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Chalk talk: Why the Redskins play off-man coverage
By: John Keim
Examiner Staff Writer
09/16/09 9:26 AM EDT
Chalk Talk: Off-man coverage
DeAngelo Hall built his reputation in this coverage. It’s why he’s intercepted passes, received big contracts and earned a couple Pro Bowl berths.
So don’t expect the Redskins to change their philosophy of playing off-man coverage. They just need to play it better.
Besides, they like using this strategy. For starters, it enables them to provide a false look, as if they’re playing man only to drop into zone and vice versa. (However, in watching the Giants game, there were times, based on body language, it was clear they were in zone).
“We’re just trying to give [the quarterback] different looks,” said secondary coach Jerry Gray.
The problem comes in the execution. In the preseason the Redskins at times played too soft in the secondary with their coverages. It wasn’t always the starters, however. And in the 23-17 loss to the Giants even coach Jim Zorn said there was too much cushion at times.
Gray disagrees with that assessment. Regardless, all agree that they must play it better.
Not everyone prefers playing off-man. Fred Smoot is better in press coverage, as is Justin Tryon. Rogers is probably the most adaptable. Against New York, though, it didn’t matter. There might have been two or three times any of the corners played press; Hall did it once (failing to get the jam on Steve Smith).
When in off-man, the defensive backs must read the quarterback first. It will provide clues to what route is coming. But once the quarterback hits his third step, if he’s not setting to throw, then the corner must lock onto the receiver.
“That’s where the weakness is,” Gray said. “Can you not focus on the QB and concentrate on the receiver? You can’t get mesmerized watching the quarterback all the time.
“If you see all the drops that means you’re watching the QB and you’re gonna see the receiver catching the football.”
The corners line up typically seven yards off the line and one yard inside the receiver; that’s the by-the-book alignment in off-man coverage. However, against New York, there were times they lined up nine yards deep – depending on down and distance. Occasionally it was eight yards.
Said Hall, “It’s harder when you’re off. It’s all timing. You give a guy the alley to run clear straight at you and that ball is thrown before he turns around, you ain’t breaking that up unless he’s sitting on you.
“When you press, there’s no space. Can you catch a fade? Yeah. I might lose you at the line and downfield you might make a play. But all those intermediate routes, you’re playing off and hell, you’ve got eight yards and you’re running and I’m backpedaling so when you break, you turn right around and the ball is in the air and it’s harder for me to break and go.
Still, Hall likes playing off because it gives him the ability to read the play better. Which means more picks.
But, he said, “You can’t play off all the time either. We got sucked up into their game trying to figure out what they were doing to the left side, to the right side.”
Gray compared it to a basketball player being more comfortable scoring with his back to the basket compared to one who isn’t.
Some teams play mostly press (Oakland) while some play only off (Pittsburgh). In Atlanta, Hall made the Pro Bowl playing off-man; in Oakland he got cut playing a lot of press. It’s obviously much harder to press in this era because of the rules preventing contact after five yards.
“Now it’s all about athletic ability and if you don’t have that quickness, do you put a guy into the Lion’s den?” Gray said. “He’ll get killed if he’s not quick to get his hands on [the receiver].”
Indeed, Hall failed vs. Smith in press coverage because his shoulders turned at the line, allowing Smith to get inside.
“And a lot of guys when they play press can’t turn into a receiver when the ball is in the air and go get it,” Gray said. “A lot struggle with that. DeAngelo can play off; he has great vision. What you have to do is figure out when is it my time to go get that play compared to, is it my time to get it every time.
“You can challenge and press and do those things, you still have to make a play if you’re a defensive back.”
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