Cover 3

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Example of a cover 3 variant

Cover 3 is a defense scheme in American football based on zone coverage . As with most zone coverages in American football, it is named after the number of deep zones. In the cover 3, the depth of field is divided into thirds, and each of the three zones of a defense player defends.

principle

Cover 3 is based on having eight players on the line of scrimmage ( eight in the box ). As a result, every gap (gap in the offensive line ) has a direct defender and the run can be effectively stopped. At the same time, both the long and the short pass can be stopped by the defenders.

Lineup and tasks

Cover 3 can be played with the classic 4-3 , 3-4 , as well as with subpackages. Due to the widespread use of spread offenses , however, it is mainly played in the lower level area from the nickel formation . With the classic Cover 3, two cornerbacks go deep and cover the outer zones, while the Free Safety covers the deep middle zone. Two linebackers cover the short passes over the middle, while the strong safety and another linebacker or nickelback cover the short outer zones. In the Cover 3 Buzz variant , the role of Strong Safety and one of the middle linebackers is swapped. This allows the Strong Safety to get more of an interception. With the Cover 3 Cloud , the roles of a cornerback are swapped with the Strong Safety. The four remaining players take over the Pass Rush .

The cornerbacks can stand seven to eight yards deep before the snap (cover 3 zone) or face a receiver and only sink into their zone after the snap (cover 3 press). In the Cover 3 Cloud, the cornerback is always on the line of scrimmage, because he has to lead the receiver inwards. There is always a cornerback on one side of the field. This is also maintained against slot formations and the cornerback without a wide receiver opposite remains on his side to support the defense against the run. Instead, the slot receiver is compared to the strong safety. The Free Safety is already in its zone in Cover 3. However, the line-up can also be made from other formations such as cover 2 to disguise the tactics and only move to cover 3 after the snap.

Offense against cover 3

Since the cornerbacks fall back into their deep zones relatively quickly, and the linebackers and the strong safety are usually less fast, a quick pass into the short, outer zone can hit Cover 3. However, this also increases the risk of interception if the pass is not well timed. Cover 3 can also be beaten by assigning deep routes to three or four receivers, as it is forced into one-on-one or even outnumbered. However, there is an increased risk of a sack because the quarterback has to wait a long time for the routes to develop. Cover 3 can also be beaten by play action . If the linebackers go on the run, the space between them and the deep defenders opens up. Like any zone defense, Cover 3 can also be defeated with flood routes , that "flood" a zone with several receivers, since the defender has to choose one player.

See also

  • Tampa 2 , a hybrid of Cover 2 and Cover 3

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c How Earl Thomas and the Seahawks' defense use the Cover-3. Field Gulls, accessed May 5, 2018 .
  2. ↑ a b c d e NFL 101: Introducing the Basics of Cover 3rd Bleacher Report, accessed on May 5, 2018 (English).
  3. ↑ How to understand Nick Saban's pattern match cover-3 defense. USA Football, accessed May 5, 2018 .
  4. ↑ a b c Summer School: Exploring Cover 2 and Cover 3. Big Blue View, accessed on May 5, 2018 (English).
  5. ↑ Tape Study: Beating Cover 3. (Video) Philadelphia Eagles, accessed May 1, 2019 .
  6. ↑ All-22: How the Eagles Lean On Cover 3. Philadelphia Magazine, accessed May 5, 2018 .
  7. ^ Super Bowl XLVIII: Beating the Seattle Seahawks Cover 3 scheme. Mile High Report, accessed May 5, 2018 .