Middle Overload Zone Under Man Pressure

Clemson is in even front spacing Nickel personnel with OLB bodies at DE on 3rd & 7. The pressure is a middle triple overload pressure concept.

The Rush:

DTs working through the B gaps to contain, ILBs through the A, and the Safety as the third rusher inside running down the midline

The Coverage:

Zone under Man. This coverage has be covered before on the site with examples from Bill Belichick's coaching tree. 

The middle overload forces the OL to account for the two Rush LBs who are dropping, the two DTs who end up occupying the Guards as they work to contain. The remaining protection is the Center and RB for the two A gap ILBs. When the Safety adds as the triple overload there is no blocker to account for him.

The coverage concept allows the defense to account for four verticals with four defenders over the threats like cover zero. The disguise of post defense is excellent with the post aligned Safety holding the disguise before playing coverage weak. The weak side uses a man combo technique with the Corner handling #2 out when #1 and #2 switch. The combo protects the Safety disguising from the MOF from being quickly out leveraged by #2 on an  immediate out breaking route. The two low players provide inside zone presence in the seams helping deny hot routes and control crossers. The drop LBs are also able to get eyes back to the backfield for the RB releasing, break on the QB's throw, or rally to a QB scramble.

Nice overload design and coverage concept from the Tigers and Brent Venables.

Middle Overload Zone Pressure

Here is a really nice example of a middle overload zone pressure and great FZ coverage technique from the Jets. The defense is a 4-2-5 nickel personnel with OLB bodies at DE.

The Rush:

Both mugged up A  gap linebackers rush their gaps. Both DT's work outside to contain. The Safety walked down shows man coverage on the TE. The Safety loops inside to the midline to rush following and fitting off the two A gap rushers creating a triple inside overload.

The Coverage:

3 Under 3 Deep

The double mugged A gap look forces the OL into 1 on 1 blocks across the board and forces the RB to pick up an A gap rush threat. With both DE's dropping out into coverage the OT's eventually pick up the contain DT's. The OG has a very difficult redirect pass set from the DT to the full speed Safety on the midline. Final result is the LB and Safety creating a 2 on 1 vs. the RB and a pressure in the QB's face.

The coverage is excellent. The Corners are playing a matching tight 1/3 technique on the outside receivers. The Nickel is carrying the #2's vertical release. Matching aggressive coverage outside allows the Safety to be aggressive from the post on the #3 receiver. The top down technique of the post safety forces the route of the TE to flatten allowing the weak side seam dropper to intercept the crossing route. The 3RH dropper passes off the #3 to the opposite seam dropper. With the RB blocking strong the seam player can zone off allowing the strong DE to pass the crosser to his help on the weak side. The strong DE relates to the final 3 (RB) while the weak side DE is able to cover the final #2 in the seam (TE crosser).

Nice execution of the pressure and coverage from the Jets. Good stuff from Gregg Williams.

Todd Bowles Middle Overload Zone Dog

This is a 5 man middle overload zone dog Coach Bowles dialed up when he was the defensive coordinator for the Arizona Cardinals in 2013. The pressure is run from a nickel personnel.

The Rush:
Tackles - Working through B gap to contain
Mike & Will - A gap
SS - Midline

The Coverage:
The coverage is a 3 under 3 deep with both ends dropping into coverage
End - Seam
End - 3RH
*Both Ends are stand up 3-4 OLB players

Nickel - Seam
FS - MOF
Corners - Tight 1/3

The pressure overloads the middle of the pass protection.

The expected reaction from the pass protection is for the OG and OT on both sides to fan out to block the DE and DT on either side. The Center has one A gap rushing LB and the RB has the other. 

The DT's working through the B gaps holds the attention of the guards. If the DT's immediately looped outside the OG could possible squeeze the protection back to the middle. The occupation of the OG's creates the 3 (Mike, Will, SS) vs. the 2 (Center & RB) overload inside.

The OT's are left pass setting to no one with both DE's dropping into coverage. It would be very difficult for the OT's to provide any help to the midline.

For the offense to squeeze the protection back inside, many reactions would need to happen very quickly. The Center, Guard, and Tackle would all have to redirect from their initial pass set. This would require all three to identify the DE is dropping. The ID would also force all three to communicate and react in unison to squeeze the protection. They must also must each physically handle the athleticism required to redirect their pass set and make an effective block. All this with full speed rushers coming at them.   

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