SMU' 2-Hole Coverage vs. Tulane
The Mustangs won the American Athletic Conference by taking out one of the best Group of 5 teams in the land, and they used a popular non-traditional Tampa (NTT) to do it.
Scott Symons is a name that you probably should know. The Defensive Coordinator for SMU has quietly been putting together a solid career and is one of the best young DCs in the country. The public might not know who he is, but coaches around the nation do.
In this year’s early hiring season, Symons’ name has come up in searches from USC to Texas A&M. Symons is under 40 and has been a (co-) DC since 2011 at Harding. When Hugh Freeze got the head coaching position at Liberty in ’19, Symons was his hire. In Lynchburg, the Flames consistently got better on defense, going from 101st in DFEI in ’19 to 49th when Symons left.
The defensive culture at Liberty was laid by Symons, Auburn linebackers coach Josh Aldrige (who was rumored in the Troy Head Coach search), and Auburn Defensive Analyst Jack Curtis (a long-time college DC). The multiple 3-4 style aligns with what most of the top defensive teams in the nation are running. Jumping from the Tite Front to an Even Front while carrying multiple coverages behind it has steadily become a best practice at the FBS level. It is not a surprise Ron Roberts tabbed Aldrige to be his LB Coach.
Like Liberty, SMU has increased production in year two under Symons. Last year, the Ponies ranked 100th in DFEI; this year, they sit 29th heading into Bowl Season (BCFToys). Analytically, SMU’s defense is one of the best in the country.
Currently, the Ponies sit 8th in EPS, 6th in Dropback EPA (no RPOs or play-action), and 7th in Early Down EPA (1st/2nd Downs). Advanced analytics matches the raw EPA data as well. SMU finished the year 7th in Points Per Drive (PPD) and 5th in 1st Down Rate (CFBGrpahs).
In Dallas, Symons has transitioned to more of a four-down front defense. The move has been a trend at the college level, as defenses that were once based solely in the Tite Front are now transitioning to Even Fronts that allow the defense to have solid edges near the box. Defenses can get to odd spacing (close the B-gaps) by using D-line reductions, Creepers, and Sims to keep the fits congruent across the playbook.
Even alignment and odd spacing is quickly becoming a norm around college football. According to PFF, Symons ‘based’ in popular four down alignments, utilizing Over (3t to the TE) and Under (3t away from the TE) Fronts. Against Oklahoma, Rice, and Memphis, the Ponies used a Tite Front to supplement their four-down base.
Coverage-wise, Symons bases in a middle-of-the-field closed (single-high) system. PFF had his ponies running Cover 1 on 28.5% of their snaps and Cover 3 on 53.7%. SMU’s season average for split-field coverage rested at 23.5%.
Middle-of-the-field disguise has also been a hot topic around football. Defenses are now more apt to play an opposite shell than their call, disguising their intentions. Overall, the use of disguise is not high. In the NFL, about a quarter of the snaps are disguised. The concept is more of a change-up than a base. Symons aligns with that trend (28.5%). Against Tulane, though, he’d flip the script.
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