Bill Cowher breaks down the cover 3

[antdrewjosh]

http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.co...ch-bill-cowher-explains-the-weaknesses-in-the


Former Steelers head coach Bill Cowher explains the weaknesses in the Cover 3 defense
By 58Steel on Jul 20, 2016, 7:13a 10


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I want to share with you another video of Bill Cowher explaining a facet of defense. We've seen Coach Cowher explain some defensive fronts, namely the 3-4 and 4-3. This time, however, we are going to look at coverages. Specifically, we will watch Bill and Pat Kirwan of RealFootball Network, explain the basics of the Cover 3. The Cover 3 was a staple of the Dick Lebeau defense, making it a coverage that Cowher is extremely familiar with. It also remains the predominant coverage the Steelers run under DC Keith Butler.



The primary takeaway I want to focus on is the weakness(es) inherent in the Cover 3. No defense/coverage is without it's weakness. Any particular defense is called with the intent to stop a certain aspect of the opposing offense, knowing you are "allowing" something else.

I bring this up because many times when we, as fans, see an opponent have a successful play, we assume someone on the defense made a mistake, "messed up," or simply was beaten on the play. Often, however, it is simply the result of the opponent taking advantage of the weakness in a particular defense.

As an illustration of this, we're going to look at a play from 2015. This one was against Seattle. As we all know, there were many successful Seahawks plays to choose from in that game, but I digress.

Recall in the latter part of the video where Pat and Bill showed the RB split out as a WR and the TE flexed as a WR as well. In that scenario, Bill explained the seams are particularly vulnerable. That's almost exactly what we get in this Seattle play (the Seahawks are actually in an empty set, with no RB in the backfield, and trips to the right side). The #2 to the right runs down the seam and Russell Wilson hits him for an easy completion and TD.

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Since the Steelers are in their nickel package, the personnel is a bit different, but the responsibilities don't change from what Bill showed on the glassboard. Let's break it down:

- 4 man rush (just as in the video)

- RCB (Cockrell), and LCB (Blake) have the deep 1/3 to their side, with FS (Mitchell) having the middle 1/3

- "W" (weak side OLB), Jarvis Jones (?) is walked out, but still has flat responsibility to the weak side

-"M" (Mack LB)Timmons has the curl to the weak side

- "B" here the Buck LB is replaced by an extra DB. The SS (Allen) takes the coverage responsibility of the "B" from the video, curl to the strong side

- "SS" Gay, as the slot CB, assumes the coverage responsibility of the "SS" from the video, covering the flat to the strong side

Again, since the route of the #3 WR holds Mitchell in the middle of the field, there is no one to cover #2 down the seam. The Seahawks exploited a weakness in the Steelers Cover 3 scheme.

One thing Butler said he was going to do was simplify the defense so that the younger players would be able to see the field more quickly. "Spot drops," such as those shown here, are easy to understand. They are also easier to exploit, however, by today's sophisticated offenses.

The answer, defensively, is to "pattern read." This means the defender adjusts his drop, and/or responsibility based on the type of pattern run. Of course, this requires more recognition on the part of the player. When dealing with younger players with less experience, it can leave a defense susceptible to mental mistakes, and result in wide open receivers.

Just to finish that thought on the play vs Seattle: if the Steelers were to pattern read, the defender covering #2WR would stay with him if he ran a vertical, rather than assuming his spot drop (flat responsibility in this case). Would that leave them vulnerable to the flat? Yes, but the other defenders could rally to any potential catch made in that area and make the tackle. That is far better than getting beat over the top.

My main point in showing the video, again, was to allow Coach Cowher to explain the principles of Cover 3. By understanding them, we, as fans, might have a better idea of what we are watching in the game.

Also, as we can see here, it's not always a particular player's mistakes that lead to a successful play by the opponent. Sometimes, it's the opponent taking advantage of an inherent weakness in the scheme.

 

[Coach]

If you are playing cover 3, a safety with speed and coverage ability is needed.

This type of defense doesn't work well vs. good TE's who can get run and get open on post patterns because the linebackers need to cover the TE / slot man on the inside.

And it puts pressure on your corners to play tight man. Oru CB's need cushions.

The good news is it can shut down the short pass, and disrupt timing, but you need the right players to make it work

Currently, the Steelers do not have the ideal personnel to run cover 3 very often!

I prefer nickel or dime over the base cover 3 for the 2016 Steelers.

 

[POP]

No, we are running the Tampa 2 because that's what Tomlin knows.

 

[Drink IRON City]

Good read and helps with better understanding of the game. Our defense is a constant shift or set. Bet we run this some during the game along with many others sets.


Salute the nation

 

[tapeANaspirin2it]

Whenever you hear them talk about Cover 1, 2, 3 or 4. The number is referring tio the number of deep defenders. Cover 3 means you have 3 defenders dropping into deep zones. Usually that means, as Cowher diagrammed, that it is the FS in the deep middle and the 2 CBs drop and cover the deep outside areas.

That is why Steeler CBs give the so called "cushion" It's because they are not even responsible for that short throw. THey must get deep. Cowher showed how they CB's first move is to drop back and it is somebody else's responsibility for that quick short throw.


When you watch the videa, Cohwer is talking about how Cover 1 and Cover 3 look the same pre snap. That's because both will have that single high safety in the middle of the field. The difference is in COver 1, the 2 outside CBs will play man coverage on those WRs. But if it is cover 3, the outside CBs will drop deep and cover a deep zone.

As you can imagine, that makes a big difference in the read. As they mentioned, that's why Manning does all that stuff. He's trying to get the defense to tip their hand.

 

[antdrewjosh]

Exactly Tape which is why the Steelers rarely bump and run. Can't press when you have to get back deep in your zone in cover 3

 

[Drink IRON City]

EXACTLY Tape which is why the Steelers rarely bump and run. Can't press when you have to get back deep in your zone in cover 3

Some here may not like the 8yard cushion but when this is the play called, it helps for the explaination of the 8 yard cushion. I asked one of my friends the other day if he understood this aspect of the game. He said no, not until now as this is a great explaination of reasoning. Said he never thought about it and just hated the cushion without knowing why.



Salute the nation

 

[stillwright]

Some here may not like the 8yard cushion but when this is the play called, it helps for the explaination of the 8 yard cushion. I asked one of my friends the other day if he understood this aspect of the game. He said no, not until now as this is a great explaination of reasoning. Said he never thought about it and just hated the cushion without knowing why.



Salute the nation

Then I wish we would play less Cover 3 on third and 1.

 

[tapeANaspirin2it]

Some here may not like the 8yard cushion but when this is the play called, it helps for the explaination of the 8 yard cushion. I asked one of my friends the other day if he understood this aspect of the game. He said no, not until now as this is a great explaination of reasoning. Said he never thought about it and just hated the cushion without knowing why.



Salute the nation

If you think the CB is responsible to cover that WR in front of him and you see that CB playing back and the WR catches a quick slant for 5 yards, then it is frustrating because you wonder why the CB just let him have it. It's because that's not his guy.

Usually, the LB on that side is supposed to cover the flat area. How can a guy like Lamar Woodley cover a guy like Wes Welker? He can't. But he doesn't have to. All he has to do is drop into the area and he is in the way of the throw. It's about angles, not coverage.

Imagine a WR running a quick slant and the OLB drops on a diagonal. The QB sees a big guy standing where he wants to throw. He either has to go to the next read or hold the ball until the WR clears that LB. That's where pass rush comes into play in coverage.

If the LB drops and causes the QB to clutch the ball and go to a different read, he may get sacked, or hurried and make a bad throw.


Now think of Spygate. Manning does all these pre snap antics to try to get the defense to tip, so he can change the play. What if Brady is told it's cover 1 in his helmet? That's huge because he knows that CB will have man coverage on that WR and a quick slant almost impossible to cover with man coverage. The CB can't risk jumping a short throw when he has just 1 safety behind him, so if you know it's man, then Brady knows where to go.

On the other hand, if he knows it's cover 3, he knows that quick slant is not his best option. He wants the TE down the seam, s Cowher showed in that film.

 

[Drink IRON City]

ABSOLUTELY agree Tape. At the time of the spygate thingy, everyone said oh wait, everyone is doing it. WRONG as the CHEATRIOTS spent a lot of time / effort / money / tech guys to sinc up the coach's signals with the actual play executed durring the game. 3-8plays a game can definately change the outcome of a game (think Ernie Adams). With knowing the formation and odds of play, that would definately help the "t*mmy b*y" in his reads. I'm not debating the cheatriot scandal(S). THEY are cheaters and it has been proven multiple time. The cover 3 explains a lot as to why the 8 yard cushion and these post(s) help very well with that. Like I said, my friend and I'm sure others haven't even thought about the aspect of on field assignments. This really helps to decipher the on field play of 8 yard cushions.





Salute the nation