Rip/Liz 3 Match

In this post we will discuss a Rip/Liz 3 Match concept that can be ran from any defensive scheme. This is a great compliment coverage to your palms or quarters.

I believe this is ran best from a 2 high shell because it helps disguise the coverage. It can disrupt a lot of quarterbacks in high school who see a middle field open then look down to receive the snap and when they look back up its now closed.

I also like this look when you run it from a 4-3 or 4-2 look because you are presenting, with doubles, only one full cover down pre-snap then two cover downs on the snap. We will look at alignment first then discuss position technique, working from outside in.

Alignment:

This coverage can be ran from any defensive scheme but here we have it drawn up with a 4-3 front and a 2 high shell. Safeties will start with their alignment at 10-12 yards deep and about 1 yard outside the hash, giving the appearance of playing palms or quarters. They will roll to the trips side of the formation and the new alignment just before the snap will look like below.

Corners:

The first thing that corners need to understand is what is called "divider leverage". This is a phrase that is familiar to anyone that has studied Saban's defenses. Divider leverage is a imaginary line that helps the CB's know if they need to shade the WR outside or inside. Their leverage is based on if they will have help to the middle of the field.

The line moves depending on if the ball is in the MOF, near hash, or far hash. The rule for where it is located is 5/1/Bottom relative to the top of the numbers. If the ball is on the far hash from you then the divider line is 5 yards inside the top of the numbers. If the ball is in the MOF then it's 1 yard inside the top of the number. If the ball is on your near hash then the line is at the bottom of the numbers.

The DB will play the opposite shade of where their WR is in reference to the divider. If your WR is inside the divider then you would play outside leverage. If he is outside the divider then you would play inside leverage.

Divider leverage isn't just something you use to align with your WR, it's also used post snap to help you with defending routes. If the WR is inside the divider and you have outside leverage but on the snap he makes a hard outside release, which now puts him outside the divider, your not going to fight to maintain your outside shade your going to defend the route from inside leverage because he is now outside of the divider.

Once the CB's understand their divider leverage their job is to play MOD coverage. MOD stands for Man on Deep, meaning he will man #1 on any route deep. They want to play any route by staying hi and inside. If #1 goes inside then he will make an "in" call and his eyes now go to #2 to help defend his deep 1/3. If #1 breaks out or runs a hitch the CB will make a "smash" call letting the overhang to his side know to break off #2 and find #1. CB will now find #2 and defend their deep 1/3.

Overhangs (OLB, SS):

Overhangs will align in an outside shade of #2 and they have two rules; "2 in the Seam" and "Fast 3". They play a "scooch" technique; square to #2 and shuffle backwards on the snap for 3 steps in relation to the divider rules on #2.

Those three steps help the Overhang determine if #2 is in the seam. If after those three shuffles #2 is still pushing vertical then he is considered in the seam and the Overhang will carry that WR, staying low and outside in relation to the route.

Overhangs must also read through the end man on the line of scrimmage (EMLOS) to the near back for their second rule, "Fast 3". If that near back, who would be the new #3 WR, is fast out to the flat, then the Overhang needs to now play the new #3 in the flats even if #2 is in the seam. If #3 is "in the down" meaning he stays inside to block and doesn't come out fast and then #2 is NOT in the seam then he will play regular Cover 3 rules; Curl/Flat.

Lets look at some different situations and see how the overhang would play it based on his two rules.

1. Overhang sees that #2 is "in the seam" and #3 is "in the down" so he will carry the route vertical staying low and outside in relation to the route.

2. Overhang sees that #2 is "in the seam" but there is a "fast 3" so he must break off of #2 and work to flats. He shouldn't jump the flat immediately he needs to "sail" through the slant window of #1 and trigger once the ball is thrown.

3. Overhang sees that #2 is not "in the seam" and #3 is "in the down". He will make an "in" call to alert the inside linebacker then he will work towards the middle replacing that backer, he now has Hook/Curl.

4. Overhang sees that #2 is "in the seam" and #3 is "in the down" so he will carry #2. He hears a "smash" call from the CB so he will break off of #2 and go hunt #1.

5. Overhang sees that #2 is "in the seam" and #3 is "in the down" so he will carry #2. He hears an "in" call from the CB so he will break off of #2 and find #1 and deliver him to the inside linebacker. Once he has delivered #1 to the backer he will replace the backer's zone responsibility and will now play Hook/Curl.

Linebackers:

Inside linebackers or any linebacker that is not playing as an overhang has the rule of "Hook" and "Final 3 Through". This means he will drop to the Hook to help underneath but must also relate to #3 in case he blocks then releases. The Overhangs are not guaranteed to be able to play the flat if #3 check releases to their side because they may be playing #2 in the seam.

If the #3 is out fast to his side then he will plus the zone in that direction working to get low and inside of #2. The linebacker away from the fast 3 will quickly check the backside #2 for any crossing route then he will melt to the middle of the field and will continue to work to replace the hook zone of the other linebacker; they are "playing on a string".

Middle of the Field Safety:

The safety (weak safety in these examples) will play 12-14 yards from the LOS in the MOF. Upon the snap he will backpedal and read the shoulder of the QB. As he is reading the shoulder he will backpedal at an angle towards that direction, if the shoulder changes direction he will flip his hip and work back. He should never get too far to one direction as that will skew the divider rules.

Defensive Line:

There isn't any specific technique that the d-line needs to play however there are some things to consider as you don't want to divorce the front from the coverage too much. With the overhangs playing outside leverage on #2 it can be difficult for them to play force on any run. It's best to have your DE's box instead of spill as the inside backers would have to be the cleaners of any spill and scraping from the inside out can be difficult. The advantage of them playing box technique is also being able to contain the QB in passing situations.

Now that we have walked through all the positions and their techniques lets look at several different passing concepts out of 2x2 and how this coverage would carry out.

Shallow Cross:

Smash / Divide:

Verticals:

As you can now see Rip/Liz is a great change up to your palms and quarters scheme. If this is a coverage that you wish to add you must make sure you have plenty of time in your practice schedule to really rep the individual position concepts verse different scenarios.