Does Tampa's Cover 2 bode well for TE's?

[Maris09]

I though I remembered hearing how the Cover 2 is beatable over the middle and/or seam routes.

That would make for a good TE matchup right?

Thoughts?

[deerayfan072]

I though I remembered hearing how the Cover 2 is beatable over the middle and/or seam routes.

That would make for a good TE matchup right?

Thoughts?

Yep. The Tampa 2 has always been susceptible to the TE because the MLB drops into deep coverage a lot.

[Kensat30]

Personally, I think Tampa Bay has one of the top LB units in the NFL. And that's even with senior citizen Derrick Brooks dropping back into coverage.

I really don't understand how Tampa Bay is a GOOD matchup for any position. It's not a shutdown defense, but it's also not a pushover in any aspect of the game.

[deerayfan072]

Personally, I think Tampa Bay has one of the top LB units in the NFL. And that's even with senior citizen Derrick Brooks dropping back into coverage.

I really don't understand how Tampa Bay is a GOOD matchup for any position. It's not a shutdown defense, but it's also not a pushover in any aspect of the game.

They do have great LB. The SYSTEM is susceptible to the TE because of how it leaves the short middle open. It always has been. You still have to execute, but if you want to hit that spot it is open.

[Kensat30]

Personally, I think Tampa Bay has one of the top LB units in the NFL. And that's even with senior citizen Derrick Brooks dropping back into coverage.

I really don't understand how Tampa Bay is a GOOD matchup for any position. It's not a shutdown defense, but it's also not a pushover in any aspect of the game.

They do have great LB. The SYSTEM is susceptible to the TE because of how it leaves the short middle open. It always has been. You still have to execute, but if you want to hit that spot it is open.

Tampa Bay LBers have 3 INTS this season to the rest of the teams 3.

PS Tampa has been playing a LOT of man this year with their CBs as opposed to zone.

[JasonSeahorn]

The Tampa Cover 2 scheme goes back to when Tony Dungy and Monte Kiffin were coaching there. Tampa Bay doesn't necessarily use it a lot now. But Deeray is right when saying that underneath/middle routes, as well as certain long routes can have success against Cover 2 schemes because of holes in certain parts of the zones.

[Amazinz]

I don't think the T2 is that much different the C2, which has been around forever. I think the main difference is the use of the MLB deeper in order to shore up the C2 weakness which is specifically TE and slot receivers and the seam routes. This is a personnel-dependent adjustment and I don't watch TB enough to say this with authority but I am pretty sure Ruud is an excellent cover MLB and that they have been primarily playing T2.

[deerayfan072]

Personally, I think Tampa Bay has one of the top LB units in the NFL. And that's even with senior citizen Derrick Brooks dropping back into coverage.

I really don't understand how Tampa Bay is a GOOD matchup for any position. It's not a shutdown defense, but it's also not a pushover in any aspect of the game.

They do have great LB. The SYSTEM is susceptible to the TE because of how it leaves the short middle open. It always has been. You still have to execute, but if you want to hit that spot it is open.

Tampa Bay LBers have 3 INTS this season to the rest of the teams 3.

PS Tampa has been playing a LOT of man this year with their CBs as opposed to zone.

Yes I know, I have seen almost every snap of Buc football since the early nineties. Those 3 INTS by the LB -- one was Ruud running with Forte 40 yards downfield to pick it in the endzone, one was brandon jackson tiping it to brooks, and the third was another semi deep pass that Ruud was dropping to cover. My point is that they were not because they were playing great underneath coverage. The Bucs have great LB's, but the system lends itself to short and intermediate success. The goal of the Buc defense is to make you dink and dunk it under the coverage all the way down the field. Due to the holes being in the shirt yardage and intermediate lanes, they are susceptible to the TE or WR going underneath. It doesn't matter who runs the route, the underneath routes are there. Tight ends run a lot of those types of routes, which is why the could be susceptible to TE.