Stoops teaches his corners to squeeze the post, and his Free to rob the dig in his “cover 3”.

Stoops talks about cover 3 being a 7 man coverage principle (four man rush). He DOES however, mention that he packages his cover 3 with man/man free so that the offense has to respect the potential of pressure

And when they run a good skinny post route stemming from the bottom of the numbers???

Answer: The safety wrecks his a$$! What coverage are we talking about? What are your underneath defenders doing? Defending the post is as much about what the underneath defenders are doing as is the corner. In cover 4 our safety should be there to wreck that, and in cover 3 our corner will run w/it unless he gets a wheel threat (much like Stoops teaches) and passes it off to the fs. The lb’s underneath have GOT to make that ball be thrown high or it’s a completion vs. darn near most zone coverages. That is why so many people’s favorite route is the post. The post puts most covereages at a disadvantage b/c it is an easy throw and it traverses through at least 2 zones meaning there are some transitions to be made.

Philosophy

A. Great run defense for one back sets. (All gaps are accounted for)
B. Gives a pressure look to QB (makes him honor pressure)
C. Must bring pressure and change up coverage from alignment

Alignment

• Corners- line up outside eyeshade, tight to the WR one or two yards off from the receiver.
• Rover and Sam- lines up on inside eye of the #2 receiver. Plays 1-3 yards off receiver depending if they are pressing or not.
• Free Safety- lines up 12 yards splitting the two widest threats

Corners-
• Play a Press Technique.
• Press Technique- Open step just before the snap (corners need to try to time the snap), eyes are looking in, they open step will create a ½ turn so the corner is looking at #2 and #1 at the same time. Corners outside shoulder are now on WR’s outside shoulder. Next they will cross over and run. Corner should have a 3 yard cushion, they will mirror the WR’s feet and if they need to use the hands they can (vs. Out and Up)
• Play Post and Go first- they will run with any Post or Go routes unless they see a wheel by the #2. If they see a Wheel they will split the two deep routes so they can play both. This is the only time they come of the post.
• Vs. Boot action the corners cut off any Post routes
• Vs. Trips they play the same techniques, away from trips the corner has the deep routes for ½ the field.
• If #1 on your side runs a square in you will gain depth and look to cut off a backside post

Flat Players (Rover and Sam)-
• Do not allow quick seam routes. They use a bump technique and try to re-route the receiver to the outside. When re-routing to the outside your eyes should work out towards #1 looking to take away the smash route
• Bump Technique- eyes are on the WR’s waist. On the snap give some ground and mirror the WR. Take an open step the direction the WR is going. Don’t allow the WR’s hips to clear your hips. Feet open 1st, Hips open 2nd, and Opposite hand is last.
• Make #2 take you to the flat, if not protect the seam.
• If you are pressing the receiver and lose the guy to the outside, flip the hips and try to slap the hands and use a wedge technique to get back with his hips.

Free Safety-
• The Safety will make all plays 3 yards inside of each hash. Unless #1 runs a square in to his side.
• Safety is an aggressive run player
• Eyes go to the twins side first because it is a more dangerous pass threat.
• If #2 runs a wheel gain depth and look to play a post by #1
• If #1 runs a square in on the twins side they will jump the pattern
• Vs. any boot action the Free will close on any crossing routes.
• Vs. Trips the Free with have the ¼ on the side of trips.

Inside Linebackers (Mac and Will)-
• Once they get a high hat read they will gain depth looking for #1 on their side and get in the vision between #1 and the quarterback. This will help take away the skinny post by #1 with #2 running an out pattern.
• Drop zone is in the line of sight of the seam (Hook to Curl)