One reason this play is useful, however, is because it does more than attack this zone aspect. Again man-to-man coverage the corner route is a very good option — so long as the throw is precise and the route is good. One reason for this is because many defenses who play man coverage use inside leverage to take away the quick slant passes that can gash them for big plays and are easy throws.

Moreover, many man defenses use a deep free-safety or an inside “floater” or “robber” player whose job is simply to read the quarterback’s eyes. The advantage of the corner route is that the throw is away from all these inside defenders who can gum up a normal “who has beaten his man” read.

Finally, the fact that it is the inside receiver rather than the outside one who runs the corner route can get the offense some favorable matchups: Most defenses put their cornerbacks in man coverage on the outside receivers; the inside receivers are thus often guarded by safeties or linebackers or substitute “nickel back” players.

All of these advantages were on display in Penn State’s game against Michigan, as the Nittany Lions scored on the same smash concept from the same formation against the same coverage (indeed, same receiver) twice. Below is a diagram of their play, followed by video, courtesy of mgoblog.

Below is the video:

But it’s much easier to show what went wrong than it is to answer: What would you have done differently? Specifically, let’s say you are the OC who can signal a play in or you are the quarterback with a menu of checks and calls at the line. Your squad lines up in five wide, on third and goal (your team is leading), and the other team is showing a man blitz. Here’s what you see (the receivers are all covered down by guys showing man-to-man).

You know they have at least a possible six guys to blitz against your five, if not more if they don’t cover down on one of the slots at the snap. Below is a diagram of the play Florida had called — a double smash concept. Note that the rule for the outside receiver’s in man is to convert the route to some kind of pivot route to the outside.

So what do you do here? Here is a non-exhaustive list of options. You make the call.

1. Stick with the play as called. Although they have one more guy than you can block, your other guys should protect well, the QB should step up in the pocket, and throw the corner route (or another route) before the blitzer gets there. It was an execution problem.
2. Call timeout. You can’t block all their guys, and have a bad playcall. Try again.
3. Check to a short, three-step pass. Yes it is third and goal but better to throw a short completion with a chance to run it into the end zone.
4. Check to a three step fade pass. You need to throw it into the end zone but don’t have time for any other play that gets it into the end zone.
5. No need for a check, but the play should have a “sight-adjust” built in, where if the QB and receivers both read blitz they break off their route for a slant. Yes this read can get muddied against zone blitzes, but this is the right situation for it. Everyone should read this on the fly.
6. Check the play to a receiver screen. Same philosophy as the short pass — get it to an athlete with some room to run, though this time with some blockers.
7. Check to a quarterback trap or draw. You have an excellent runner at quarterback, why not use him? Yes it is third and long but you avoid the dangerous play, and if you block the trap or draw right and their defenders are too aggressive, you might score.
8. Stay with the same playcall, but make a call to shift one of the split receivers in tight to be an extra blocker. Yes they can always blitz one more than you can block, but might as well put on a full six-man gap scheme and force the extra rusher to come from further away.
9. Shift a receiver in to act as a runningback for a more advanced run play, like the speed option or a zone read. This is basically a full audible with a change of formation and playcall. Note that the defense could adjust too, given this opportunity.
10. Some other option I haven’t listed.

Now, no team would give their quarterback this many options at the line, but most teams give their quarterback the ability to get into at least three of these. Some (like the sight-adjust) is either built into the offense or it isn’t.

So what is it? You make the call.

With a couple of days to think about what went wrong in Sunday’s 31-24 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals — a game in which Rodgers was sacked six times and hit 10 times despite a game plan that relied heavily on six- and seven-man protections — Rodgers on Wednesday said the best thing might be for coach Mike McCarthy and offensive coordinator Joe Philbin to let the front five on the offensive line fend for themselves.

“I think one of the things that happened last week was because of struggles (in protection) in Week 1, we’ve kept more guys in (to block),” Rodgers said. “Our backs were staying in a little bit longer, and so our stuff was all down the field because we didn’t have any of our check downs out.

“The push, hopefully, this is week is, ‘Hey you guys got to hold up up front.’ We need more options underneath the coverage. When they’re dropping off so far, you need some check downs.”

It might seem counterintuitive that the guy who’s been getting killed — 10 sacks and 19 hits in two games — wants less protection, but the logic is that by keeping in running backs and tight ends less often, Rodgers will have more options to get the ball out quicker if he’s facing pressure. Against the Bengals, many of his throws were deep because there were so few short options.

Rodgers’ theory might not be so far-fetched. McCarthy and Philbin have admitted in the days following the Bengals’ game that they may have given the line too much help.

Note too that you can have different types of pass protection — i.e. “slide” (also known as “gap”) protection or man (also known as “BOB,” big on big, back on backer). Slide protection is a little sturdier — the line, tight-ends, and/or runningbacks are each responsible for a gap, and just step that direction and zone or “area block” all stunts and twists, but man-protection, when done correctly, allows the line to just block the obvious rushers while the runningback can “check-release” a linebacker or safety and release into the pattern if no one rushes. Defenses have countermoves too, but in that way you can both max-protect and get five into the route if the defense only rushes four.

Finally, there are pass protections that use both schemes; many teams’ six-man protection scheme “man blocks” one side while “zones” the other:

It’s not clear what kind of pass protection schemes the Packers were using, but expect more variety this week.

There are many qualities that a quarterback must possess. However, the most obvious is the QB’s ability to throw the football. Throwing the football requires a tremendous amount of coordination and teamwork for proper execution. The QB can make up for some deficiencies with proper reads. Whether it is the Pre-Snap Read, Reading on the Move, or Adjustments in routes, the QB’s recognition, anticipation and reaction are based upon his knowledge of the offense as it relates to what he sees.

Pre-snap read
The QB must make a “Pre-Snap Read” confirming the defensive secondary’s alignment. The PSR provides the QB with help in making the proper throwing decision; i.e., allows the QB to establish his thought process prior to the snap. There will be many times when the QB can determine what the coverage is before the snap. About eighty percent (80%) of the time the coverage will be given away by someone’s alignment in the secondary, typically the second defender inside. Even when the total coverage is not given away, through observation of particular alignments, you will be able to eliminate some coverages or narrow to a “Hard Focus” area. The QB must approach the LOS the same way every play and get his hands under the center. The PSR process includes a “Soft Gaze” left, middle and right. The purpose is to identify (1) the depth of the corners, (2) number of safeties, (3) weakside flat defender, and (4) the number of run defenders (“front”):

• Find the Free Safety (“FS”) and Strong Safety (“SS”) to determine the type of front – seven-man or eight-man. If the safeties adjust to motion, be aware of a possible blitz.
• Find the weakside linebacker (Whip (“W”)). This is a crucial read to recognize an outside blitz. It is the QB’s responsibility to adjust the protection to handle the outside blitz or allow the receivers to read “HOT.”

The PSR is only the first step in the throwing decision. The QB must identify the primary defender (the “Key”) to read (“Hard Focus”) and determine where to throw the ball. The Key is determined by the pattern and the related PSR. The ball is thrown based upon what the Key does within the QB’s line of sight. For example, on a strong side route the PSR must identify the SS. Upon the snap the strong safety can either man-up, cover the flat, cover deep third (1/3) or cover deep quarter (¼), and it is the SS’s action that allows the QB to decide where to throw the ball. Depending upon the route, the SS’s action might change the key (Reading on the Move [“ROM”]) to the Corner (“C”) or FS. The QB will make their throwing decision based upon what happens in his Hard Focus area and the related routes within the “line of sight”; i.e., does the Key rotate, invert or play man. When the QB keys defenders, not receivers, there are fewer throws into coverage.

- Basic Coverages
A brief summary of coverages, including strengths, weakness, and how to attack them follows. The summaries include a place (“Patterns”) for the coach and QB to write in their specific routes to attack the coverages. These are the basic coverages: Invert (“sky”); Rotate (“cloud”); Two Deep, Man Under Two; Man with a Free; Man – Zero; Quarter, Quarter, Half; Zone Blitz; Robber; and Prevent.

Three Deep – Invert (“Sky”)

The PSR is based on the alignment of SS and C on the strong side. Teams will typically define the TE as the strong side, however a scouting report will provide this information. If the SS is aligned with less depth than the C, the read is an invert by the SS; i.e., the SS is covering the flat, if a receiver is in the flat. Confirm 3D coverage by the alignment of the FS. If the FS is off the hash and favoring the middle, assume that it will be a 3D. Also the QB must be aware of the weak side, if the Weakside Linebacker (“W”) is in a stack (lined-up behind a defensive lineman or end) or walk (off the LOS outside the end) position, it denotes a soft corner, with W responsible for the weak flat. If the end (“E”) is up on the LOS or in a three (3) point stance, assume he will rush. If you are throwing to the strong side upon the snap you can determine whether E is coming or has curl or flat.

- Strengths

1. Safe – always three deep
2. strong side force against the run
3. SS can get under an out and may be able to get under a stop or flat depending upon the wide receiver splits
4. can cover eight zones with a three man rush
5. can still bring four with strong side contain and have seven in coverage

- Weaknesses

1. Versus eight in coverage the defense can only rush three with five or more to block them
2. four defenders underneath to cover the six zones – large curl and horizontal seams
3. no leverage on wide receivers; i.e., cannot bump or push inside
4. possibly late to cover stop and flat, both weak and strong
5. cannot cover a strong side flood route (three or four receivers in the pattern) without E, then it is a three man rush
6. weak flat
7. weakside force

- How to attack it:

1. Stretch vertically and horizontally
2. plenty of pass protection
3. throw in the alley created by sending three on two in the perimeter (“flood type” routes)
4. weakside curl & flat
5. sprint away from SS

Three Deep – Rotate (“Cloud”)
The goal of this coverage is to take away the short passing game or protect against the wide side of the field when the offensive formation is strong into the boundary (short side). The PSR is based on the alignment of the SS and the C. The SS must be deeper than normal in order to cover the deep middle or deep outside (is aligned deeper than the adjacent C), the read is a rotate by SS; i.e., SS is covering the deep middle or outside. Also, in this coverage the C to the side of the rotation will be tight (up close) on the wide receiver as they have the flat. The secondary can disguise this by having both Cs up and on the snap the away (from the rotation) C back peddles to deep third [1/3] quickly (“bails”). However, we can determine the side of the rotation by the position of the Outside Linebacker (“OLB”). The OLB, whether W or S away from the rotation must be stacked or walked off as they have flat away from the rotation. You can confirm the 3D by the alignment of the FS. If the FS is off the hash and favoring the middle, assume 3D.

- Strengths

1. Safe – always three deep
2. force (to the rotation) against the run
3. leverage by the C (shut down weak flat or out)
4. can cover eight zones with a three man rush
5. can still bring four with force and contain to the rotation, and have seven (7) in coverage
6. easy to disguise

- Weaknesses

1. Versus eight in coverage the defense can only rush three with five or more to block them
2. only four defenders underneath to cover the six zones – large curl seams
3. cushion on the wide receiver away from the rotation
4. OLB is alone in the flat away from the rotation
5. cannot cover a flood route (three or four [3 or 4] receivers in the pattern) • force and contain away from rotation

- How to attack it

1. Flood routes – throw in the alley created by sending three on two in the perimeter (“flood type” routes)
2. plenty of pass protection
3. quick passes away from the rotation
4. run away from rotation
5. get TE involved

Two Deep – Five Under (Cover 2)

The PSR is based on the depth of the Cs and safeties. The Cs will usually be outside of the wide receivers and the safeties will be near the hash marks, aligned deeper than the corners. If the ball is on the hash, look to the strong side defensive back for their alignment because the safety will naturally be on the hash. If the end (“E”) drops to the curl, then all six (6) underneath zones are covered. When W has outside leverage on the second receiver, assume W has flat and rule out two (2) deep, five (5) under coverage and is possibly 3D rotation or Quarter-Quarter, Half.

- Strengths

1. Strong versus run
2. leverage on both wide receivers
3. cover five (5) of the six (6) underneath zones
4. four (4) man rush
5. takes away the outs
6. can hold up the TE
7. weakside force and contain

- Weaknesses

1. Safeties must cover half (½) the field; i.e., the three (3) deep zones are covered by two
2. inside receiver down the middle
3. LBs must cover curl
4. strong side contain
5. weak inside linebacker to curl
6. wide splits can create lanes

- How to attack it

1. Use “Spread Formations” to horizontally stretch the safeties
2. vertically stretch the flats to create lanes
3. a natural hole twenty to twenty-five (20-25) yards along the sidelines
4. weakside curl
5. corner routes
6. flood type routes

Cover 2 Man / Man under two-deep
This coverage is man-to-man with help over the top in the two (2) deep zones. This coverage allows the defense to bracket or double two (2) receivers. The PSR is based on the alignment of the Cs on the wide receivers. If the safeties give a 2D look (safeties near the hash marks, aligned deeper than the C’s) and both C’s are up tighter or looking primarily at the receiver instead of the QB, then Man Under Coverage (“MUC”) is confirmed. The Cs are the primary key, as they will usually be head up or shaded to the outside of the wide receivers. Also, the undercover (LB’s) will be head-up or at least in position to cover their man. Motion will force the undercover to adjust or run with the receiver.

Strengths

1. Double or bracket two receivers
2. four man rush
3. every potential receiver is accounted for (covered)
4. can bump because each defender has help over the top
5. excellent versus zone type routes or screens

Weaknesses

1. Poor run support
2. mismatch with the backs versus linebackers
3. hard to disguise versus motion
4. three (3) deep zones are not covered
5. one on one underneath
6. crossing routes
7. “bunch” and “snug” type sets

- How to attack it

1. Back routes on the linebackers
2. create mismatches with the TE running option (“read”) routes
3. stay shallow with routes, catch the ball short and run long
4. crossing routes (“mesh”) with the wide receivers
5. TE in the alley or fades to the wide receivers
6. running plays
7. use motion

Cover 1 man / Man-to-man with a free safety.

This coverage is man-to-man with a FS to help over the top. The PSR is based on the alignment of the Cs and linebackers on the receivers. The C’s will be head up or in an outside alignment because they have help from the FS. This allows the C’s to take away the outs. Also, if the SS aligns head up on his eligible receiver at a tight to normal depth (four to six [4-6] yards) and the FS is deeper than normal (twelve to fifteen [12-15] yards), this will confirm the Man with a Free (“MwF”) coverage. The linebackers will have the backs man-to-man. The QB should anticipate pressure from a five (5) man rush, with the possibility of the defense bringing seven (7). The QB must identify whether a blitz is coming and throw the ball to the defenders vacated spot (i.e., “hot read”) or add protection with an audible.

Strengths

1. Pressure from a five (5) man rush
2. every potential receiver is accounted for (covered)
3. defenders have help to the post • excellent versus screens and delays
4. C’s can play a tight man as they have help from the FS – crowd the receivers on third and five or longer
5. excellent versus zone routes
6. can take away the outs with an outside technique by the C’s
7. speed on speed – good blitz coverage

- Weaknesses

1. Poor run support
2. mismatch with the backs versus linebackers
3. hard to disguise versus motion
4. three deep zones are not covered
5. no under cover • crossing routes
6. “bunch” and “snug” type sets

- How to attack it

1. Back routes on the linebackers
2. create mismatches with the TE running option (“read”) routes
3. stay shallow with routes, catch the ball short and run long
4. crossing routes (“mesh”) with the wide receivers
5. TE in the alley or fades to the wide receivers
6. running plays
7. coverage away from FS by “looking off”

Cover 0 / Man-to-man blitz with no deep safety

This coverage is a straight man-to-man with no safety help. The PSR is based on the alignment of the safeties. Usually in Man coverage, the SS will play head up on the TE and the FS will play shallow on the weak side. Typically, there is no safety in the middle of the field. We can confirm this coverage by the inside leverage alignment by the Cs on the wide receivers. The C’s need this alignment as they have no inside help. The QB should anticipate pressure from a blitz. The QB must identify whether a blitz is coming and throw the ball to the defenders vacated spot or a crossing receiver; i.e., “hot read”. The QB could audible to add pass protection.

- Strengths

1. Pressure (blitz capability) and penetration from a six to seven man rush
2. big play potential
3. clog up the running lanes inside
4. force the offense to throw short

- Weaknesses

1. Poor run support
2. mismatch with the backs versus linebackers
3. hard to disguise versus motion
4. three deep zones are not covered
5. no under cover
6. crossing routes
7. no deep help
8. gamble defense
9. “bunch” and “snug” type sets

- How to attack it

1. Empty Formations — all receivers are one-on-one (but free rusher)
2. tough to cover slants – nobody in the middle
3. running plays – force and secondary force weakened
4. should have somebody open if QB has time

Quarter, Quarter, Half

The Quarter, Quarter, Half (“QQH”) coverage provides three (3) defenders deep, however it uses one (1) defender to cover half (½) of the three (3) deep zones and two (2) defenders each covering a quarter (¼). The underneath coverage can utilize four or five (4 or 5) defenders. This coverage employs a traditional weak side 2D with a squat corner and half coverage safety. The strong side can employ a multitude of variations (invert and rolls). The most common is a bail technique by the strong side C covering the deep quarter (¼) with the strong side OLB covering curl to flat. The PSR is based on the depth and alignment of the C’s and safeties. The weakside or side away from the quarters alignment will look like a 2D with the C head-up or to the outside of the wide receiver and the safety near the hash marks, aligned deeper than the C. The strong C can be aligned head-up and tight, but will bail (retreat) so that they are off six to eight (6-8) yards at the snap. The SS will be even with the C at the snap, and can also employ a bail technique.

- Strengths

1. Leverage on weak wide receiver, can use bump technique
2. deep routes to strong side
3. cover five (5) of the six (6) underneath zones
4. four (4) man rush
5. weakside force and contain
6. easy to disguise
7. can double (inside/outside) against a single receiver to the weak side

- Weaknesses

1. Weak safety must cover half  the field
2. flood routes to the strong side
3. S must cover curl and flat
4. strong side contain
5. weak inside linebacker to curl
6. wide splits can create lanes

- How to attack it

1. Horizontal stretch on the safety covering half
2. vertically stretch the flats to create lanes
3. strong side outs
4. weakside curl
5. cannot cover a flood route (three or four [3 or 4] receivers in the pattern)
6. trips type formations & motion

Zone Blitz

The Zone Blitz is a defensive scheme used to confuse the offensive line’s pass protection schemes, and the QB’s reads. A frontal rusher — i.e. a linebacker or defensive lineman –  briefly engages the offensive lineman, then retreats to his pass zone, if he reads pass. The blitzers go through their assigned gaps. The droppers replace the blitzers in the pass zone. The coverage could be anything, but the most common zone blitz is the “fire zone,” which involves three deep and three intermediate pattern reading defenders.

- Strengths

1. Run lanes are covered
2. pressure on the QB – confuse protection schemes
3. QB reads are changed
4. easy to disguise
5. can double (inside/outside) against outside receivers and cover underneath zone with defensive linemen

- Weaknesses

1. Defensive linemen and other defenders in coverage who are not skilled/used to it – limited range
2. crossing routes through the underneath coverage
3. play action, if offense can protect

- How to attack it

1. Horizontal and vertical stretch on the pass zones
2. TE versus defensive linemen
3. screen passes
4. play action, with patterns to the backs
5. Maximum protection with deep combinations through the open areas

Cover 1 “Robber”

The Robber coverage is a defensive scheme used to confuse the QB’s reads. It is designed to take away the middle pass zones, both the underneath and deep middle. It can be employed out of a four across or two deep look. A QB reading through the middle of the field (goal post) will read man or rotation and attempt to hit crossing routes or attack the deep middle which is where the “robber” is. The coverage can also be used with man coverage allowing the “robber” helping out in the middle.

- Strengths

1. Middle zones
2. confuse QB’s reads
3. easy to disguise
4. can double (inside/outside) against inside receivers
5. can lock-on QB’s eyes

- Weaknesses

1. Deep outside versus man
2. outside breaking routes by inside receivers
3. play action

- How to attack it

1. Outside on timing routes
2. play action with deep routes
3. crossing routes to the outside versus man
4. QB must look robber off
5. clear lane throws

Prevent
The Prevent is a defensive scheme designed to force the offense to use time to score. It protects against the quick scores, while allowing the offense to pick up chuncks of yardages. The QB must be descipline when facing the Prevent by taking the easy yardage. At the high school and collegiate level, attack the middle of the prevent because the clock stops to move the chains for first downs. The defense linemen will use outside rush techniques to keep the QB in the pocket. The QB must be patient throwing in the underneath zones to recievers on the run.

- Strengths

1. Deep zones, four defenders deep
2. can get under deep outs and curls
3. can keep the QB in the pocket with an outside rush
4. defensive backs can fly to the ball when it is thrown deep
5. protect the boundary

- Weaknesses

1. Inside run – draws
2. backs on delays to middle
3. middle hook zones
4. quick routes on time
5. in the undercover seams

- How to attack it

1. Horizontally stretch the pass zones
2. deep crossing routes
3. underneath at twelve yards or less with stops, flats and outs on time
4. empty sets
5. draws
6. backs on delays
7. get the ball to speed underneath

Review
A critical component to a successful pass is that the quarterback recognize the coverage. Materials given to a quarterback (DVD, flash cards)

1. Quick recognition of the secondary.
2. The strengths and weaknesses of the coverage.
3. Where to attack the coverage based upon the play called.

The performance was notable for the precise way Hall moved the Cougars up and down the field. If not for the turnovers (particularly the fumble before the half near the goal line), BYU could have potentially iced the game sooner. And, other than the two interceptions (both of which were not great), Hall did a wonderful job standing in against OU’s pressure-based defense and finding his open receivers. Other than a couple of plays, it was a game of steady completions, not long gains.

What is old is new. When Bronco Mendenhall took the job in Provo, he hired Robert Anae to coordinate his offense. Anae had up until then been the offensive line and running game coach for Mike Leach at Texas Tech, and he brought with him a modified version of Leach’s vaunted Airraid.  This was something of an homage to BYU years gone by, as the Airraid offense itself is a modified version of the offense LaVell Edwards and Norm Chow had run in Provo for years. Anae, who played for Edwards and Chow, has kept many of the concepts that make the offense go while dressing it up with more traditional sets — and a more traditional run game.

Good offense, better jacket.

This experience with Leach also gave Anae some experience coaching against Bob Stoops’s OU defense, which is quite deadly and can swarm an unprepared team. Indeed, Stoops is willing to go completely unsound in his zone-blitzes; in the National Championship game against Florida, one of Tebow’s interceptions came on a play where the Sooners blitzed six guys and played an inadequate zone coverage. While there are holes in the zone, Stoops figures that it is not easy for the quarterback to identify these while multiple defenders are breathing down his neck — the chalkboard is one thing but the game is another. Thus the onus would be on Hall — and BYU’s line and runningbacks — to protect long enough to find the open receivers.

One concept common to both Leach and Anae’s offenses is called “Y-sail.” The basic idea is to run one man vertical, another on a 10-15 yard out, and another in the flat, to “high-low” read the defense. Check the link here from Trojan Football Analysis with a diagram and video from TTech.

Adjusting to win. But the value of all plays comes in their adjustments, and the most common adjustment for the Y-sail play is to tag the play with an “angle.” With this adjustment the receiver who normally goes to the flat begins like he is doing just that, but then he reverses field and “angles” back inside on a slant-type route. The reason this works is that the “sail” or “out route” typically pulls a defender upfield; the “angle” receiver runs right underneath him.

This is what BYU hoped would happen when they called the play in the first half. Yet Stoops threw them a twist: he called a six-man zone blitz with an unsound coverage, with only two underneath defenders. In fact, he blitzed a cornerback and a linebacker from the short side of the field — could Hall get the ball off? Keep in mind that while Stoops’s coverage was unsound, it is not irrational. In these situations what he and Brent Venables, his defensive coordinator, like to do is have their defenders play a bit of a “man-to-man” technique. This way the quarterback can’t just throw an immediate pass into a zone void because the defender is playing almost like man. In this way there is not much of a difference between defenses that are man or zone; it is merely aggressive. The outcome of the play is diagrammed below:

As the video below shows, the receiver running the angle beat the man over him, while the line and runningback did an excellent job picking up the blitz. A quick accurate throw by Hall, and a big play for BYU. (I will note that there is an alternate interpretation of OU’s defense on this play, and that is that it was a rotate into Cover 1 man with the blitz. I think the play of the cornerbacks belies that conclusion, but it is evident that the Sooners played some kind of zone with man principles.)

This is only one play, but it was Hall’s ability to continually, with only a few exceptions, pick apart Oklahoma’s aggressive defense that put his team in position to succeed. Without the turnovers the Cougars might have had 21, 24, 28, or even more points, but, regardless, they scored enough. Mendenhall just hopes that Anae and Max Hall can keep it up long enough to get BYU into a BCS game.