Thursday, July 18, 2013

Defensive Back: Three-Deep Zone

Three of the four DBs will be dropping into a deep zone when your team employs a three-deep zone coverage. One of the DBs, usually the strong safety, will be moving up and to the outside to cover the under zone on one side of the field.

Instead of only having two defensive backs to cover deep, we now have three. Each DB, typically the two corners and the free safety, will have the responsibility of covering a third of the field.

The two corners will have the outside thirds of the field while the free safety positions himself to cover the middle third. This ensures that passes will be much harder to complete in the deep zone.

All three cover men should play the same way as the two we discussed in the two-deep section earlier - backpedal quickly, get as deep as possible, keep the receivers in front of them, watch the QB, and react the instant he releases the ball.

For safeties not in deep coverage, you'll need to use a different technique. This will depend on how wide from your original position you'll have to go to get into your zone. The wider you go, the more you'll have to sprint to get there. When you sprint:

1. Roll over the foot in the direction you need to go
2. Run as fast as you can to get there
3. Watch the QB over your shoulder

Once you arrive in your zone, swing your inside leg around to get into your backpedal. As you backpedal:

1. Focus on the QB
2. Cease your backpedal when you see the QB is ready the throw
3. Keep running in place with your feet moving in short choppy steps
4. Prepare to move to either your right or left once you see the QB begin his release
5. Break to the ball by rolling over the foot in the direction you need to go

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