All22 Analysis - Coverages & Concepts

Personnel Groupings (offensive) are denoted by a two digit number (yellow column). There are 5 eligible route runners (pass catchers) for any given play.
The first digit states how many RBs are on the field. The second digit states how many TEs are on the field. From there, it is understood how many WRs are on the field in order to add up to 5.
Personnel grouping can influence offensive formations, but does not dictate them. A 23 grouping can be in a spread formation.


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Defensive Sub Packages
Base: This is the base personnel for a defense. Depending on the scheme a defense runs, it is generalized into a 3-4 (3DL, 4LB) or 4-3 (4DL, 3LB) base, plus the customary 4 defensive backs (2 CBs, 2 safeties).

Nickel: Used to match up versus 3WR sets, a defense will remove a Linebacker to sub in a Cornerback to match up with the 3rd WR.

Big Nickel: Used to match up against an opposing offense's base personnel (12/21), it removes a LB to sub in a safety (not a CB like in the Nickel). With many offenses using '12' personnel, the Big Nickel allows a defense to get more athletic while suffering minimal loss in run defense. The logic is that a safety can match up in pass coverage better than a LB, and is a better run defender than a CB.

Dime: Removes 2 LBs from the Base personnel to sub in 2 CBs. Used to match up against 4 WRs.

Goal Line: Removes defensive backs to sub in Defensive Linemen and/or Linebackers.

Defensive Fronts

Not shown: every 'head up' technique, where the DLman is square on with the OLman (0,2,4,6 tech) also has a 'shade' (inside or outside) used to further describe the alignment. For example, a "4i" technique on the RT means the DLman is shaded slightly towards the inside shoulder of the RT.

Focusing on the players at the LoS.

4-3 Base
The Center is uncovered in a normal "Base" 4-3 front. Here, the DTs are each playing 3-tech.


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4-3 Under
The 4 DLmen are shifted to the weakside of the OLine (under shift). The LBs are shifted towards the strongside to compensate for the DL's shift.
- strongside DE (4i) is on the inside shoulder of the strongside Tackle (LT).
- 1-tech NT is shaded towards the strongside shoulder of the C.
- 3-tech is on the weakside B gap.
- weakside DE is playing wide of the weakside Tackle's (RT) outside shoulder. Can also line up in a 5tech.

The main purpose of this front is to isolate the 3tech DT and the weakside DE 1v1 with the weakside G and T, respectively. Generally a 1 gap scheme, it allows each defender to be able to attack and penetrate the gap in which he is responsible for.

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4-3 Over
The 4 DLmen are shifted to the strongside side of the OLine.

- strongside DE is over the TE.
- 3tech is now on the strongside B gap
- 1tech NT is shaded to the weakside

The purpose of this front is to put more beef (strongside DE vs TE) and numbers to the strongside of the OLine for run defense on the strongside.

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3-4 Base
A true 3-4 front with all three DLmen head up on the three OLmen. The two gapping DLmen (DE, NT, DE) free up the two ILBs to roam and make plays. This is a read and react scheme for the DLine since two gapping DL are not looking to penetrate the OLine. The DL are to occupy OLmen for the ILBs to shoot gaps and get tackles for loss.

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3-4 Over
The three DL are shifted to the strongside of the OL (over shift). This turns it into a one gap scheme and looks very much like the '4-3 Under' where the Will and the 3tech DE look to get 1v1 matchups versus the weakside G and T. With no two gapping players, the purpose is to be more of an attacking 3-4 front.

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3-4 Bear
The name "Bear" comes from its conception from Buddy Ryan's 46 defense. This shifts both DEs inwards and puts them covering the Guards, making any inside run, and pulling of a guard tougher on the offense. The safety being walked down will support the strongside edge to compensate for the beefed up middle. What makes a front a 'Bear' front is that the Center, and both Guards are covered by down linemen.

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General points:
Undershift:
- 1tech shaded to strongside of Center
- 3tech on weakside

Overshift:
- 1tech shaded to weakside of Center
- 3tech on strongside.

Bear:
- C and both Gs are covered by DLmen

Route Tree

Glossary

Strongside - the side of the formation with more offensive players. An offense can line up in a balanced formation with two WRs on each side with a RB directly behind the QB.

Weakside - the side of the formation with less route runners.

Field side - based on where the ball is placed on the hash marks, the Field side is the side of the football field with more space. This can influence which side of the formation the offense will determine as the playside

Boundary side - based on where the ball is placed on the hash marks, the Boundary side is the side of the football field with less space

'Reduced' split - a description of how far away the WR is lined up from the offensive tackle. This can determine how the CB plays the WR. A reduced split means the WR is inside the numbers on the field.

'Plus' split - a description of how far away the WR is lined up from the offensive tackle. This can determine how the CB plays the WR. A plus split means the WR is outside the numbers on the field.

MOFC (Middle of Field Closed) - Term for describing the middle of the field with regards to the deep zones. MOFC deep shells consists of: Cover 1, Cover 3, Tampa 2. This is an important pre-snap read for QBs and WRs running vertical routes that need to be adjusted depending on this read.

MOFO (Middle of Field Open) - Term for describing the middle of the field with regards to the deep zones. MOFO deep shells consists of: Cover 0, Cover 2, Cover 4. This is an important pre-snap read for QBs and WRs running vertical routes that need to be adjusted depending on this read.

Coverage shell - used to describe the coverage of the deep zone defenders. e.g.: Cover 3 and Fire Zone Blitz is a 3 deep coverage shell.

Zone Blitz - 5 or more pass rushers backed up with zone defense in coverage

Match - to identify the man coverage assignment when pattern matching

Check Release - an assignment to first check for a blitz and pick up the blitzer if there is one. If there is no blitzer, then release into a pass route. Typically a RB's assignment.

EMLOS - End Man on Line of Scrimmage. The inline players that are at the bookends of the line of scrimmage. This applies to both offense and defense, and is identified in both the running and passing game. Defensive EMLOS are identified to determine blocks in the running game. Offensive EMLOS can be primary keys for defenders (a safety may key the offensive EMLOS to determine run/pass).

Playside - the side of the formation (side of the Center) that the run play is designed to go. This is not the same as strongside/weakside.

Backside - the side of the formation that the run play is not designed to go towards

Force run defender - the run defender assigned to making sure the ball carrier does not get outside of him. He must turn the run inside and not get outflanked by the ball carrier.

Kickout block - run block applied on the Force run defender by an offensive player

Bunch formation - multiple WRs that are lined up within a yard of one another. This is used to combat man coverage as defenders in man coverage will give space to prevent from getting picked.

Stacked WRs - when multiple WRs are lined up one behind the other. This is another method to bunch WRs, but is designed specifically to earn space for the WR that is in the back.





Position abbreviations
QB: quarterback
RB: running back
FB: fullback
TE: tight end
WR: wide receiver
C: center
LT/RT: left/right offensive tackle
LG/RG: left/right guard

DE: defensive end
DT: defensive tackle
NT: nose tackle
LB: linebacker
Will: weakside outside LB
Mike: middle LB; weakside 3-4 inside LB
Sam: strongside outside LB
Ted: strongside 3-4 inside LB
CB: cornerback
SS: strong safety
FS: free safety

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