Changing the Coverage Contour Post-Snap
MatchQuarters takes a look at three of Michigan's different coverage rotations.
Michigan’s defense was one of the best in the country in 2022, finishing 3rd in EPA/play, 4th against the run, and 7th versus the pass (CFBGraphs). The defense’s success was partly due to hiring defensive coordinators Mike MacDonald and Jesse Minter, who come from the Baltimore Ravens coaching tree, the past two seasons. The hiring of MacDonald, in particular, brought an NFL style of play that meshes man and zone coverage and prioritizes coverage over pressure.
One of the most significant differences between Michigan’s defense and the previous regime is the use of “passive pressure,” a strategy where the defense uses pre-snap false tells and post-snap movement to force the quarterback into making bad reads. Coverages are a great way to create different pre-snap contours and change them post-snap, forcing the quarterback to work through the mess while defenders are barreling down on him.
Another critical factor in the Wolverines’ success was its secondary development. In 2020, the Wolverines’ passing defense had an EPA of .159 (PFF), which would have ranked 109th in the country in 2022 (CFBGraphs). Over the past two years, Michigan’s secondary has been a catalyst for success. What was once an eyesore is now a stabilizing force within the unit.
The Wolverines’ defense is designed to confuse and pressure the quarterback, forcing him into making mistakes. They did this by using a variety of coverages and by disguising their intentions pre-snap. This strategy was effective, as Michigan finished 5th in Passing Efficiency according to the NCAA.
Above, the matrix reflects how dominant Minter’s coverage philosophy is situated in the single-high ecosystem. One trend that has begun to show up at the higher levels is post-snap coverage rotations. In addition, primarily single-high teams are starting to use the static one-high alignments as “bait” for offensive coordinators and QBs alike. Similar to how the two-high shell has become en-vogue in the NFL to hide coverage rotations.
Post-snap movement from perceived alignments applies mental pressure on the QB and forces the OC to guess what coverages are coming. Michigan will run split-field coverages, but they need to change predictable contours post-snap to apply passive pressure. The best way to do that is with coverage rotations. Let’s take a look at three of their schemes.
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