Pattern Read Coverage:Football’s Match-up Zone

Keith AlbersDefensive Coordinator

O’Fallon Township High School

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My background

• Colleyville Heritage HS, Colleyville TX• Galesburg HS, IL• Knox College (NCAA D III)

WRs (2 yrs), including two All AmericansDBs (3 yrs), Special Teams Co-Coordinator

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Currently

• Defensive Coordinator at O’Fallon Township HS, O’Fallon, IL (7A Southwestern Conference) since 2007

• Quarterfinalist in 2009, Back to Back Conference Champs (2009 & 2010)

• Defense gave up 133 points in 12 games in 2009 (11 points per game) and 11 ppg again in 2010

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General Philosophy

• We are a block react team• We are a single gap control team• We put the fastest players on the field as is

responsible for each position• We are aggressive & don’t mind sending

people to stop the run or to rush the passer• We match up to cover on almost every down

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What is Pattern Read?

• Pattern Read begins with alignment• Our coverage matches up with the offensive

formation- we make it favorable to us• We can pass off or “bracket” when it is to our

advantage• We make sure we have the type of coverage

we want based on what the offense comes out in

Rationale

• We played Cover 3 for years, and just gave up too many conversions on 3rd Down

• Too many players guarding turf instead of opponents• Offensive Coordinators have thick files on cover 2

beaters, cover 3 beaters, etc. but this cover doesn’t fit any of those offensive strategies.

• We want matchups that favor us, no matter what the offense does

• We can stop the Run O

Rationale

Why match up?• Stop the Run• Verticals against zone turn into man anyway• We’re never guarding turf, always guarding

someone• Trick plays and play action are nullified• Pressure the QB• Risk aversion O

Concerns

• Three things can beat the match up coverage:1. Rub routes2. Verticals3. Crossers• We have answers for each concern

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Pressure the QB & practice with the ball in the air

LBs Knock them out

Base Alignment to PRO

Our Calls

• We make coverage calls based on half of the field.

• The safety to either side will make our calls• We may be playing two distinct but

complementary coverages on either side of the field

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Our 3 Calls Out of Base Cover

• Pattern Read Cover 2• Bracketed man to man• Straight man to man with no bracketing or

switch calls

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Pattern Read Cover 2

• We make this call when the #1 receiver has his hand down

• Then we change the cover 2 rules a little bit• Any motion that creates a new #1 checks us to

man

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PR Cover 2 Alignment (Left)

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Safety Play

• The safety is the secondary hammer player versus the run in this coverage.

• The Strong Safety ($) is locked on the TE in everything except for a quick out.

• If we get a quick out, Safety looks for the second level receiver- either a back side crosser or a shoot out of the backfield

• We ask our safety to be on the receiver’s up field shoulder to be in phase

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Corner Play

• The Corner is the Primary Hammer player in this call.• We ask Corners to get their run read on the EMLOS. If

he is zoning or down blocking, we are closing right now. High hat = pass.

• Corners “Push the Fade” until a flat threat shows. If no flat threat materializes, we never stop getting depth.

• Also allows the freedom to bring him• When a flat threat shows, we break downhill on it only

when the QB’s shoulders tell me its time to go

• Cover 2 Film

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Bracketed man

• We make this call when there are two receivers spread out.

• We are locked in man unless the #2 receiver runs a quick out

• If this happens, we make an “out” call• The Corner jumps the out & the safety

switches to the #1 receiver O

Bracket

Safety Play

• The safety is the primary hammer player versus the run in this coverage.

• Safeties make the call pre-snap that dictates the coverage he & the corner are in

• Safeties make the “out” calls during the play if we have a quick out

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Corner Play

• The Corner is the Secondary Hammer player in this coverage

• Corner should echo the safety’s coverage call to ensure that we are on the same page

• The safety is right, even if he’s wrong• I am locked on #1 until I hear the “out” call• Break on the out- rob it or rock him• Pick six O

• Bracket film

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Straight Man (cover 0)

• As basic as It gets:• Corner has #1, Safety Has #2

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Linebacker Play

• 2 Rules for EVERY coverage:

1. Wall #2, see #12. Back takes me to the flat right now

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Linebacker Play

• Collision #2, See #1• If no back, must find work from either #1 or #2• Slant or shallow crosser we knock out, but

never chase if we are going to miss• Knock out the vertical from #2 on the way to

#1

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• LB coverage film

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Special Circumstances

• We game plan week to week how we want to handle special formations trips, heavy sets, empty, quads, based on offensive tendencies

• Motion across the formation:Bump it if there is a TE, keep it if they are spread

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Contact

Keith Albers

coachkeithalbers@yahoo.comCoach Keith Albers on Facebook & Linkedin

O’Fallon Township High SchoolDefensive Coordinator