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

[The Bad Guy]

Originally Posted by booger

lol
If i was Cunningham I would demand to move from the press box down to the sidelines.

This LB unit that he also happens to be the position coach for along with his DC duties are having big troubles.

I like Gun's passion and fire for the game but he is the one who wanted the additional responsibilities. Right now when the D comes off the field their position coach is in the booth. Krumrie(DL) Gibbs(DB) or Herm are the ones that go over the previous series and make corrections. Those 3 also have other players and positions to look at.

I just feel very strongly that Gun needs to get his ass on the sidelines and show this group of LB's some leadership because after 2 games it's obvious they need it.

Gun on the sidelines, or Gun in the press box, it means very little. Gun sucks at his job.

[Mecca]

I think you could call better plays than Gun does.

[KCJohnny]

Gun is not the problem here.

[the Talking Can]

Originally Posted by KCJohnny

Gun is not the problem here.

you and zouk always make excuses....


gun the #1 problem

[the Talking Can]

Originally Posted by jAZ

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

you just summed up every post of kcjohnny

[The Bad Guy]

Originally Posted by KCJohnny

Gun is not the problem here.

Gun is never the problem in your eyes.

Gunther proclaims to be a LB guru, yet none of our linebackers have ever improved under him.

Gunther isn't as big of a problem as Herm and Carl, but he is a problem. This team will never advance with him calling the defense.

Maybe you can send him a care package when he's fired for hopefully the last time by this organization. But knowing the spineless bastard he is, he'll probably be willing to be the custodian next time around.

[KCJohnny]

Originally Posted by the Talking Can

you just summed up every post of kcjohnny

See post #30 funny guy.
Your 1-liners are intellectually rigorous, though. I can barely keep up.

[Brock]

Gunther is horrible, just horrible. The game clearly passed him by over a decade ago.

[KCJohnny]

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

Gun is never the problem in your eyes.

Gunther proclaims to be a LB guru, yet none of our linebackers have ever improved under him.

Gunther isn't as big of a problem as Herm and Carl, but he is a problem. This team will never advance with him calling the defense.

Maybe you can send him a care package when he's fired for hopefully the last time by this organization. But knowing the spineless bastard he is, he'll probably be willing to be the custodian next time around.

You have no facts on your side. The man is a proven DC with the resume to prove it. The reality is that Herm brought Tampa 2 here which KC never ran, and does not have the talent to run. At least DV made adjustments when he brought Rammyball here in 2001 and decided in 2002 and forward to feature the TE, FB and power rushing game which were not a part of the Rammyball template. Herm seems wedded to the Tampa 2 scheme even though we are exposed royally over the middle due to a dearth of talent, not a Dcoord shortfall.

[KCJohnny]

Originally Posted by Brock

Gunther is horrible, just horrible. The game clearly passed him by over a decade ago.

That's priceless. In 1997 the Chiefs led the NFL with a #1 scoring defense allowing just 235 points. Yet according to Brock by 1998 the game had passed him by. "Over a decade" (Brock's words) would make the NFL's top scoring defense of 1997 an evidence that "the game had passed Gunther Cunningham by". The Chiefs defense under Cunningham also won the scoring title in '95.


Scholarly.

[Brock]

Originally Posted by KCJohnny

That's priceless. In 1997 the Chiefs led the NFL with a #1 scoring defense allowing just 235 points. Yet according to Brock by 1998 the game had passed him by. "Over a decade" (Brock's words) would make the NFL's top scoring defense of 1997 an evidence that "the game had passed Gunther Cunningham by".


Scholarly.

He has done literally nothing since then. You can blather all you want about the 90s like they still mean anything, but they don't. I realize you're attached to Gunther's nutsack like a tick, but if you still think he's some kind of defensive mastermind, you need to come up for air.

[KCJohnny]

Originally Posted by Brock

He has done literally nothing since then. You can blather all you want about the 90s like they still mean anything, but they don't. I realize you're attached to Gunther's nutsack like a tick, but if you still think he's some kind of defensive mastermind, you need to come up for air.

Nice try. You said

Gunther is horrible, just horrible. The game clearly passed him by over a decade ago.

Egg's on your face, Mr. Brock.

Touche'.

[Brock]

Originally Posted by KCJohnny

Nice try. You said



Egg's on your face, Mr. Brock.

Touche'.

Yeah. It's that was 11 years ago. OVER A DECADE. Jesus.

[KCJohnny]

Originally Posted by Brock

Yeah. It's that was 11 years ago. OVER A DECADE. Jesus.

Oh, you know you are wrong!

And "Jesus"? Nice. Maz'l Tov.

Brock said:

Gunther is horrible, just horrible. The game clearly passed him by over a decade ago.

Over a decade ago = 1997, Chiefs have the NFL's top defense and set a record for consecutive games not allowing a TD in the 2nd half. 1995 Chiefs D is #1 in NFL.

Please, keep trying to change the subject. You said that over a decade ago Gun was behind the game, yet his defenses were league leading, record setting units.

[Brock]

Yeah, you're right. Gunther is greeaaaaat. Even though he hasn't accomplished anything of consequence since zubaz pants were in style.