Inside the Playbook

[vel]

Thought this might be interesting for some people on here:

The Bears defense under Lovie Smith is a Tampa 2 team at the core. However, when you break down the tape, this defense will use pressureboth zone and manthat leaves a single-high safety in the middle of the field.

Today, we will take a look at a classic scheme in Lovies playbook: Under Smash ("SM" = Sam and Mike). A standard zone blitz concept (rush 5, drop 6) that has been a part of Smith's game plan going back to his days as defensive coordinator with the Rams in St. Louis.

Lets set it up. The Bears are in their base 4-3 defense aligned in an Under front vs. the offense in regular personnel (2 WR, 1 TE, 2 RB) with a Strong I set in the backfield. The route scheme? The OVS (outside vertical stretch). It consists of a 9 (fade), 7 (corner), flat combo that will put stress on any 3-deep shell. Check out the play on the chalkboard and then we will get into some coaching points on why this route scheme can beat this zone pressure concept.

Coaching points

The Zone Blitz: Lets keep this simple and not over-think what we are looking at on the chalkboard. As I said above, most zone blitz concepts at the NFL and college level consist of a 5-man pressure scheme with six defenders playing in coveragealmost like a matchup zone in basketball. We will start with the defense and then move over to the route concept.

The "OVS" is an ideal route scheme to target the zone blitz in Lovie's playbook.

5-Man pressure: The Bears are going to blitz the Sam backer and the Mike (No.54 Brian Urlacher). With the open side DE (Julius Peppers in Chicago) dropping to the seam-flat as an underneath defender, the Bears are sending five players to the QB. On the D-Line, we are looking at a scoop technique (stunt to opposite gaps) from the Nose (N) and DT (T) with a long scoop from the closed side DE. Create confusion in the protection scheme and get after the QBbasic theory up front in a zone blitz.

Coverage aspect: The FS is going to play the middle of the field (no different than Cover 1 or Cover 3) with both CBs playing the vertical release of No.1 (X, Z). That creates a 3-deep shell in the secondary. Underneath we are looking at the DE (Peppers) and the SS as the seam-flat defenders (play No.2 strong and weak). That leaves the middle hook player (Will backer in this scheme) to play the No.3 WR.

Route scheme: You will see the OVS vs. Cover 3 and the zone blitz as it puts pressure on the underneath defenders to play both the 7 route and the flat. With the closed side CB now removed due to the hard vertical release from the Z receiver, the offense can work on the SS and the Will. On the backside, I drew the X on the skinny post (and gave him an option to break off on the dig) just to give the FS some eye candy and keep him deep in the middle of the field.

Why it can be beat: Start with the blocking scheme. The RB ® has to block the Sam off of the edge with the tackle pinching down to pick up the Mike coming through the closed side B gap. Thisin realityis a very easy scheme to block if the O-Line stays with the count and adjusts at the snap of the ball. In the secondary, take a look at the SSbecause that is the player the offense wants to work. The SS will carry the vertical release of No.2 (Y), but he can only hold that route until he is threatened in the flat. Once the FB (F) clears the line of scrimmage, the SS will now drop the Y (who becomes the No.3 WR) to the Will backer (middle hook player). And that is a long way for the Will to goespecially playing from inside out.

Can you stop it?

Of course, and it starts with pressure. I have the Bears showing a Cover 2 shell in their pre-snap alignment and rolling to the blitz. You expect pressure to get home, but if the O-Line can adjust, you have to be sound in the coverage aspect of the defense. The SS has to force the ball to go to the flat--and that happens only by holding off the vertical release by Y and reacting once the ball is dumped off to the FB.

Link

Edited September 8, 2011 by vel

[FalconFanSince1970]

Scary. Especially with Hawley and Reynolds having to adjust and Turner having to pick up Urlacher and a safety. Flat out scary.

Matt better get that ball to TonyG in two seconds.

[vel]

Scary. Especially with Hawley and Reynolds having to adjust and Turner having to pick up Urlacher and a safety. Flat out scary.

Matt better get that ball to TonyG in two seconds.

Not really. If you look, they drop Peppers into coverage giving Baker a favorable matchup vs a DT. The other DT roles to Blalock leaving Hawley and Reynolds to handle the end. Give Clabo 1v1 with the Sam to ride him out and let Turner step up with Reynolds to block Urlacher. Turner is a load and won't get bowled over by Urlacher and Reynolds should be able to help both Hawley and Turner on the end and switch to LB.

Yes the adjustments Reynolds will have to do will be the factor but it shouldn't be that hard with the scariest one dropping off the line.

[freebird310]

Scary. Especially with Hawley and Reynolds having to adjust and Turner having to pick up Urlacher and a safety. Flat out scary.

Matt better get that ball to TonyG in two seconds.

Yea Turner got his hands full there especially with the fullback leaking into the flat LOL .......

[FalconMama]

English please

[SkerFalcon8710]

Turner vs ray lewis....

That is all folks.. that is all

[PapaJoe]

Plenty of ways to beat that using the 22 set (2 backs/2 rcvrs); drag route behind the SSw the TE picking the W, TE dragging left and taking the W while the WR digs behind the SS into that hole, and the list goes on....

Throw a 31 set at them and our O get even more explosive; Roddy and Julio have the ability to block like a FB/TE out in space...

[phattywankenobi]

I think it's an interesting choice whether their SS double covers Julio or single coverage on Gonzo or Ovie. Obviously a short yardage scenario but you never know in stride in space. Turner can pick up Urlacher like he did Ray Lewis and hit him so hard his hair grows back. If the WLB picks up Gonzo then Ryan should have all day to find someone open downfield.

My only concern is a new center and RG. They have to sustain their blocks.

[birds_till_death]

Not really. If you look, they drop Peppers into coverage giving Baker a favorable matchup vs a DT. The other DT roles to Blalock leaving Hawley and Reynolds to handle the end. Give Clabo 1v1 with the Sam to ride him out and let Turner step up with Reynolds to block Urlacher. Turner is a load and won't get bowled over by Urlacher and Reynolds should be able to help both Hawley and Turner on the end and switch to LB.

Yes the adjustments Reynolds will have to do will be the factor but it shouldn't be that hard with the scariest one dropping off the line.

Let us not forget, Turner straight stood up Ray lewis in blitz pick-up in the Baltimore game and made him sit out for a series or two.

[FalconFanSince1970]

Turner vs ray lewis....That is all folks.. that is all

Turner on every other blitz pick up outside of the Ray Lewis play? Laughable.

Turner picking up Urlacher and a safety? Scary.

Run Matt run.

[FalconFanSince1970]

Not really. If you look, they drop Peppers into coverage giving Baker a favorable matchup vs a DT. The other DT roles to Blalock leaving Hawley and Reynolds to handle the end. Give Clabo 1v1 with the Sam to ride him out and let Turner step up with Reynolds to block Urlacher. Turner is a load and won't get bowled over by Urlacher and Reynolds should be able to help both Hawley and Turner on the end and switch to LB. Yes the adjustments Reynolds will have to do will be the factor but it shouldn't be that hard with the scariest one dropping off the line.

Doesn't Peppers line up mostly at LDE? I know he did in CAR. On that particular play, I would definitely line him up at LDE and see if Reynolds and Hawley can adjust.

[PapaJoe]

Turner on every other blitz pick up outside of the Ray Lewis play? Laughable.

Turner picking up Urlacher and a safety? Scary.

Run Matt run.

What a Negative -_- Nancy you can be sometimes

Take a sip '70 ... the Glass is half full

[SkerFalcon8710]

Turner on every other blitz pick up outside of the Ray Lewis play? Laughable.

Turner picking up Urlacher and a safety? Scary.

Run Matt run.

enjoy life for just one moment, twas a joke fool, go take a nap its week one and all you've done is cry all week, sounding like daddys home

[FalconFanSince1970]

What a Negative -_- Nancy you can be sometimes Take a sip '70 ... the Glass is half full

There is a big difference between pessimism and realism bro. I like to think I'm a realist. For me the glass is always half empty and half full.

Eternal optimists and blind loyalists always equate realism to pessimism if the notion doesn't suit their shiny happy persona.

On that play we could get our as handed to us if Turner, Hawley and Reynolds don't execute it to perfection. Why should I believe they will?

If I'm Matt I'm getting the ball out quickly to TonyG or rolling right away from the pressure, hitting Ovie in the flat or scrambling for a first down.

[Falconcheff]

Same way teams attack our zone D. Run two receivers to a zone covered by one DB.

[Guest JoeSr]

English please

In a nutshell, slant go-route to Roddy or Julio in this situation. Probable TD.

[Tandy]

I think it's an interesting choice whether their SS double covers Julio or single coverage on Gonzo or Ovie. Obviously a short yardage scenario but you never know in stride in space. Turner can pick up Urlacher like he did Ray Lewis and hit him so hard his hair grows back. If the WLB picks up Gonzo then Ryan should have all day to find someone open downfield.

My only concern is a new center and RG. They have to sustain their blocks.

This is the part that scares me. Not only the fact that they have to sustain their blocks - but one thing often overlooked is McClure. McClure can QB that line like no other. He can read most defenses before they even have the chance to think it.

Will Hawley bring that to the table?

That is my biggest fear in this game. Hopefully, McClure will be back in the lineup soon - until then - I hope Hawley handles the pressure of game day well.

[Tandy]

Scary. Especially with Hawley and Reynolds having to adjust and Turner having to pick up Urlacher and a safety. Flat out scary.

Matt better get that ball to TonyG in two seconds.

Ryan treasures the plays he has 2 seconds to get rid of the ball. In a high pressure situation where the line is not holding - he'll have the ball out in 1 to 1.5.

[phattywankenobi]

This is the part that scares me. Not only the fact that they have to sustain their blocks - but one thing often overlooked is McClure. McClure can QB that line like no other. He can read most defenses before they even have the chance to think it.

Will Hawley bring that to the table?

That is my biggest fear in this game. Hopefully, McClure will be back in the lineup soon - until then - I hope Hawley handles the pressure of game day well.

Good point. I know the center usually handles pre snap read and line adjustments. Can someone else make those calls?

[StudentOfTheGame]

Turner vs ray lewis....

That is all folks.. that is all

That was a great block. Ray wasn't himself the rest of that game.

[Tandy Gossett]

I give you Turner vs Lewis

Video Evidence

[metatron360]

Good point. I know the center usually handles pre snap read and line adjustments. Can someone else make those calls?

Yea the QB

[phattywankenobi]

Yea the QB

QB calls the backs and WR's the center calls the protection. Two completely different things.

[Dominique is Manufique]

Jesus that is too long. Put that much effort into your day job and maybe you'll be able to afford season tix one day.