Guidry coverages explained.

[CANEMC]

I'd be willing to bet TVD returns to form in the new offense even if they trot out the same receivers as last season. He put up ridiculous numbers in 2021 when his top two guys weren't even draftable. He doesn't need Randy Moss to look good in a QB friendly system.

 

[Arehel]

This defense is interesting to me for a couple reasons.
Being from Canada, this is very similar to the a Wide 4-4 stack, just one less player. Essentially the WS S and Nickel and interchangeable players and are twinners between linebackers and Safeties. The ends typically play a 5 tech position and the NT and DT play whatever the play calls for, typically NT 1 tech and DT 3 tech.
Both the Will and Sam backers are usually in 30 tech positions. The front 6 are typically static and don't move much, its the DBs that move around a lot ish.

The benefit of this defense is that you will have a very very hard time running off tackle plays this way, which is the bread and butter of the run game. Where its through a counter trap or power or OZ or a simply off tackle. That's the area running plays are designed to go. Now the blocking assignments rarely include the WS safety and Nickel because they're sniffing the box and not in it, but their close enough to be able to be part of the running game. Furthermore, those same players are supposed to be really good low zones players or flats, basically they're job is don't let anything happen between the outer most player on the LOS and out of bounds and 10 yards of the LOS regardless or pass or run. Because of their position its easy to disguise them as a man2man coverage player o the inside more receive in 3x1

I don't wanna go too far into it. But its a great base and has its weakness which I wont say, but this defense can limit an offense and offensively its hard to scheme against, cause it can essentially allow your back three to play deep often while still looking like man, cover 2, or 4, without much tell based on pre-snap alignment.

 

[ghost2]

This defense is interesting to me for a couple reasons.
Being from Canada, this is very similar to the a Wide 4-4 stack, just one less player. Essentially the WS S and Nickel and interchangeable players and are twinners between linebackers and Safeties. The ends typically play a 5 tech position and the NT and DT play whatever the play calls for, typically NT 1 tech and DT 3 tech.
Both the Will and Sam backers are usually in 30 tech positions. The front 6 are typically static and don't move much, its the DBs that move around a lot ish.

The benefit of this defense is that you will have a very very hard time running off tackle plays this way, which is the bread and butter of the run game. Where its through a counter trap or power or OZ or a simply off tackle. That's the area running plays are designed to go. Now the blocking assignments rarely include the WS safety and Nickel because they're sniffing the box and not in it, but their close enough to be able to be part of the running game. Furthermore, those same players are supposed to be really good low zones players or flats, basically they're job is don't let anything happen between the outer most player on the LOS and out of bounds and 10 yards of the LOS regardless or pass or run. Because of their position its easy to disguise them as a man2man coverage player o the inside more receive in 3x1

I don't wanna go too far into it. But its a great base and has its weakness which I wont say, but this defense can limit an offense and offensively its hard to scheme against, cause it can essentially allow your back three to play deep often while still looking like man, cover 2, or 4, without much tell based on pre-snap alignment.

Great post. This is the part that makes me happiest - offense or defense, I hate it when alignment or personnel dictate the play call.

 

[ThomasM]

In many cases Mannys defense was smoked just from an alignment aspect. When we sent guys on blitz’s we never replaced the vacant spot. Often times the blitzes were picked up because we didn’t disguise well and bang they just hit an easy slant for 20.

In terms of gap integrity… there was zero under many. And guys in coverage we covering grass. We never really saw pattern matching and we definitely never say guys being passed off. Often times guys were clueless on who to pick up and cover.

Last year I didn’t watch many games bc we were absolute trash so I have no idea about Steele’s defense.

I don’t know much about this Guidry cat, but hopefully we play soundly and not get smoked off the snap.

I don't miss the blitzes that came around the time the QB was throwing the ball. I always thought the whole point of blitzing was to A) sack the QB, or B) put enough pressure on him to make him force a bad throw. Those late blitzes did neither.

 

[AtlAtty]

I don't miss the blitzes that came around the time the QB was throwing the ball. I always thought the whole point of blitzing was to A) sack the QB, or B) put enough pressure on him to make him force a bad throw. Those late blitzes did neither.

A late blitz really only has a chance against a 7 top drop, or when the QB is forced off his first read. But against a quick drop or a throw to the first read the late blitz comes off looking foolish and it literally wastes a defensive player who ends up doing nothing.

 

[Cribby]

From what I've seen thus far, Guidry is sound and calculated with his blitz schemes. Manny however just blitzes while completely voiding zones of the defense, hoping that the Quarterback doesn't see them.

Guidry always looks for opportunities to send pressure but he has "guardrails" in place.
Manny was more reckless.

Ray Charles could see one of Mannys blitzes coming,no disguising at all

 

[Ironmanfootball]

In many cases Mannys defense was smoked just from an alignment aspect. When we sent guys on blitz’s we never replaced the vacant spot. Often times the blitzes were picked up because we didn’t disguise well and bang they just hit an easy slant for 20.

In terms of gap integrity… there was zero under many. And guys in coverage we covering grass. We never really saw pattern matching and we definitely never say guys being passed off. Often times guys were clueless on who to pick up and cover.

Last year I didn’t watch many games bc we were absolute trash so I have no idea about Steele’s defense.

I don’t know much about this Guidry cat, but hopefully we play soundly and not get smoked off the snap.

You could always tell when a DE was going to drop in Manny's defense, he disguised nothing
Manny didn't care about being gap sound = BYU, UNC & Michigan gashing him for a million yards
Manny liked soft coverage, oppo QB was never confused, only Manny's DB's were

 

[Arehel]

Great post. This is the part that makes me happiest - offense or defense, I hate it when alignment or personnel dictate the play call.

Sounds like Guidry just play with four down linemen and alignment will react to as such. I mean, I played with only a 20 second clock so we didn't have a choice and tonnes of offensive motion and formations, watch the CFL man its usually a couple years ahead of CFB when it comes to schemes.
I haven't watched any of Lance's defense, but I would suspect that the Ends are responsible for B gap, and different techniques are used for this, wrong arm from the 5tech position or attack the outside shoulder of the tackle and slam him into that gap to close it while his body occupies C. The reason for this is because the ends know they have a "half back" closing in on the outside and they almost always have great tackle leverage angles, while the inside is cleaned up by four players the W, S, NT and DT.
This style of defense came into existence to destroy the 2 back sets in 12man football and it worked. It's biggest weakness is running a trap with 1 back or general runs to A gap and inside of that, but those can be limited to 3 to 7 yard plays at most since its easy to rally too.

 

[Empirical Cane]

Does he have the players?

Last year people were hyping up TVD’s Heisman chances and draft status. I kept saying none of that was possible if his receivers can’t complete a catch.

So for this scheme to work, do we have players that can tackle?

Not really until proven otherwise.

 

[Fluffhead]

About 50% of coverage calls in P5 football are some form of single-high Safety structure. (Cover-3 or Cover-1)
Those are the most common coverage calls, followed by Quarters (C4) which makes up 23% of defensive coverage calls.

Cover-2 is hot basura and has become relatively useless in today's game. It leaves a light box versus the run and is susceptible to RPO's.

My kid at Tulane said that Guidry is mostly Quarters.

What is your kid’s impression of Tulane and where the program is headed? I went there back before the on campus stadium. It looks like that has really pushed things forward. They seem like they could and should be able to recruit overlooked guys from Texas, Louisiana, and Florida to build a solid enough program. Plus, New Orleans and good academics.

 

[Cryptical Envelopment]

What is your kid’s impression of Tulane and where the program is headed? I went there back before the on campus stadium. It looks like that has really pushed things forward. They seem like they could and should be able to recruit overlooked guys from Texas, Louisiana, and Florida to build a solid enough program. Plus, New Orleans and good academics.

If they take their recruits to Creole Creamery, it's a lock.

 

[Fluffhead]

If they take their recruits to Creole Creamery, it's a lock.

Funny story about that place. I used to go a lot… like 3 times a week. One night we went to a show and my buddy brought a girl he recently started dating. I looked at her, she looked at me, and we clearly both knew each other but we couldn’t place where. Goes on for hours and finally it is probably 2-3 am, we’re on the back patio at the Maple Leaf and she yells at me “you’re the Cookie Monster!” They have/had that as a flavor, and while I would always rotate the other flavors in my sampler, Cookie Monster was the one consistent staple. She worked at Creole Creamery and that was my nickname at the shop.

Great sushi spot and now a great Spanish place in that little strip too. And kingpin a block down.

 

[skillydoo]

Here I go getting all excited about some sophomores and incoming portal players and a new defensive scheme.....

 

[brcane1]

He uses a lot of cover 6 too

Football 101: Cover 6 - Weekly Spiral

Cover 6 is a blend of two separate coverages: Cover 4 and Cover 2. It offers the ability to disguise, protect against the passing strength, and has safeties that are active in the run game.

weeklyspiral.com

Cover 6 is run with Cover 4 to the field or strength of the offense and with Cover 2 to the weak side.


Cover 6 is used to provide extra deep support to the field and to give help over the top if a team likes to put their best receiver away from the strength of the formation. This is especially helpful when the defense is faced with 3×1 sets from the offense.

 

[Canezum5]

Not sure if we have the corners to be more aggressive yet. Hopefully we can get someone else in the portal.

Aggressive isnt just playing press bump coverage. It's also trusting your DBS to tackle and play closer to the line of scrimmage.

maybe I should switch the word Aggressive with " physical"

 

[Jaxcane4]

Aggressive isnt just playing press bump coverage. It's also trusting your DBS to tackle and play closer to the line of scrimmage.

maybe I should switch the word Aggressive with " physical"

I get it, just over the last 5 or so years the only corners that seemed to have that ability was Tyrique and Bandy. I can't remember when the last time we had 2 corners like that on the same team.

 

[Canezum5]

I get it, just over the last 5 or so years the only corners that seemed to have that ability was Tyrique and Bandy. I can't remember when the last time we had 2 corners like that on the same team.

Corn elder and Mike Jack. And what I'm talking about is more want to than ability. Anyone on a D1 level has the ability to be physical not all want too and not all coaches demand it.

 

[Memnon]

Corn elder and Mike Jack. And what I'm talking about is more want to than ability. Anyone on a D1 level has the ability to be physical not all want too and not all coaches demand it.

Malek Young was a DOG on that Island despite being barely 5’8.

 

[Canezum5]

Malek Young was a DOG on that Island despite being barely 5’8.

Yeah, I'm tripping. Can't believe I forgot about my Young Bull. Hurt my feelings in that orange bowl game .

Malek Young won't afraid to hit some **** and he did not shy away from getting in grits.

 

[grover]

Not sure if we have the corners to be more aggressive yet. Hopefully we can get someone else in the portal.

Blades actually would’ve been great at that. Don’t know enough about the young ones, but I would be concerned about aggression as well.

…

I watched all three highlights, and the weaknesses I saw were pointed out by the podcasters. But just to recap, I saw three: the verticals, the quick slant and the QB option. Actually, they didn’t really talk about a mobile quarterback, too much, and how to deal with that, which was surprising to me.

Not an expert, but I'm sure Guidry knows this too, and we should expect lots of variation based upon opponent, down and distance, and packages. Our defense better be smart because they’re gonna have to think in his system.