After being interested in the men of the defensive line and their alignments then in the linebackers evolving on the second curtain, the last defensive bulwark, that of the cornerbacks and safety: their roles and the different ways, for a defensive coordinator, to use them. (the purpose here is to present the broad outlines and not to lose a reader, more or less beginner, with all the possible variations and subtleties).
1- Cornerbacks
a) Exterior
They are responsible for defending the receivers near the edge of the pitch. Basically, the areas where the yards are written in numbers. These players are in duels and their receiver markings are either man to man or zone. As a man to man called “Man”, these cornerbacks are placed very close to the line of engagement (“Scrimmage”) and as soon as their opponent begins his track, they use their hands to try to confuse them (they can them. physically disrupt the first 5 yards, then this attitude causes a penalty). We then speak of “Press Corner”. When aligned in area coverage then, these cornerbacks leave more space to their opponents (about 10 yards), in order to first read their intentions and also to protect depth. And if this is to make an inward path, then the cornerback passes the hand to another player because the receiver has thus left the area for which he is responsible. Some of these cornerbacks always play on the same side of the field because they have their automatisms there. Others have the mission of defending a particular receiver and go to the side where it is aligned.
Example : Jalen Ramsey (Rams). Athletic to follow and to fight with a receiver, he is able to control one side and / or the opposing best receiver. He is also able to play in zone, including inside the field. Here in a cover photo when playing at Florida State University.
b) Interior
Called “Nickel”, this cornerback is responsible for marking the receivers aligned more in the middle of the field (“Slot Receiver”). These offensive players are often less imposing but more lively, these cornerbacks most often have the same characteristics.
Example : Kenny Moore (Colts). Lively and intelligent player, if he is very rarely marking the opposing best receiver, his contribution is undeniable. In 2020, he signed 4 interceptions and defended 13 balls thrown in the direction of his receiver. 9 defended passes including 3 interceptions after 11 games in 2021. When we ask ourselves about the most underrated players in the NFL, Kenny Moore is a serious candidate with his contribution / recognition ratio.
c) job description
The cornerback position is a so-called premium position in this sport. This assumes above average qualities as these players need to be able to be physical enough to wrestle with beefy receivers and be quick enough to be able to follow them when attacking deep. An attacker knows, before the engagement, what the called game plan is. Not a defender. The latter must therefore be competent to quickly understand the intention of the attack and to react to it accordingly.
For these players, the must is to be able to intercept the ball. For that, they must be able to have one eye on the receiver and the other on the quarterback in order to decipher his intention, then the trajectory of the ball. More than having a divergent strabismus, the intelligence of the game takes precedence, as in any sport. If they do not always manage to catch the ball, the cornerbacks perform precious “play” by signing a “forbidden pass”. That is, they touch the ball, enough to prevent the receiver from catching it: either by deflecting the leather in front of the attacker, or by ejecting the ball from the receiver’s arms before the receiver does both. not with ball control, necessary to validate a landing.
d) bonus
If aerial cover is their priority, a cornerback must also be able to quickly recognize that the attack is playing a run. So, he will have to get rid of the receiver trying to block him to go and lend a hand to the other defenders, to stop the ball carrier. Sometimes their mission will be to go attack the quarterback: “Biltz”. By creating a surplus against the offensive line, the cornerback takes advantage of his athleticism to quickly, rush into a “Gap” (see the article on alignments) and put the quarterback on the ground (sack), or all at least disrupt his throw.
2- Safety
Most often aligned in pairs, and sometimes in trio, these players are responsible for defending the axis of the field on the third curtain. Most often made up of two players with different characteristics, their profiles are complementary.
a) Strong
As its name suggests, it is the strongest in the pair of safety. By its positioning, it would be almost a linebacker, because often aligned in the “box” (zone included in width between the two offensive tackles and on a length going from the line of engagement to 15 yards back). Versatility is the key word for this player: chasing a runner, covering a tight-end or an inside receiver and attacking the quarterback are all missions assigned to them.
Example : Jamal Adams (Seahawks). Able to chase a runner from one side to the other as well as pierce the protective pocket of the quarterback, Jamal Adams is a strong safety knowing how to use his natural qualities as well as his playing intelligence.
b) Free
In soccer before the 2000s, we would speak of a “Libero”. In US Foot, we speak of a “Free Safety” or a “Single High”. He is the player responsible for covering the axis in depth. Its primary quality must be speed. That of his feet to intervene but above all, that of his mind to understand where his team needs him: to defend a receiver coming into his zone, to offer a two-man catch to a cornerback or to use his role as a free man. to attack the quarterback or a running back.
Example : Minkah Fitzpatrick (Steelers). A versatile player par excellence, he played all positions on the back row when at the University of Alabama. During the 2020 season, he brought his NFL team tackles (79) and cover (11 defended passes including 4 interceptions).
c) job description
These players must defend the run as much as the pass. Quality in tackles, speed and game intelligence are therefore essential. For the youngest, below are some actions of the perfection embodied in this position: Ed Reed.
Watching these highlights reminds me of why I see so much Ed Reed in Eddie Jackson.
???? via @nflthrowback pic.twitter.com/KVYTL1nVzQ
— Bleacher Nation Bears (@BN_Bears) February 2, 2019
d) bonus
Some defensive coordinators like to use not two but three safety. These players, by virtue of their sizes and their formations, make it possible to defend in several different ways. Other coordinators prefer to have two safety with the same assignments: no strong or free but two players sharing the deep axis of the defense and whose missions vary from one game to another, and this interchangeably. .
3- Zone coverage
a) Cover 2 et Tampa 2
The term “Cover 2” means that two players share the deep axis of the pitch. These two safety therefore protect this area from any intrusion, a system particularly effective in the face of an attack often seeking depth. The outside cornerbacks in this system either also occupy a zone (their respective side) or are individually marked with a receiver (Cover-2 Man). The so-called “Tampa 2” system is a variant of the “Cover 2”, the difference being that the central linebacker is also responsible for covering a deep zone (the one most in the axis). This is why the Texans coordinator Lovie Smith, follower of Tampa 2, brought in the 2021 offseason a linebacker with qualities on the cover: Christian Kirksey (5 defended passes and 1 interception in 8 games in 2021).
The strength of this system is to limit the big plays of the opponents with players protecting depth or capable of offering a two-man catch to a cornerback, facing a dominant receiver. Weakness is the limp (see definition above, if you missed it). A quarterback who can be consistent in his short passes to inbound receivers can beat this system. Ditto for a running back which will have fewer players to beat in its race.
b) Cover 3
Three players share the depth of the field: a safety in the middle and two cornerbacks on each side. The advantage is having an additional player on the back curtain. From the defensive line, this system could be schematized in 443. One more player to be able, according to the sequences, to attack the runner or the quarterback or to cover a tight-end. This is the strength of this system. The weakness is twofold. First of all, if 3 players share the depth, the intermediate zones are relatively vulnerable. This is why the defense of the Raiders, under Gus Bradley who preaches this system, is very often fooled with “screen passes” (short distance passes outside) or with the outlines of receivers feigning the attack in depth then stopping their sprint to catch the ball in the free zone ( track called “Comeback”). The second weakness are the two areas between the safety and the cornerbacks. There, if the safety does not read the quarterback’s intention correctly or, if there is already a receiver arriving in his zone, the cover is often beaten.
c) bonus
There are other provisions such as “Cover 1” where only one safety takes care of the depth while all the other backs are individually marked. The “Cover 4” divides the depth with 4 players, the “Cover 0” where everyone is in individual marking. And still many other possible variations.
Each coach and / or defensive coordinator has a preference for a system. Giving a base to the players is essential. This is the case of Vic Fangio (Broncos) and Brandon Staley (Chargers) for the “Cover 2” system. The case for Gus Bradley (Raiders) for “Cover 3”. But of course, since this sport is based a lot on feints and different alignments to surprise the opponent, all NFL defenses use several systems: from one game to another or depending on an opponent in particular (depending on his offensive alignment, review the different formations here). And for that, the master is Bill Belichik (Patriots).
