NFL Defense Lesson: "In the Classroom" With the Secondary

There are a lot of people who really despise the NFL offseason. Everyday those people just keep asking “how long until football season?!” Well, you and I and part of that group. The difference is this — I don’t hate the offseason and neither should you.

Why?

Well….why not?

This gives you time to get ready for the season. Go get your team apparel and tailgating equipment ready. Save up for that new big TV. And also take some time to learn something new about this incredible game.

Having said that, I’m sure there are things we all need to brush up on. Yes, there are some readers who may even know more than me, but the average and everyday fan may not know the “X’s and O’s” of the game.

Lucky for you, I’m here to explain the jargon!

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Last time we went over the differences in a 3-4 defensive front compared to a 4-3 defensive front (linked below). That’s only half the battle right there. Today we are going to dive into the secondary. Now before we all jump on my back and kill me in the comments, let me remind you of one thing.

The point of this is to inculcate some knowledge on some of the readers who may not know as much as the advanced football viewers or former players. This is simply the basics at its most simplistic form.

So today, we are going to take on the secondary. Just like the 3-4 and 4-3 there are a couple variations of how a team may use them. The big thing to remember right away is that the secondary will change dramatically based on what personnel the team may have. So we will go position by position, and break it all down, as well as going through man coverage versus zone coverage, and by the time the season is here, you’ll be the local sports bar expert!

Cornerback

Let’s start with the cornerback. This is the most agile player on the team. He is the most versatile guy on the team. He is tasked with guarding the wide receivers in pass coverage, while also having to stop the run (if the front seven misses the runner). He may even have blitz calls to rush the passer like a linebacker.

Tough job right?

But these guys love that challenge. They typically need to have a decent size, something comparable to the receivers around 6′ to 6’3 and around 200-215 pounds, depending on the height. The big thing we look for is footwork for these guys. They need to have the best balance, the best movement, and the best hands on the defense. There will typically be at least two corners on the field at a time, sometimes more depending on the situation. We’ll get into those situations later.

Now we will look at the different coverages, and we will keep this very basic: man coverage and zone coverage.

Man coverage is simple (in a manner of speaking). It simply means you have one man that you’re covering wherever he goes. For example, this fall when the Jets play the Giants, the great Darrelle Revis will (most likely) be playing opposite Odell Beckham Jr. when they go into man coverage. Revis is big, fast and agile, so he can (hopefully) go step for step with Beckham all over the field.

Remember when I said the corner has to be the most agile guy on the field? Well, this is why — the receiver knows the route he’s going to run. The corner does not. He has to react to whatever the receiver does and stick with him. Pretend you’re playing a shadow game with someone, and you have to try copying their every hand movement … same concept here.

Dec 7, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; New England Patriots cornerback Darrelle Revis (24) in the field during the second quarter against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Zone coverage is much less physically demanding, but more mentally challenging. In a zone the corner will have a designated area of the field that he will be in charge of covering. Anyone who comes into that zone becomes the responsibility of the corner.

Simple enough? What happens when there are multiple people in that zone? They either have to read the quarterback and make a choice or hope for extra help from another corner or the safety.
Again, just the basics in its most simplistic form. Corners typically cover receivers. That Revis versus Beckham matchup … just wow! That’s going to be a great one. Luckily I’m a Giants fan so I know who’s going to win that battle!

Okay back on topic again. (#GoGiants)

Free Safety

Now we will break down the safeties. The safety position is almost like a last resort defender. They are typically the last thing between the offense and the end zone. They play very far off the line of scrimmage to be able to see everything on the offense. There are two types of safeties on a defense: A Free Safety and a Strong Safety.

For this, we’ll just go one at a time.

The Free Safety has the unfortunate task of being EVERYWHERE. Like I said, they are the last thing between the offense and the end zone. The free safety has to be incredibly fast and still have the ability to stop on a dime.

They are typically smaller so they have more speed, but teams look for them to have some height so they can (hopefully) intercept passes easier. Free safeties rarely get tasked with man coverage. Their zone is everything deep. They have to look for where the corners and linebackers may need help in coverage and give an extra hand.

I know that sounds odd, but he is the safety net for the entire defense. He gets to come over the top and time the passing routes in order to stop plays in their tracks. Earl Thomas of the Seahawks is (in my opinion) the best of anyone in the league at this.

Jan 10, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks free safety Earl Thomas (29) jumps for the pass intended for Carolina Panthers wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin (13) in the 2014 NFC Divisional playoff football game at CenturyLink Field. Seattle defeated Carolina 31-17. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

Wherever that ball is, Thomas is going to be there. He reads the quarterback and receivers and determines which route is most likely going to get thrown to, jumps it, and intercepts the ball. In order to do that he not only has to be smart, but incredibly fast with proper footwork in order to make that happen.

Strong Safety

So what about the strong safety?

Valid question.

This is going to be the weirdest explanation you may ever see me give. The strong safety is a hybrid. He is (normally) smaller than a linebacker, bigger than a safety, slower than a corner, still tasked with both man coverage and zone coverage.

Yes, I know that was a lot. But that is not an easy job. They still have the job of a safety, playing deeper in coverage so they can be that last resort. However, the strong safety can play more forward, near the linebackers, to help against short routes by slot receivers and tight ends.

(This diagram shows both a potential zone and a potential man coverage for the Strong Safety)

They are very, very hard hitters as well, and are very good against the run.
Kam Chancellor is (in my opinion) the best strong safety in the league. He is way bigger than the typical strong safety. He is actually built more like a linebacker, but he is so overly athletic he can play that safety role. He is incredibly hard hitting, and has a nose for the ball to get interceptions. He has great footwork to guard tight ends and even cover some receivers in zone coverage.

The Review

Now let’s take a quick look at some top draft picks from this past year and see how they fit.

Trae Waynes (corner from Michigan State) extremely athletic, great raw tools and excels in man coverage. Went 11th overall to the Vikings. Versatile to fit any defensive scheme.
Marcus Peters (corner from Washington) very strong corner who excels in man coverage. Not as rangy as Waynes in zone coverage, built more like a Revis or Richard Sherman.
Damarious Randall (free safety from Arizona State) seen as arguably the most complete safety in this class. Has good ball skills, contains both man and zone coverage skills and is physical.
Landon Collins (strong safety from Alabama) easily the best strong safety in this class. Very hard hitter, plays closer to the front seven, not fully polished in coverages but still well above the average. Went first pick of the second round to the Giants.

The Wrap

See, that wasn’t all too hard now was it?! There are multiple formations defenses will use to determine how many corners or safeties to put on the field, but we’ll get into that another time. At some point we’ll get into nickel and dime coverages that prevents and all sorts of craziness! As we go through the offseason these we will break down more and more until you become an expert ready to take on the NFL!

I know I sound like a broken record here, but this is just the basics. So angry commenter that’s ready to blast me, take it down a notch. Yes I know you’re there, but this article isn’t for you.

So now you know the 3-4, the 4-3, and the duties of the secondary, in just two articles! How crazy is that?!

Man, oh man, I’m ready for football! Luckily, I’m also a football coach so I don’t have to wait very long! I get to coach my own spring game this week, so the offseason has been much easier on me.

Now go take what you’ve learned and become the local defensive expert at that local sports bar!

Next: NFL Defense Lesson: 3-4 versus a 4-3

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Explaining the Jargon: What REALLY is an NFL Secondary?

By Matthew Holowiak | May 17, 2015