Cover 2, MLB and the Weakest Link

[KCJohnny]

The Cover 2/Tampa 2 defense requires agile, speedy LB play to cover the area from the secondary to the safeties. Who is the weak link?

Cover 2

In traditional Cover 2 schemes the free safety (FS) and strong safety (SS) have deep responsibilities, each guarding half of the field. The NFL's Kansas City Chiefs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Buffalo Bills, Indianapolis Colts, Chicago Bears, and Detroit Lions run a variant of this defense called the Tampa 2.

Cover 2 can be run from any seven-man defensive fronts such as the 3-4 and the 4-3. (It is difficult to implement Cover 2 from an eight-in-the-box front, because the strong safety or someone replacing him is usually the eighth man.) Various "underneath" coverage played by cornerbacks and linebackers may also be implemented. For example, Cover 2 Man means 2 safeties have deep responsibility while the cornerbacks and linebackers follow their offensive assignment in one-on-one coverage. The NFL's San Diego Chargers inherited a base Cover 2 Man 3-4 from Wade Phillips. Cover 2 can also be paired with underneath zone schemes: Cover 2 Zone refers to 2 safeties with deep responsibility but now the CBs and LBs drop back into specific coverage zones where they defend passes only in their assigned area.

Teams that play Cover 2 shells usually subscribe to the "bend-but-don't-break" philosophy, preferring to keep offensive players in front of them for short gains while limiting long passes. This is in stark contrast to a more aggressive Cover 1 type scheme which leaves the offensive team's wide receivers in single man-to-man coverage with only one deep helper. By splitting the deep field between two defenders, the defense can drastically reduce the number of long gains.

The main weakness of the Cover 2 shell occurs in the middle of the field between the safeties. The safeties attempt to gain width upon the snap of the ball to cover any long passes to quick wide receivers down the sideline. This movement creates a natural hole between the safeties that can be attacked. By sending a receiver (usually a tight end) into the hole, the offense forces the safety to make a decision: play the vulnerable hole in the middle of the field or help out on the wide receiver. The quarterback reads the safety's decision and decides on the best matchup (i.e. which mismatch is better: TE vs S or WR vs CB).

So far this year, only the Lions and Saints are giving up more YPC than us. Our run defense is seriously broken. While our pass D is only allowing 133.5 YPG, our rush D is folding to the tune of 213 YPG in this young 2008 season. Its stands to reason that the pass defense stats look good because teams can beat us without throwing much.

I'm an offense guy, but isn't this a Mike Backer problem? Isn't the MLB in the Cover 2 scheme supposed to be the "QB" of the scheme? Isn't the Cover 2 scheme without the right horses a high-risk defense?

Not picking on Pat Thomas, but where is the weakest link?

I have no desire to ever again in my life watch the rapacious way the Chiefs D was steamrolled by a one-dimensional losing team on the road about to fire its coach.

Help me out, people.

KCJ

[ChiefsCountry]

Rey Maualuga will fix that problem in a heart beat. Pat Thomas is a filler, he has no future with this team. Dorsey, Tank, Maualuga would do alot to fix the rush defense. Tank and Dorsey and can take on blockers all day but without the linebackers to fill the gaps, its worthless.

[KCJohnny]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

Rey Maualuga will fix that problem in a heart beat. Pat Thomas is a filler, he has no future with this team. Dorsey, Tank, Maualuga would do alot to fix the rush defense. Tank and Dorsey and can take on blockers all day but without the linebackers to fill the gaps, its worthless.

Right now I'd say we are in pretty good shape for the Maualuga sweepstakes, wouldn't you?

[DaKCMan AP]

Originally Posted by KCJohnny

Right now I'd say we are in pretty good shape for the Maualuga sweepstakes, wouldn't you?

No. We are on pace for the #1 or #2 overall pick and you do not take him that high.

[KCJohnny]

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP

No. We are on pace for the #1 or #2 overall pick and you do not take him that high.

Unless that is the missing piece of a dominant D for a decade.

[KCJohnny]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

Rey Maualuga will fix that problem in a heart beat. Pat Thomas is a filler, he has no future with this team. Dorsey, Tank, Maualuga would do alot to fix the rush defense. Tank and Dorsey and can take on blockers all day but without the linebackers to fill the gaps, its worthless.

Maualuga would solve many probelms here.

[Bowser]

Originally Posted by KCJohnny

Maualuga would solve many probelms here.

Not enough, unfortunately.

[DaKCMan AP]

Originally Posted by KCJohnny

Unless that is the missing piece of a dominant O for a decade.

Maualuga will not help our struggling O.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

It's obvious to me that KCJohnny just doesn't understand what the draft is all about.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Maualuga doesn't have value to be a #1 or #2 overall selection. MLB in a Cover 2 scheme is important, but it still isn't any more important than the DT or the Safeties.

[ChiefsCountry]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Maualuga doesn't have value to be a #1 or #2 overall selection. MLB in a Cover 2 scheme is important, but it still isn't any more important than the DT or the Safeties.

If we are in #4 to #10 range - Maualuga would be a great pick.

[jAZ]

Any analysis of stats with only two data points is stupid.

[chiefscafan]

mauulaga from usc he is ray lewis two it would bring some intensity to this D and if DJ doesn't want to lead i'm sure he would also would look at brian cushing from usc in the second or third if he fell.

that would give us a lb core of DJ mauulaga and cushing correct me if I"m wrong if you are there mecca but i personally love the way the two usc backers play.

[chiefscafan]

when I did a mock draft I saw opportunity with the number one trading down to 4 picking up maualaga and receiving a combo of picks to further build in this draft. I know every one wants the qb but I think we can get one in the second or third I'd even look at chase daniel and have him and brodie compeete. With the extra picks accquired we could trade back up into the first and get one of the top qbs who slides. The only qb I would take would be the braddford kid from ou.

[KCJohnny]

Maualuga would improve this defense, I don't think that's in doubt. I see the MLB position as part of the problem against the run. Without steller ILB play, the Cover 2 is the least preferred of all possible schemes if you want a stout run defense. Our run defense is is deep disrepair.

Mr. jAZ, you can comment on my analysis having to small a sample all you want, but you know this run D is in bad shape. Atlanta will run for at least 150 yards on us.

[KCJohnny]

Originally Posted by jAZ

Any analysis of stats with only two data points is stupid.

Great! Feel free to add week 3 in, Mr. jAZ!

We are giving up 204 YPG after 12 quarters of 2008 NFL football.