Finding Multiplicity in Fire Zone Coverages

Here at Kent State, we’d like to say our defensive configuration is unique if you will. It is unique in the fact that we are a 3-3-5 structured defense and play with three safeties and two cornerbacks, versus your conventional five defensive back configuration with two safeties, a nickel, and two cornerbacks. As a result of our defensive structure, opportunities for multiplicity in fronts, pressures, and coverages are endless. Beginning in my earlier years as a Graduate Assistant Coach, two things have always intrigued me: simulated pressures–which we will save for another day– and fire zones. Fire zones allow the defense to be aggressive without the need to dial up an all-out pressure and play man with no post defender. Fire zone coverages do not necessarily have to be paired with five-man pressures or five-man pushes, per se, but can be paired with any five-down front (bear, under, solid, etc.) as well. This allows for carryover and simplicity from an installation standpoint.

In the Summer of 2021, our defensive coordinator [and staff] sat down to discuss effective ways to play fire zone coverages and noticed if we were bringing five or had a version of a five-man push, we played one of two things: man coverage with a post safety, or three under – three deep. Man free is recognizably the easiest in terms of cover-downs, but you and your staff will have to decide what you want to do against an empty set. Do you keep six in the box and play cover zero, or do you plan on keeping a post safety while having a light box? Obviously, this decision is made based on personnel and defensive philosophy. Three under-three deep is the most common fire zone coverage, whether you’re spot-dropping and giving the three underneath defenders landmarks with vision on the quarterback; or you’re playing a form of rip – liz match, which eventually looks like man free against all verticals. Ultimately, the reason man free and three under-three deep with the rip – liz match component is prevalent comes down to one main factor: ensuring that you are vertically sound.

As a Defensive Backs Coach, ensuring that we are vertically sound is always at the forefront of my mind; to plan effectively, it is important to ask, “Will we be able to handle four verticals?” Once more, man-free and three under-three deep with a rip – liz match component would be the most common selection, but they are essentially the same thing versus four verticals. As a staff, we found that we can be vertically sound while playing two under – four deep. Although man free and three under-three deep is still a part of our fire zone coverages, the addition of two under-four deep allows for coverage multiplicity, all while bringing five in terms of our play calling and ability to give the opposing quarterback a variety of different looks in the defensive backfield.

2 under – 4 deep vs 2×2 and 3×1 sets

At Kent State, we can play a form of quarters with our fire zone pressures along with our five-man fronts. Two under-four deep is precisely as it sounds: two underneath defenders with four deep defenders–checks and adjustments are similar to your typical quarters adjustments, but you must be cognizant that there won’t be a relate to #3 defender. (DIAGRAM 1)

FIELD: vs two extended – we will play a form of palms. Cornerback’s alignment is 8 yards by 1 yard inside of the #1 receiver with vision on the #2 receiver pre-snap. The cornerback will key #2 post-snap up to the five-yard threshold. If the receiver pushes vertical past five yards, he will snap eyes to #1; at this point, the cornerback is now MOD (man on deep). If the #2 receiver runs an arrow under five yards or an out at five yards, the cornerback will surf and get vision back to the quarterback but has out and up responsibilities of #2. The safety is aligned at 10-12 yards inside of #2 and has a #2 to #1 read. Again, the five-yard threshold is in place here. If #2 pushes vertical past five yards, safety is now your vertical #2 defender. If #2 runs an arrow under five yards or an out at five yards, the safety will cut to the #1 WR and be on top. The rover will wall the hash and pick up #3 which could be the tailback from the backfield or the new #3 from the boundary (TE or wing).

vs TE and 1 extended: (DIAGRAM 2) With the wide split between the TE and the flanker, we would not play palms this; there is too much field between TE and the flanker for the safety to cut to and get on top of #1 with an outside deviation by #2. Instead, we will play “Read” to this, this is just traditional quarters. The cornerback aligns at 8×1, keys the quarterback 3 step, and has the outs and ups of #1 (MOD). Versus any immediate inside release (i.e., drag), the cornerback will surf and sink with vision back to the quarterback. The field safety’s rules are like the cornerback in that he has the outs and ups of #2 (MOD). If #2 goes out, the safety will continue to get depth in his quarter. The rover has #3 strong and is responsible for #3 through unless he hears an “under, under” call from the cornerback.

BDRY: vs TE and 1 extended: We will still play palms on the tight end and flanker side, same palms eye progression and rules apply. The only difference here is that initially, our boundary cornerback will show a pressed alignment. Once the quarterback starts his cadence, he will creep slowly to five yards by the outside shoulder tip of the #1 receiver with his shoulders parallel to the sideline and eyes on #2. If you get the spot concept in the boundary, the cornerback must give the backer to his side and “under, under” call, surf, and sink and play everything high to low. Since the backer is a wall hash 3 pick-up defender, the “under” call will alert him that he is no longer taking #3 through, it becomes a seam dropper and can attach to the new #3.

vs TE/Wing: Whether it is a TE/Wing or TE with z-cut split or z-short motion, we believe that clouding this is the best adjustment. The cornerback’s alignment is 5×2 with a cocked stance and his key is #2 to #1 (TE to wing), he has the first out and the second vertical. Why is that you might ask? It reverts to being vertically sound. This is an aggressive split field coverage and anytime you get two verticals when you’re clouded, can be risky business. As soon as the cornerback recognizes #2 is pushing vertical, he knows he must stay on the top shoulder of the 2nd vertical which would be the wing in this instance. The boundary safety is your deep ½ defender and the boundary backer is your seam dropper, both have vision back to the quarterback for quarterback intentions.

While playing two under-four deep to 3×1 sets can be done, you must understand the weakness of the coverage and what area of the field will be vacated. Utilize the same checks and adjustments based on the alignment of #1 and #2 to the field. Again, when playing two under
– four deep, there is not a related to #3 player because you are bringing five, the rover must push aggressively and relate to #2, and the boundary backer must relate to #3. If #3 runs vertical, the boundary backer will have to carry the vertical of #3 as the boundary cornerback and safety will cloud the single receiver side, creating a two-on-one. The issue here is if #3 pushes vertical and you get a slant/flare combo by the boundary WR and TB, the weak hook is vacated. Although it can be done, we believe you are better served playing two under–four deep to 2×2 sets and three under–three deep vs 3×1 sets. (DIAGRAM 3)

3 under –3 deep vs 3×1 sets

Here at Kent State, we typically do not play much three under-three deep versus 2×2 sets because of the threat of four verticals and the QB completing passes on the seams. If you are truly spot-dropping and playing depth and divider with the cornerbacks eventually, the offense is going to complete some seam throws which is the reason why matching verticals is prevalent in three under – three deep. Our primary fire zone coverage here at Kent State is a dual call: two under-four deep vs 2×2 sets, three under-three deep vs 3×1 sets, and FIB (Formation Into the Boundary) sets. We believe this allows us to be vertically sound regardless of the given formation.
In our three under-three deep coverage, our underneath defenders are not necessarily spot droppers, they attach to routes aggressively. They are our hot #2 and hot #3 players; they will work to landmarks initially and match routes based on their assignment. The most important coaching point here is that the underneath defenders understand that they are playing everything inside-out and rallying to flat routes and outs. For example, we want to be able to hold off the curl, post-stop, or dig and force the quarterback to throw in the flat. (DIAGRAM 4)
Our cornerbacks have depth and divider responsibilities. The field cornerback’s alignment is 8×1 and has a #2 to #1 read working for depth on the snap. It is his responsibility to be able to play with enough depth to be able to handle the vertical of #2 and #1. If #2 pushes vertical, the field cornerback stays on his divider which is between the top of the numbers and hash while seeing the QB through the #2 receiver. If the #2 deviates inside or outside, he can lean to #1. The boundary cornerback’s technique is different in that he is press-bailing at the snap and challenging all vertical routes by boundary #1 (single receiver). The boundary-hot #2 defender may not be able to get underneath a boundary comeback at times because of run action, and weak #2’s release (who would be the tailback in this case), and the boundary CB must understand this. If the #1 receiver does not push vertical, the boundary cornerback will continue to get depth in his 1/3, stay on the divider (bottom of the numbers) and get vision back to the QB for intentions.