Nick Saban: Cover 3 Adaptation (Rip/Liz) To The Spread!
After providing an overview of playing Cover 3 with pattern-matching principles, we'll now take a look at
the adaptations utilized to strengthen this basic concept.!
A mantra comically repeated within the circles of "Air Raid" offenses is, "everything works against Cover
3", meaning whatever the concept, you can pass at will against most cover 3 defenses. With natural
voids in the defense in the flats and in the seams, the four underneath defenders are typically the lynch
pin of how successful a cover 3 defense will be.!
The easiest threat to victimize cover 3 is the #2 receiver in the seam. The defense must be able to
account for this threat or it will spend much of the game seeing the free safety 'wrong' on a 4 vertical
threat. and so the chess match, begins!
To accommodate for this deficiency, Saban's defenses have evolved through the last decade with a
"Rip/Liz" match based on where the safety drops into the box (Rita / Linda) against the 2 quick threat
(2x2).!
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From Coach Saban, himself!
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When youre playing a passing team you always have a better chance with split-safeties, but with all
this zone read / zone option stuff we seeall the spread stuff, sometimes youve got to be able to play
middle-of-the-field coverage to get an extra guy in the box. !
We got to the point where, this is the reason that we do this, when everybody started going spread we
couldnt play 3 deep zone. This started with the Cleveland Browns, I was the defensive coordinator in
the early 90s and Pittsburgh would run 'Seattle' on us , four streaks. Then they would run two streaks
and two out routes, what I call pole route from 2x2. So we got to where could NOT play 3-deep zone
because we rerouted the seams and played zone, and what I call Country Cover 3 (drop to your spot
reroute the seams, break on the ball). Well , when Marino is throwing it, that old break on the ball shit
dont work.!
So because we could not defend this, we could not play 3 deep, so when you cant play zone, what do
you do next? You play Man (cover 1), but if their mens are better than your mens, you cant play cover
1 .!
We got to where we couldnt run cover 1 - So now we cant play an 8 man front.!
The 1994 Browns went 13-5 , we lost to Steelers 3 times, lost 5 games total (twice in the regular
season, once in the playoffs). We gave up the 5th fewest points in the history of the NFL, and lost to
Steelers because we could not play 8-man fronts to stop the run because they would wear us out
throwing it!
We came up with this concept; how we can play cover 1 and cover 3 at the same time, so we can do
both these things and one thing would complement the other. We came up with the concept rip/liz
match.!
The "Rip" / "Liz" call will alert the OLB to the call side that he has a safety coming down who will be
assuming the Curl/Flat responsibilities. With the Rip/Liz declaration, the backers away from the call will
alert to "Match" ("Rip - Match Left") their quick away from the call, and how the corner to his side will
match their receivers. It is all premised on controlling #2 deep in the seam, by catching and carrying #2
vertical or outside past 12-15 yards (this should start sounding familiar to BRONCO/SCIF technique). If
there is no threat of 2 verticals to a side, it really becomes your standard fare Cover 3. If #2 crosses /
goes inside, he communicates with an "Under" call (alerting the backers inside to cut the receiver) and
turns his focus to rob #1 underneath (like standard Curl/Flat Cover 3, robbing inside and underneath
#1).!
It is essentially saying to the corners and C/F player, "versus two quicks, we're man-to-man all the way,
unless our guys breaks inside". The communication is the vital part of the equation. Because the
defense is presenting a 2-high shell, you could be playing a Cover 2, 4, 7, or 8 concept, but when you
drop the safety down, you have to have a fast and efficient way to communicate which safety is
dropping and how the backers away from the drop will respectively handle their threats.!
Worst case scenario in Cover 3 is the 4-verticals concept (4 receiver on 3 deep defenders). Rip/Liz
match specifically handles this. If you accommodate for 4 verts, you aren't left with many other issues
that can hurt you because you will still have 6 in the box. Getting down to brass tacks, lets review how
this concept fleshes itself out.!
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If #1 is vertical and #2 is vertical (VERTICALS)!
#1 presses vertical, the corner takes all of #1 - #2 presses vertical, the C/F players takes all of #2!
The inside linebackers will match #3 as he presents himself, looking to expand from the hook zone. By
carrying the two inside verticals, remember you still have a middle of the field safety, so the backer/
safety carrying #2 can maintain a low-shoulder, outside leverage on the receiver. This puts him in great
position to discourage the SAIL (or 'pole') deep out break of #2 if it were to develop (past 12-15 yards).!
If #1 is vertical and #2 is outside (SMASH)!
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Looking at the quick game smash concept (backside 5-step check), you can see how this is handled.
#1 into the smash (right side of the diagram) takes all of #1 because he hasn't stemmed inside ("under"
call, remember) and the C/F match player here handles all of #2 (vertical-outside). On the backside
(here the 'rip' adjustment ~ left of the diagram), #1 stems vertical, so the corner matches all of #1. The
#2 receiver runs a speed out, so the safety takes him man-to-man.!
If #1 is inside and #2 is vertical (DRIVE)!
Now a little tricky, the backside match (left diagram, away from 'liz'), has #1 immediately inside on a
shallow, so the corner can sink and be over the top of #2, who is running a vertical (past 12 yards) stem
into a dig. Because #2 is not inside ("Under"), the C/F safety matches #2 outside and underneath. With
the shallow by #1, the backside inside linebacker is looking to cut the crosser (X) and the nearside
inside linebacker will ROBOT the dig (depth and rob underneath).!
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If #1 is vertical and #2 is inside (SHALLOW)!
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Here, you see (right side of diagram) the match principle of the backer does NOT have a vertical stem
of #2, so he declares the "Under" call, alerting the backers to ROBOT and CUT, as he will play standard
Cover 3 curl-to-flat rules (with not threat to the seam), gaining depth and width (underneath #1 to his
side).!
If #1 is inside and #2 is inside (QUICKS / YOGI strong flood)!
With the vertical stem of #2 (right side of diagram) the C/F match player carries him and since he is
playing outside-underneath leverage, can easily take all of #2 with the outside break. With #1 vertical,
the corner can match all of #1, as he would on a vertical #1 in Cover 3. The nuance here is that #3 is
immediately releasing to the flat. The inside linebacker to flow (M) can be the final 3 player as there
was no "Under" call. This eliminates the easy flood against Cover 3 (and remains consistent with Cover
4 rules and SCIF/Bronco rules).!
"Rip/Liz" is an adaptation of 3 Deep zone. How the corners and backer/safety support is primarily a
game plan adjustment and can be tweaked on how your opponent actually uses 2x2 route packages.
Now, you may be saying, "thats all well and good, but what about trips and empty"? Right, that will be
up next, when we explore Saban's "mable" adjustment to Trips/Trey formations.!
UPDATE: Be sure to check out the 'breakout' session in the comments section below. Also, the
adjustment to 3x1 "Mable" is located here. In addition, here is the only film representation of Rip/Liz I
could find (outside of a broadcast) of the safety spin, Cover 3, versus 2x2. It doesn't represent the
pattern match well because it was a bubble screen, but you can pick up on the fits, backer response,
and leverage of the C/F players !
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Route read/pattern match with the shuffle!
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SNATCH! Take that, sucka!!
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After spending years teaching the traditional back pedal, I have found the most efficient method another
way. For the past few seasons, the "Saban Method" (though, clearly not his invention as it is as old as
his days in Cleveland) of the shuffle and pattern-match.!
Though playing true Cover 3, we 3 step shuffle into 3 step (short) game (under 12 yards).!
Corner reads QB into the shuffle while periphing #1 to #2 receiver.!
The 3-step shuffle puts the corner at a depth of 10 yards, which would be on top of any short game
stick into their route, which helps the corners remain in phase with receivers and any vertical threats. As
a general rule, we don't jump short throws, as they belong to the underneath defenders, however, being
able to anticipate routes and throws allows the put him in a position to make the interception and
reduce unnecessary RAC.!
If QB continues on drop (into 5-7 step), the corner is already in perfect position to turn and run (ala
baseball turn), anticipating the deeper route (+12 yards).!
If #1 goes vertical, he will simply baseball turn (bail) into the vertical stem, staying over the top of #1.
This transition is the most important reason to use the shuffle as there is no wasted movement in going
from square with a receiver to a 180 degree bail.!
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If #1 is shallow (hitch/out), immediately look to #2's stem (see first handout below)!
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If #2 goes vertical, you must baseball turn to stay over the top of #2!
If #2 sticks at less than 10 yards (and #1 is shallow) like double hitch/curl/slant, now the corner can
stick his downfield foot in the ground and jump #1.!
The shallow stems on weakside (single) receivers, or against the double shallow quick routes - with the
corner in a shuffle just applies the brakes to his upfield foot, rather than the rather cumbersome
'replace-the-feet' or 'T-step' regrouping to come out of his break and attack the ball.!
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The FS versus pro, is keying TE as he presents the first immediate inside vertical threat.!
If the TE is vertical after 10 yards, the FS can anticipate picking up the TE threatening the middle of the
field!
If the TE releases outside, he can anticipate the weakside post or cross (dragon)!
If the TE releases inside, he can anticipate the strongside post or possibly help out on the weakside
vertical route.!
The FS versus doubles, is to key both inside vertical threats (Y & H) and is praying to God one of the
underneath backers reroutes the vertical stem of either receiver. FS must respect both vertically in C3,
which is why we stress the QB keys here.!
Below is the first DVD handout for DBs after the first Spring scrimmage - going over alignment and
handling pattern recognition with 2 receivers. This was a good example of "training the junior high" out
of these guys, who would fixate on the single receiver in some pseudo-bastard man-cover 3 concept.
More on video handouts can be read here, here, here, and here.!
One other important aspect (briefly touched on during the handouts shown here) is alignment in 1-high
defense. Divide the field into thirds, using your landmarks and field position as the guide.!
For corners, the 'divider rule' is used which is premised on the top of the numbers being 9 yards from
the sideline in high school (2 yard length of numbers). The landmark, or 'divider' (of the field) exists 1
yard inside the number (10 yards from the sideline) that the corner must align inside the receiver if he is
formationed outside this landmark. The reason being, he is discouraging inside, vertical breaking routes
that the FS will not be able to assist on. This allows all 3 deep secondary personnel to coordinate their
help amongst each other to distribute the deep thirds appropriately.!
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In my last post, I quoted Nick Saban describing his quandary when trying to defend "spread"
formations. It goes something like this:!
1. To stop the run a defense needs to bring an 8th man into the box.!
2. The offense might pass, and when you have 8 in the box you can more or less choose between
Cover-3 (zone) and Cover-1 (man).!
3. When you are playing a traditional zone defense where defenders drop to a spot on the field and
then break on the pass after it is thrown, NFL passing offenses tear you apart. (Can't play Cover-3)!
4. If you can't play Cover-3, you have to play man (Cover-1).!
5. If your defenders aren't as good as the offense's receivers, you can't play Cover-1.!
6. If you can't play Cover-3 or Cover-1, you can't have 8 in the box and the offense can run the ball.!
So, how do you solve this problem? Necessity is the mother of invention, and after seeing his highly
successful 1994 defense torn apart (by the steelers, no less) Saban knew he needed something fresh.!
Positioning the curl-flat player underneath and outside of the #2 receiver was a part of the answer. But
the answer to the larger puzzle was what is known as pattern match coverage--a mix between man and
zone. Against a "2x2" formation Saban's pattern matching defense is called "Rip/Liz." (This could be
any formation with 2 receivers to each side.)!
The names "Rip" and "Liz" tell the defense which side the safety is rotating down on. "Rip" = right, "Liz"
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The safety opposite the call becomes the deep middle 1/3 player. The safety to the call and the OLB
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Dealing with #1 and #2!
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The Corners and Curl/Flat players simply convert to man coverage if their receiver pushes vertical off of
the line. For the CB, this is the #1 receiver, for the Curl-Flat player, this is the #2 receiver.!
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If #2 stems outside(i.e. NOT vertical), the Curl/Flat player will look to expand wider, underneath #1 in
the curl area. He will remain in position to come up to the flat if the throw takes him there.!
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Dealing with #3!
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The inside linebackers are playing what are called the "#3 receiver/hook" zones (3RH if you are a
coach, yellow zones if you are a Madden player). They are playing off of the flow of the back; if the
back releases immediately to the flat on their side, they jump his route aggressively. If the back flows
away from them, they will gain depth and defend intermediate passes over the middle.!
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Note that the ILBs will either be covering the #3 receiver (the back) or zoning off in a hook zone. Hence,
the name "3 receiver/hook player"!
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"UNDER!"!
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If a receiver stems inside, the defense needs to make an "Under!" call. If #1 stems inside the corner will
give the under call and stay outside/over the top of #2.!
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If #2 stems inside, the Curl/Flat player will give the "Under!" call and expand to the curl area and then
the flat if the back shows.!
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The goal here is to be able to pass a receiver stemming inside to the defenders waiting on the other
side of the formation. Sort of like switching on the pick-n-roll in basketball, the "Under!" call allows the
defense to gain some advantages of zone coverage while still staying tight to receivers like man
coverage.!
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The inside linebacker away from the "Under!" call will jump the shallow cross.!
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The other ILB will gain depth and look to disrupt intermediate routes. Note that this is almost exactly the
same as a back releasing into the flat to that side: this defense treats the back's release into the flat
and the shallow cross the same way.!
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The inside linebackers are not as worried about the back when there is an "Under!" call because of
spacing: one defender will be in the same area as both the back and the shallow crosser.!
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With the "Rip/Liz" pattern-match adjustment, the defense is looking to aggressively match the patterns
or the distribution of the receivers. When executed properly, the defense will be able to cover receivers
tightly like man to man coverage, but while being able to pass off receivers like in zone coverage.!
With this concept of pattern matching, single-high defenses can bring an 8th man into the box to stop
the run. With tight coverage into the seams, Saban's "break on the ball" problem is solved, and with the
ability to switch underneath, cover one side of a receiver and receive help to the other side, matchup
risks are significantly mitigated.!
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Here are a few examples of the Rip/Liz adjustment against real pass concepts:!
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Note that all routes except the back have vertical stems, so the curl-flat players and the corners are
manned-up.!
4 verts represents the worst-case scenario for a single-high defense. With tight coverage into the
seams and intermediate and deep help, the defense can force a very tough throw.!
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Again, there are 4 vertical stems, so again the curl-flat players and the corners are manned-up.!
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With an "Under!" call from the right, the LILB cuts the crosser and the RILB zones off. The other 3
receivers are vertical off of the line, so their coverage converts to man.!
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