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Swiss Cheezhead - here's my understanding. In Dungy's version of the Cover 2, the MLB has a traditional, stay at home, read and react role.

 

The Sam has more than the average amount of responsibility for pass coverage.

 

This leaves - intentionally - the Will, who is supposed to be the most athletic LB and the biggest playmaker, to flow to the ball and make plays as he sees fit. They therefore end up with a lot of tackles and assists, good passes defensed numbers, and probably also an above-average amount of forced fumbles and INT's for their position. They are not often used to pass rush, so they won't tend to generate a lot of sacks, especially when compared to Will's in other schemes.

 

The best example of the "prototype" Will for this scheme is Derrick Brooks; another recent example is Lance Briggs in Chicago.

(I'm not sure why NFL.com lists him as the Sam on the depth chart; Ourlads has them correctly listed as Will's.)

 

This is also why so many people were skeptical about Cato June filling this role, because they doubted his ability to have good instincts to flow to the ball as a converted safety, and also because he might not be solid enough of a tackler and playmaker at that position. He seems to have improved enough to be at least adequate there.

 

Other schemes have done this. Sorry for the homer example, but Marty and Kurt Schottenheimer "tipped the field" towards their lone defensive playmaker in 2001, Lavar Arrington, given the overall weakness in the defense, and Lavar had a career best season in terms of tackles, and INT's.

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Swiss Cheezhead - here's my understanding.  In Dungy's version of the Cover 2, the MLB has a traditional, stay at home, read and react role. 

 

The Sam has more than the average amount of responsibility for pass coverage. 

 

This leaves - intentionally - the Will, who is supposed to be the most athletic LB and the biggest playmaker, to flow to the ball and make plays as he sees fit. 

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Unfortunately, the whole system still doesn't make sense to me. I can understand the Sam covering the TE and/or covering the intermediate zone almost all the time. That still doesn't explain the perceived difference in opportunities between the MLB and WLB in the Cover-2.

 

If the MLB has a "traditional, stay-at-home, read-and-react" role, then he should be scoring like other MLBs in the league. Right? I mean, the word "traditional" pretty much answers that question. That's what a MLB is there to do -- read and react. So...I'm still confused about the "Super Cover-2-WLB" Theory.

 

If the MLB is reading and reacting to plays and the WLB is "flowing" to the ball "as he sees fit", then we're talking about identical responsiblities. Both LBs are diagnosing the play and chasing the ball-carrier. Period. Why would the WLB end up with more tackles?

 

Sarge -- Mr. Expert -- feel free to educate me on this.

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Sorry, was out of town this weekend, and didn't check this forum.

 

As I understand it, the weakside backer has less coverage responsibilities and is more free to find the ball carrier. A disadvantage of the the Cover 2 is the defensive line is asked to penetrate and get up field. They are not asked to occupy blockers, or keep the linemen off of the linebackers so that they can make plays. With that happening, you are going to see more offensive lineman and tight ends blocking the strong-side backer and MLB, especially on runs to the strong side.

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Sorry, was out of town this weekend, and didn't check this forum.

 

As I understand it, the weakside backer has less coverage responsibilities and is more free to find the ball carrier.  A disadvantage of the the Cover 2 is the defensive line is asked to penetrate and get up field.  They are not asked to occupy blockers, or keep the linemen off of the linebackers so that they can make plays.  With that happening, you are going to see more offensive lineman and tight ends blocking the strong-side backer and MLB, especially on runs to the strong side.

 

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The argument about the D-line's responsibilities is something I hadn't actually considered. :D That makes some sense.

 

As for the coverage element, aren't all three LBs in the base Cover-2 just playing short-to-intermediate zones? I mean, I understand the SLB will have a TE in their zone more often, but I'm more concerned about the MLB and WLB. Do they each have different coverage responsibilities or are they both just playing zone?

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As for the coverage element, aren't all three LBs in the base Cover-2 just playing short-to-intermediate zones? I mean, I understand the SLB will have a TE in their zone more often, but I'm more concerned about the MLB and WLB. Do they each have different coverage responsibilities or are they both just playing zone?

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I honestly do not know their exact responsibilities. Of course, it would depend on the coverage they are playing. The WLB is usually the smaller and faster of the LB's, enabling him to make more plays. I also think he has less coverage reads. The SLB would be covering the the TE and also would have to be aware of the backs. The middle linebacker must read run first, and also would have coverage on backs coming up the middle and TE's coming from the strong side. The WLB would have to cover a back coming to his side. I'm guessing that less coverage responsibilites would free him up to get involved in more tackles as well.

 

On a run, the responibility to take out the lead blocker falls to the MLB and the SLB, leaving plenty of tackles for the WLB and the SS, the tackling machines of the cover 2. A lot of times the LB makes no effort to actually tackle the ball carrier. His responsibility is to take out the blocker and trust that the next guy to the play gets the ball carrier.

Edited by CaptainHook
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  • 2 weeks later...
I honestly do not know their exact responsibilities.  Of course, it would depend on the coverage they are playing.  The WLB is usually the smaller and faster of the LB's, enabling him to make more plays.  I also think he has less coverage reads.  The SLB would be covering the the TE and also would have to be aware of the backs.  The middle linebacker must read run first, and also would have coverage on backs coming up the middle and TE's coming from the strong side.  The WLB would have to cover a back coming to his side.  I'm guessing that less coverage responsibilites would free him up to get involved in more tackles as well.

 

On a run, the responibility to take out the lead blocker falls to the MLB and the SLB, leaving plenty of tackles for the WLB and the SS, the tackling machines of the cover 2.  A lot of times the LB makes no effort to actually tackle the ball carrier.  His responsibility is to take out the blocker and trust that the next guy to the play gets the ball carrier.

 

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At this point, this has to be revisited. Obviously, the WLB is dropping back into coverage A LOT. June has FIVE interceptions already? And it doesn't seem like a total anomaly -- Derrick Brooks got lots of INTs in Tampa, too. What gives?

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At this point, this has to be revisited. Obviously, the WLB is dropping back into coverage A LOT. June has FIVE interceptions already? And it doesn't seem like a total anomaly -- Derrick Brooks got lots of INTs in Tampa, too. What gives?

 

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I'm not sure how this is inconsistent with what has been said. Flowing to the ball doesn't just refer to tackling the runner. If the WLB reads pass he's free to drop into his short-to-intermediate zone to make a play.

 

By the way, I'm still :D after picking June up off of waivers last preseason for a song. :D

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At this point, this has to be revisited. Obviously, the WLB is dropping back into coverage A LOT. June has FIVE interceptions already? And it doesn't seem like a total anomaly -- Derrick Brooks got lots of INTs in Tampa, too. What gives?

 

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Why does this need revisited?

Less coverage responsibilities means he isn't matched up one-on-one with a defender and is more free to "roam" in his zone. He is more free to get into the passing lanes, which is exactly where ALL five of his INT's have come from. He wasn't covering any of intended targets of those passes, but was instead dropping in passing lanes, which is what he would do on a passing play. This results in more tackles and more INT's.

Edited by CaptainHook
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Uh oh:

Colts | June Injury Update

Thu, 20 Oct 2005 15:17:53 -0700

 

Indianapolis Colts LB Cato June (hernia) missed practice Thursday, Oct. 20 as he was scheduled to visit a specialist regarding his sports hernia to determine the severity of the injury. June is not expected to play in Week 7 and will likely be replaced by LB Gilbert Gardner.

:D
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Cato June played today. I caught him once doubled over in pain reaching for his groin area. I know it's the hernia. You guys better grab up Gilbert Gardner while you still can.

 

Bob Sanders also hurt his left wrist or hand in the first half. He did return to the game in the second half. Don't know the severity yet.

Edited by CaptainHook
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  • 3 weeks later...

Back-up defensivie end Jonathan Welsh tore his ACL in practice Wednesday and is out for the year.

 

Back-up MLB Rob Morris has an inner ear problem and some "balancing issues". He plays special teams.

 

DT Josh Williams and CB Von Hutchins have been begun practicing with the team after spending the start of the season on the PUP list. No decision has been made to whether or not they will be added to the roster yet.

 

LB Tyjuan Hagler, who has also been on the PUP list after sports hernia surgery, practiced the last three weeks, but will not be activated, and will miss the rest of the year.

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Bob Sanders tweaked his knee and did not return to the game. In the post-game interview, Dungy said he was cleared to return to the game, but they decided to hold him out as a precaution. He said he "slightly sprained his knee".

 

Of course, I recall him saying Joseph Jeffson having a "mild case of turf toe" and JJ went on to miss 6 weeks. Who knows at this point.

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