Any coaches/football nerds care to give a brief explanation of the Tampa 2 and it's philosophy?
Lovie- Tampa 2
- Thread starter NebChicago
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You are hoping to take care of a #3(counting from outside-in) receiver running vertical with the MLB. So it turns a 2-deep into essentially a 3-deep coverage. That way the 2 safeties can expand outside of the seems/hashes for outside vertical routes and the corners don't have to worry so much about jamming and filtering the outside receivers back to the inside...they can just play the flats, force vs the run, and sink if no flat-route threat.
It definitely has its limitations though.
It definitely has its limitations though.
Find the hole between the deep safeties and corners and underneath the dropping MLB. It puts a lot of pressure on the safeties. Draws and screens work well because of the drop of the back three. Think about what is going on and you can visualize where the holes are.
To defend running plays, the Tampa 2 is a single gap defense where each player is responsible for covering his own gap. The assigned gap changes with game conditions and personnel.
Typically this style of defense utilizes smaller but faster linemen and linebackers with above average speed. Also, the defensive backs must be above average hitters.
The key theme in stopping the run from a Tampa 2 is directing traffic to the weak-side linebacker. It is therefore necessary to have a skilled tackler at the WLB position
Typically this style of defense utilizes smaller but faster linemen and linebackers with above average speed. Also, the defensive backs must be above average hitters.
The key theme in stopping the run from a Tampa 2 is directing traffic to the weak-side linebacker. It is therefore necessary to have a skilled tackler at the WLB position
The bears ran this extremely well with Urlacher in the middle and Briggs on the weakside. Not an expert but to me it's a difficult defense to run without major athletes, stud linebackers, and a couple dt's that can really control the line of scrimmage. I think westerkamp has a big game running some underneath routes and lots of YAC.
3 things will absolutely kill the Tampa 2 defense:
1. A 3 wide set that features a good slot reciever (Westy)
2.. A Tight End that is a legitimate threat in the passing game. (CC)
3. Outside linebackers that lack either the size or speed to both play the run and cover 1 or 2 in coverage any given play.
1 and 2 absolutely apply and based on who we have in those spots I think 3 does as well.
1. A 3 wide set that features a good slot reciever (Westy)
2.. A Tight End that is a legitimate threat in the passing game. (CC)
3. Outside linebackers that lack either the size or speed to both play the run and cover 1 or 2 in coverage any given play.
1 and 2 absolutely apply and based on who we have in those spots I think 3 does as well.
That's what she said!!
Tommy stands up to the line, identifies the MIKE and boom,,,, off to the races.
Props on asking a football questions.
I need to read this further. For some reason I was thinking there was inverted coverage with a higher emphasis on safeties ball hawking on the underneath stuff. But I could be wrong on that. This link looks like a pretty good post that I should read.
http://www.bucsnation.com/2010/5/12/1466315/tampa-2-defense-explained
One of the things I like in the Bucs post is where it says the CB needs to force the run plays back to the middle or it's a15 yard run. I like our receivers blocking on Illini corners. I like our running backs and qb running on the edge.
But….the part about the corners hawking on the underneath stuff has me concerns. That’s bread and butter move the chain plays for Tommy, and, that’s where he needs to be careful on this throws. That’s pick six material. I don’t know if the corners clear out with the wr, giving space for running backs and tight ends in the passing game.
But….the part about the corners hawking on the underneath stuff has me concerns. That’s bread and butter move the chain plays for Tommy, and, that’s where he needs to be careful on this throws. That’s pick six material. I don’t know if the corners clear out with the wr, giving space for running backs and tight ends in the passing game.
You could do that. OLBs buzz the flats, safeties drop down, and corners play deep halves.
you can do whatever you want to illinois defense. they stink. they lost 34-10 to western michigan. western michigan ran for 287 yards. western out gained them on the ground 287 to 3. north carolina beat them 48-23 ran for 197 yards. they cant stop the run and the dont have good db. they only thing they do well on defense is rush the passer. if the qb has time he will pick apart the ill db.
A couple things to add to what's already been said.... this defense asks a lot out of the college safeties in terms of run support. And two, very few middle linebackers (assuming they line up in 4-3) can do everything Lovie will ask him to do with the pass defense. In short, I believe its not a great defense for today's college game, but like any scheme, if you play it well with the right type of talent, it should work.
The Tampa 2 is a hybrid of trying to merge Cover 3 ideas into the Cover 2 in an attempt to shore up the traditional C2 weak spots. The Mike has to be able to run very well, and actually all 3 (in the 4-3) need to be able to run because the Sam and Will are also being asked to cover more ground in the coverage zones.
The traditional Cover 2 has a weak spot in the deep middle of the field (among other areas). This makes a defense susceptible to TE seams, deep posts, etc. The Mike's responsibility in the T2 is to take away the deep 3rd of the field, thus carrying a TE all the way down the field or picking up a skinny post from a slot receiver. The W and S backers have to cover more lateral space due to losing the mike backer in their hook/curl zones.This frees up the Safeties to play the outer thirds as well as defend the soft spot behind the corners that is another susceptible area in the traditional C2.
Based on what I've read, this was an invention to stop the west coast offense, where the running game was not a highlight of the system. Offense's have since adjusted and have used the running game and play action pass to counter the T2.
The traditional Cover 2 has a weak spot in the deep middle of the field (among other areas). This makes a defense susceptible to TE seams, deep posts, etc. The Mike's responsibility in the T2 is to take away the deep 3rd of the field, thus carrying a TE all the way down the field or picking up a skinny post from a slot receiver. The W and S backers have to cover more lateral space due to losing the mike backer in their hook/curl zones.This frees up the Safeties to play the outer thirds as well as defend the soft spot behind the corners that is another susceptible area in the traditional C2.
Based on what I've read, this was an invention to stop the west coast offense, where the running game was not a highlight of the system. Offense's have since adjusted and have used the running game and play action pass to counter the T2.
I would bet Nebraska doesn't see a whole lot of the Tampa 2. They have been running a lot of man to man and playing more 3 deep than cover 2.
I was thinking the same thing as I was writing my response. Lovie would be silly to try to use the T2 against us. Our RPO game would destroy that defense pulling the Mike into coverage every time we show pass. Easy read for TA.
Exactly. Then if Nebraska goes trips to the field side with the TE on the boundary side, Illinois will have to move guys over to cover the 3. Putting #11 one on one with a CB who has deep 1/2 or 1/3 coverage. Run the zone read with the back going from TAs left to the field side and TA could run for 30 or hit CC for a big gain once the CB bites on the RPO.
Good stuff! I think I could learn a lot from you.
They can't stop the run Because their Defensive front 7 can't figure out what the hell they're doing in the scheme. I bet they will be a little bit better after the bye.
But their inability to run the football and protect the QB is the exact weakness you don't want to have vs. Nebraska.
not so sure they will be that much better. they have to much to get fixed. they look like the worst team in the b10. Not sure they win another game this year. western michigan is a really good mac team but that game was over before halftime. illinois appears to be a mid level mac team.
