BASE DEFENSE
Tampa 2
Table of Contents
Max Coverage Setup
Tampa 2 is the play we’re going to call almost every play in this scheme. This a great base defense for us to evaluate our opponent’s playstyle, and some opponents get completely shut down by it. If our opponent is disciplined enough to take their checkdowns, then we adjust from using zone drops and quick adjustments.
Coaching Adjustments
Option Defense: Conservative
Everything else: Default
Setup
Pinch the defense
Put the MLB on an inside third
(Optional) Shade down and then put the outside CBs back in Cloud Flats
QB contain
Pass commit
User the safety on the side of fewer receiving threats. (Example: Vs Gun Trips TE, if the trips receivers are on the left, user the safety on the right; Gun Bunch is the one exception to this rule)
Situational Adjustments
Put the DE subbed in at DT on a QB spy
Slant the d-line inside
Shade down to turn your cloud flats into hard flats if your opponent keeps checking down (warning: this will leave corner routes wide open)
If your opponent has a corner route or crosser that gets over the cloud flats, adjust those to 25 or 30 yard zone drops. Otherwise, use your zone drops and quick adjustments as necessary to adapt to your opponent’s checkdowns. Oftentimes this will involve putting curl flats on 5 yards and hook zones on 5 or 10 yards and putting the slot CB and or the OLB in curl flats.
Post-Snap
Cover any receiving threats going deep on your side of the field
For inside WRs on your side running streak/seam routes, pass them off to the MLB on the inside third
Look for posts & crossing routes coming from the opposite side of the field
Five-Man Blitz
This blitz works out of any play in Nickel Normal, but I like calling it out of Tampa 2. Once you notice your opponent sending out five receiving threats on a consistent basis, dial up this blitz to catch them by surprise.
Coaching Adjustments
Option Defense: Conservative
Everything else: Default
Setup
Pinch the defense
Blitz all linebackers
Slant the d-line right
Pass commit
User one of the MLBs. Make sure you’re standing close to the d-line that the o-line sees you as a blitz threat (if you have on-field visual feedback turned on, there will be a green bar above your user’s head)
Situational Adjustments
QB contain (vs mobile QBs - use with caution as it can sometimes cause weird pursuit angles)
Put the safety on the side with less receiving threats in a hook curl (if you do this, you must immediately run back to cover deep with your user)
Post-Snap
After the snap, stay where you are 1-2 yards away from the o-line for a fraction of a second; this will cause them to slide and allow the edge rusher to come in free
Look for routes over the middle to guard with your user, or if you brought the safety up, cover deep with your user