" route leaves the deep half safety chasing the corner route (red) from his inside landmark.  Coaches and quarterbacks refer to this bind as "High-Lowing" a corner.  Its the reasoning why Smash is still a standard Cover-2 beater at all levels.

To effectively play this combination as a corner, he must recognize that #1 is breaking shallow, pass him off to the hook/curl player (N/Nickel in the above image), and sink to "cushion" the corner route to give the quarterback a smaller window.

A variant on this playcall is the "smash switch" or "China" which refers to the outside receiver running the corner route and the inside player sitting in the flat.

Outside References

1) The Divide Route in the Multiple Smash Concept

2) The Universal Route that is Good versus any Coverage

3) Peyton Manning (and Tom Moore)'s Indianapolis Colts Offense: How a Handful of Plays led to a Decade of Success

4) Football Passing Play Series: The Smash Route or Smash Concept

5) The "smash" route against man coverage

6) The Smash Concept

7) Huff Analysis with All-22 film

8) Smash Passing Concept

Playbook: Cover-6

Cover-6 is a relatively common term for a "Quarter-Quarter-Half" zone defense.  This playcall combines Cover-2 to one side and Cover-4 to the other, forming an asymmetric look for the opposing quarterback:

 

On the weak side of the formation (bottom of the image), the corner is playing man coverage if #1 attacks vertically (>8 yards).  If #1 breaks in or out prior to 8 yards, the corner will sink to his deep quarter of the field and prepare for any deep out-breaking routes from #2.  The weak-side safety plays with standard Cover-4 rules where he plays man coverage on #2 vertical or doubles #1 if #2 breaks short.

On the strong side of the field (top of the image), the defense is playing with standard Cover-2 zone rules.  The safety is responsible for a deep half of the field and the corner is playing his flat responsibility.  A corner at this depth is referred to as a "cloud" corner and is often used to high/low bracket a threatening receiver (e.g. Calvin Johnson, above).  This corner is taught to funnel the receiver to the inside at the snap to minimize the void between himself at the half-field safety.  He will then turn his eyes to the quarterback and jump any short/flat routes.

The strong-side linebacker plays his hook/curl zone while the weak-side linebacker and slot defender play hook/curl and flat zones, respectively.

Cover-6 is an easily disguised coverage as it can be veiled as a number of coverages prior to the snap.  The 2013 Baltimore Ravens were particularly fond of this playcall and periodically played Cover-4 on one side and 2-Man on the opposite.

Outside References

1) The One Eyed Monster, Volume III: Beating the Ravens Cover-6 defense

2) Coach's Corner: Split Coverages in Football
3) Football's One-Gap 3-4 Defense
4) Understanding coverages and attacking them with the pass game
5) cover 6 
6) Loaded Zone

Playbook: Cover-4

Cover-4 (or "Quarters") is a four-deep, three-under zone defense but plays out with man principles.  Although there are four deep players, they do not need to cover a great deal of ground and can therefore play closer to the line of scrimmage.  Closer safeties means Cover-4 is a sufficient run defense.

The cornerbacks generally line up >7 yards off the widest (#1) receivers and play man coverage if they attack vertically further than 8 yards.  If #1 releases underneath or runs a quick out-breaking route, the corner must gain depth and play a deep 1/4 zone.

The safeties in Cover-4 read the #2 receiver (can be a slot receiver, TE, or RB).  If #2 releases vertically, the safety is in man coverage.  If #2 breaks his route prior to 8 yards, the safety doubles #1 from the inside.  Safeties in Cover-4 often have run-game responsibilities as well, either "force" (i.e. set the edge) or cutback.

The underneath players in Cover-4 have a great deal of ground to cover.  The two outside defenders defend any route into the flats while the middle player plays the middle hook and "walls off" any route underneath.  The flats are a weakness of Cover-4 because slower players have a lot of ground to cover.

Outside References

1) Inside the Playbook: Michigan State's Cover-4 Defense
2) NFL 101: Introducing the Basics of Cover 
3) Read Call - Backside Safety Support 
4) How Troy Polamalu and Ed Reed Changed NFL Defenses 
5) Get Back to Fundamentals: Coverages
6) Breaking down the top Cover 4 beater
7) Playbook: Broncos' Cover 4 beater vs. the Saints
8) Film Room: AFC Divisional Round
9) The Quarters Coverage Study
10) Quarters Coverage
11) Press Quarters Coverage
12) 3 Insights to Improve Quarters Coverage
13) Quarters Coverage Alignments
14) Stanford Quarters Coverage vs. Oregon
15) Inside the Playbook: Cover 4 Safety Play
16) Quarters Coverage from Football-Defense.com 
17) Quarters Coverage versus Pro Set, Twins, and Trips 
18) Quarters Box Concept Versus Bunch Formations

Playbook: Cover 3

Cover 3 is one of the most ubiquitous and basic defenses in football, and it's popular from high school through the NFL. Matt Bowen calls it a "first-day install defense" for nearly any team.

At its most basic, Cover 3 has three deep zones and four underneath zones. The three deep zones are occupied by the free safety (who occupies the middle third) and the two outside corners (who drop into their respective thirds).

Underneath, the strong safety ($) and the open-side linebacker (W) will occupy the two curl/flat zones while the remaining linebackers sink into the two hook zones in the middle.  Dropping the extra safety close to the line of scrimmage gives the defense an 8-man box allowing Cover 3 to be a base run defense.  The basic Cover 3 looks something like this:

The free safety takes a deep drop and looks to break on the post or dig route or help over the top of an outside 9 route.

The corners, meanwhile, typically use one of two alignments: a soft cushion at the snap (shown above), or a "press-bail" technique, where they line up as if they're going to press the receiver but then "bail" at the snap to create a cushion. Either way, the corners are tasked with covering the receivers vertically and funneling deep, inside-breaking routes to the free safety.

The curl/flat defenders (as shown above, the WILL and the strong safety) drop to the numbers and disrupt the curl route or break on the flat route.

Finally, the middle hook defenders drop to just outside the hash marks. They're tasked with protecting the seam and breaking on underneath crossing routes.

You'll notice that the above image is labeled Cover 3-Sky. The "S" in Sky identifies the force/contain player (the strong safety), just as the "B" in Cover 3-Buzz ('backer) and the "C" in Cover 3-Cloud (cornerback).

Cover 3-Buzz

Below, you can see Pittsburgh's defense in Cover 3-Buzz. Here, the force player is a linebacker rather than the strong safety. The strong safety (Polamalu) is dropping into a hook, and both outside linebackers are responsible for the curl/flat zones (at the top and bottom of the image).

Cover 3-Cloud

In this variation, the cornerback is the force/contain player. In the image below, the Ravens are showing 3-Cloud, and the strong safety is taking one of the deep third zones (bottom of the image). Below him, the corner stays in the curl/flat. One final difference: The hook defenders now must also help with curl responsibility if there's a receiving threat present.

Outside References

1) NFL 101: Introducing the Basics of Cover 3
2) Stopping the run with a Cover-3 base defense
3) How Earl Thomas and the Seahawks' defense use the Cover 3
4) The Second Level: What You Need to Know Heading into Super Bowl XLVIII
5) Defensive Back Techniques: Cover 3 Pattern Read Examples
6) Film Study: Kaepernick vs. The Patriots
7) How do you beat Cover 3?
8) The Tape Never Lies: Breaking down the Cover 3
9) Cover 3 Alabama 2008 Cutups
10) Monte Kiffin: 3 Deep Coverage
11) Film room takeaways from the 2013-2014 season

Playbook: Half Slide Protection

A common protection call which combines "area" (slide, zone) and "man" (BOB) schemes.  As the name suggests, half slide protection asks one side of the offensive line (usually 3, sometimes 4, lineman) to block one adjacent gap in unison as in Full Slide protection.  The other side of the line (usually including the running back) blocks players rather than zones, as in BOB protection.

The above play shows the left tackle, left guard, and center all sliding to block their outside gaps.  Since they are blocking "areas", they can protect against stunts/twists more efficiently and can give help to a lineman with a bad match-up.  The other side of the line (right guard, right tackle, running back) are all blocking specific defenders.  Running back Ray Rice is responsible for one of two linebackers if one of them should blitz.  If both blitz to the man side, Flacco will need to get the ball out to a "hot" receiver (likely over the middle, in the space vacated by the rushing 'backer).  

Half slide protection is popular because a linebacker is less likely to blitz than a down lineman, giving the running back a greater chance to release into a pattern.  Half slide also allows the running back to follow a play-action path without losing sight of his blocking assignment(s).  

Outside References

1) Protect Your Quarterback vs. Even Fronts with Half Slide Pass Pro

2) Air Raid Playbook: Pass Protection Schemes

3) What are the basic principles of dropback pass protection?

4) Pass Protection for Beginners

5) Pass Protection 101

6) Inside the Playbook - Pass Protection Schemes

7) X's and O's: Pass Protection

8) 5-step passing game protection: Sliding to protect

9) A bit on our Combo man/slide protection
10) Universal Pass Protection Schemes that Sustain Multiple Movements and Pressures
11) Twists and slants: How to generate pressure with only 4 rushers
12) Football Fundamentals: Pass Protection Schemes 

Playbook: Full Slide Protection

The simplest pass protection scheme is full slide protection.  At its simplest, it calls for the five offensive lineman to all block their adjacent gap, either left or right, in unison.  The running back is asked to block the end man on the line of scrimmage (EMLOS), whoever that may be:

Full slide protection is good against interior blitzes and twists/stunts because regardless of defensive movement, the assigned blocking gap does not change.  Despite its uncomplicated nature, full slide protection is not commonly used as a base blocking scheme in today's NFL because it forces the running back to block an edge rusher.  Many teams prefer to keep their backs away from experienced/dangerous pass rushers because backs tend to be poor blockers and assigning backs to interior linebackers gives them a better chance to release into a pattern if their assignment isn't rushing (i.e. "check-release").

Outside References

1) Calling your full slide pass protection

2) Air Raid Playbook: Pass Protection Schemes

3) What are the basic principles of dropback pass protection?

4) Pass Protection for Beginners

5) Pass Protection 101

6) Inside the Playbook - Pass Protection Schemes

7) X's and O's: Pass Protection

8) 5-step passing game protection: Sliding to protect 

9) 3 Offensive Line Tips for Full Slide Protection 

10) Football Fundamentals: Pass Protection Schemes 

Playbook: Zone Blocking Scheme

The zone blocking scheme (ZBS) is a staple rushing concept used by every NFL team.  At it's core, the ZBS is predicated on the offensive lineman moving in unison toward the playside (ball carrier's target) and blocking "areas" rather than men or gaps.  A good zone-blocking offensive lineman can give up a bit of strength, but he needs to be able to move laterally, work with leverage, and have a very good understanding of his responsibilities.

Inside Zone

Inside zone (also called "tight zone") is a between-the-tackles run call where the running back aims for the outside hip of the playside guard. The linemen work in unison to block under their guidelines, which ask:

Is there a player on the line-of-scrimmage in front of me or to either shoulder?  In other words, am I "covered"?

• If Yes: Zone with backside lineman, work to scoop to the second (linebacker) level.  If backside lineman is covered, drive block.
• If No: Zone with playside lineman, work to scoop to the second level.

LT Monroe: Uncovered
LG Osemele: Covered
C Gradkowski: Covered
RG Yanda: Covered
RT Oher: Uncovered
TE Dickson: Covered

All covered lineman aim for the outside number of their defender.  When "zone scooping" (i.e. double-teaming), one of the lineman needs to reach the linebacker level.  This is determined after the snap when both players read the extent to which the defender is crashing playside.

On the backside, some coaches teach lineman to cut-block (block below the knees) the defensive lineman to open up cutback lanes.  The backside tight end has no "combo" help, he needs to execute a solo "reach" block (i.e. pin the defender to the backside).

With zone blocking, there's a predetermined hole that the running back will aim for, but he will read the leverage of the playside defenders before selecting a crease.  He will "press the hole" along his original trajectory and either cut-and-go or cut-back to the backside if the defenders over-pursue.

Outside Zone

The outside zone (also called "wide zone") is a variant of the inside zone where the aiming point is the outside hip of the playside tackle.

The blocking guidelines for the offensive lineman are largely the same. The difference is in the aiming point for the "reaching" (or covered) lineman.  In outside zone, they will step towards the outside arm-pit of their assigned defender with a more defined goal of "hooking" that player, or pinning him to the backside. This provides the running back with a larger opportunity to get to the "edge" (sideline) versus defenders who are either playing for a cut-back or expecting the inside zone play call.

The backside tight end here is blocking an outside linebacker aligned to the backside.  The block is therefore a "hinge" where playside lateral steps are unnecessary, simply wall off the man from hawking down the play from behind.

Outside References

1) Run Blocking along the Offensive Line, Part 1
2) The Seahawks' Run Game: Understanding the Zone Blocking Scheme
3) Alex Gibbs Denver Broncos (Terrell Davis) Outside Zone Cut-Ups and Explanation
4) Football 201: Understanding the Zone Blocking Scheme 
5) The Outside Zone Presentation by Bill Montjoy
6) Bill Montjoy on Outside Zone technique
7) Blocking Fundamentals: Five Basic Blocks
8) The Mother Lode of Zone Running Game Resources
9) Alex Gibbs on the Outside Zone play
10) Teaching the Steps of Inside and Outside Zone
11) Zone Blocking Stacks
12) NFL 101: Introducing the Zone Running Game 
13) Ravens Zone Blocking Scheme: What is it and what's wrong? 
14) Zone Blocking Part 1: Philosophy and Concepts 
15) Zone Blocking Part 2: Footwork, Blocking Schemes
16) Effective Zone Blocking Techniques 
17) Implementing the Zone Running Game: The Stretch Play
18) Defiance College Coaching Clinic: The Zone Running Game
19) Blocking the Modern Man/Zone Run Game 
20) Bill Montjoy on Run and Pass Blocking
21) Inside Zone Concept

22) Inside Zone for Maximum Efficiency

23) Five Basic Blocks
24) Inside Zone Technique
25) Alex Gibbs on the Inside Zone
26) Inside Zone Blocking Tutorial
27) Inside Zone Fundamentals 
28) Detroit Lions All-22: Breaking down the Inside Zone 
29) The Middle Zone and Outside Zone Study 
30) North Outside Zone 2012
31) Optimal Ways to Run Zone Schemes - Part 1: IZ to the 1 technique; OZ to the 3
32) Inside and Outside Zone: K.I.S.S.
33) Michigan State's "Tags" to Man Block its Outside Zone Scheme
34) Film Review: Ohio State's OZ Pin and Pull BOB Read
35) Football Fundamentals: Zone Blocking Schemes
36) Football Fundamentals: Zone Running Scheme Variety Utilizing Multiple Backs 
37) Football Fundamentals: A Multiple Outside Zone Read Option Attack 
38) Football Fundamentals: Multiple Read Option Attack with Two Backs 
39) Film Study Fundamentals: The Basics of the Tight Zone 
40) Film Study Fundamentals: Techniques in the Tight Zone
41) Film Study Fundamentals: Tight Zone Combination Blocks 
42) Zone Blocking Tutorial 
43) Additional Zone Resources
 

Playbook: Cover 2

Cover-2 was once arguably the NFL's most popular defensive coverage scheme. In recent years, though, it's popularity has waned. Offenses have learned how to exploit holes in the defense, and teams are employing quicker passing attacks as well as more 3WR sets.

That being said, understanding Cover-2 (and it's variants) is still extremely important. Cover-2 is one of the building blocks of the modern NFL, and it has a long, storied history.

In the above image, you see the basic Cover-2 zone with its defining characteristic, the deep half safeties. As its name implies, Cover-2 splits the deep part of the field in half, leaving two large zones for the safeties to cover (landmarks are just outside the hashes).

Underneath the safeties, the three linebackers are tasked with covering intermediate zones that equate to roughly 1/5 of the field each. The MIKE's zone is the middle hook. He will "open" his hips to the strong side while protecting the middle of the field from crossers and carrying the #3 receiver vertically. The WILL and SAM, meanwhile, have hook/curl responsibility. They'll protect the seam and break on underneath routes like the curl route.

Finally, the corners have curl/flat responsibilities. Here, they're shown in press coverage, and that's fairly common in Cover-2. The corner will jam the receiver at the line to hopefully disrupt his timing and force him inside, rather than letting him release outside (thus cushioning the "honey hole", the space behind the corner along the sideline). However, by no means do the corners always play press in Cover-2. Often times, it differs based on coaching and the individual match-up.  

Cover-2 corners are often force players (or edge setters) against the run. Therefore, a Cover-2 corner can't shy away from contact.

Tampa 2

Tampa 2 is a variation of the Cover-2 that was perfected by Tony Dungy and Monte Kiffin when they coached together in Tampa Bay. Dungy first got the idea to drop the MIKE into a deep zone when he was playing for Bud Carson and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Carson had a number of athletic, instinctive outside linebackers, so he decided to give them more responsibilities while sending his inside linebacker into coverage to help the safeties.

Let's take a look at the Tampa 2 on the chalkboard:

In reality, Tampa 2 is more like Cover 3 than Cover 2, in the sense that the field is broken up into three deep zones and four underneath zones.

There are some important differences between Tampa 2 and Cover-2. Most notably, the MIKE gets to drop "down the pipe" and cover the deep middle of the field. As you can imagine, this requires an incredibly athletic inside linebacker (think Brian Urlacher, who may have been the best Tampa 2 MIKE of all time). Additionally, the safeties' pre-snap alignment is wider in the Tampa-2 (top of the numbers) than in Cover-2, making it easier for them to drop into their deep third zones and protect against the #2 corner route.  

The WILL and SAM 'backers still have hook/curl responsibility, but their zones are now bigger than in the standard Cover-2. Finally, the corners will align off the ball more than their Cover-2 counterparts. They're often the "force" players against the run, and their soft alignment gives them time to diagnose the play and space to avoid blockers.

Outside References

1. Defensive Back and Linebacker Responsibilities With Cover 2
2. Football 101: The Cover-2 Defense
3. Understanding the Cover 2 Zone
4. Defensive Back Techniques: Cover 2 Pattern Read Examples
5. Guide to NFL Defenses, Part 3: The 4-3 Front, Continued
6. Football 101: Breaking Down the Cover 2 Defense