Most teams want to run man coverage against the Patriots. Instead of following the crowd, Miami DC Anthony Weaver made rookie quarterback Drake Maye work through the trash.
Can you explain why this isn't just modded Cover 3? I know they're similar but with the safety already high and staying relatively high middle why is is a modded Tampa 2? underneath coverage nuances?
You can argue that Tampa is nothing more than a modified cover. 3. The difference is the way the middle safety is going to play. He's not going to gain depth, if anything he's going to cut any deep crosser. The nuances in the way the post safety is playing. Not necessarily what's going on underneath. You're still going to get your cut flat players in your two wall players. You got to build your three triangles. And cover three. The post safety and both of those corners are going to get deep and you're not going to see a heavy overlap like you do in Tampa.
So - to make it simple for people like me - the safety pushing middle means the overlap is more medium depth and so it's possibly vulnerable to something vertical through the middle? Or "more vulnerable" than Cover 3 is because of the initial depth?
I am asking purely to understand the trade-offs - for example why wouldn't Tampa 2 ALWAYS do this with a safety (a guy trained in coverage, especially deeper read stuff) as opposed to a Linebacker (fast, but starting at a coverage and read disadvantage because they have to retreat into space)?
Yeah, I got you. What the defense is attempting to do is compress the field of play. The vulnerability in the Middle is mitigated by the steep overlap. The real soft spot here is deep & outside. But, most teams aren't going to run this vs. wide splits.
We've gotten to the point that traditional looks will get you beat because every OC has the beaters. So, DCs now have to create disguises. This particular one you are talking about is meant to present C3, but morph to C2 which counters your C3 beaters.
Can you explain why this isn't just modded Cover 3? I know they're similar but with the safety already high and staying relatively high middle why is is a modded Tampa 2? underneath coverage nuances?
You can argue that Tampa is nothing more than a modified cover. 3. The difference is the way the middle safety is going to play. He's not going to gain depth, if anything he's going to cut any deep crosser. The nuances in the way the post safety is playing. Not necessarily what's going on underneath. You're still going to get your cut flat players in your two wall players. You got to build your three triangles. And cover three. The post safety and both of those corners are going to get deep and you're not going to see a heavy overlap like you do in Tampa.
So - to make it simple for people like me - the safety pushing middle means the overlap is more medium depth and so it's possibly vulnerable to something vertical through the middle? Or "more vulnerable" than Cover 3 is because of the initial depth?
I am asking purely to understand the trade-offs - for example why wouldn't Tampa 2 ALWAYS do this with a safety (a guy trained in coverage, especially deeper read stuff) as opposed to a Linebacker (fast, but starting at a coverage and read disadvantage because they have to retreat into space)?
Yeah, I got you. What the defense is attempting to do is compress the field of play. The vulnerability in the Middle is mitigated by the steep overlap. The real soft spot here is deep & outside. But, most teams aren't going to run this vs. wide splits.
We've gotten to the point that traditional looks will get you beat because every OC has the beaters. So, DCs now have to create disguises. This particular one you are talking about is meant to present C3, but morph to C2 which counters your C3 beaters.
It's a cat-n-mouse game.
Perfect, thanks. I do appreciate the clarity and it makes sense. TY
Anytime! What I'm here for.