Cover 3 Basics

For those who'd like to know.


http://insidethepylon.com/football-...=Cover 3 is a zone,or dime- backs) underneath.

 

What's the difference between a curl and a comeback route?

 

We run a lot of Cover 3 with some variation, most commonly Quarter/Quarter/Half to a Trips set. The single WR side plays the half and most often we'll just press man him up and take our chances.
We'll throw a little C2, but don't play much 2 high...some inverted C2 with the CB's dropping and the FS locking on the TE.
I prefer man coverage in obvious passing situations, but it depends on the personnel.

 

I've always coached a Curl to be you break and sit, whereas a Comeback you work back to the QB...as a DB coach I like the Curl, cuz the DB can undercut the route and get an easy pick.

 

From a real basic perspective if you don't want to read the article:

C,C, F/S deep thirds w/ F/S utilizing the FISO FOSI rule to the 2 receiver side.

ILB's, Curl to Flat (especially when blitzing)

OLB, Flats

Years ago when I coached we based in an 8 man front with the ability to utilize a hybrid F/S-OLB type who could play Cover 3 and rotate to Cover 2 as a F/S when checking out of from offensive formations and motion.

I think it's a great defense. As a staff, we decided that the key positions where we absolutely needed out best players was the backside 5 technique away from the TE and that OLB/FS kid.

 

Yep. I was half joking because of a big argument some years ago here about this issue. But I was also taught that a curl was mostly zone based and focused on the LBs and/or SS in the area. You drive, you cut once 45 degrees inward, the cut again again 45 degrees and expect the ball immediately. If you don't get the ball immediately because of whatever the line is doing, you sit in a hole in the zone, hopefully shift around as needed.

On the other hand, the comeback was a strong push downfield against a man CB, get him to shift his hips, then cut back, driving on the cut some variation of 180 degrees toward the QB, creating separation between the WR and CB, then catching and either running out of bounds or try to get some YAC.

 

Yep...the C3 version of a comeback would be the Fallout route. Push the vertical til the DB Zone flips, then break off back to the sideline...this route is why I prefer to Man Flip to any vertical release in C3...had lots of arguments with guys I've coached with about it, but your eyes lead your body.