33 Cover 3 for Nine-Man
Football
I t is a great honor to write this article for
the AFCASummer Manual. On behalf of
our coaching staff and our school district, I
thank you for this opportunity.
Coaching nine-man football has some
advantages and disadvantages compared
to 11-man football. Before I started coach-
ing nine-man football, I had seen one nine-
man game played. The differences
between the two became very clear the first
year I coached nine-man.
The field dimensions are 40 yards by
100 yards. Having a smaller field lets us
use the sidelines a little more. There are
times where you may have to coach many
different positions at the same time.
Because we have a limited coaching staff,
we are forced to run drills that work many
positions at the same time. Along with hav-
ing a smaller coaching staff we have a
smaller enrollment, our staff is pretty excit-
ed when we get 25-30 players out for foot-
ball from grades 9-12.
The skills of the athletes we have will
dictate the defense we use. Some years
we may have three good linebackers and
four good linemen, and be set up for a 43
type of defense. We try to set up our
Scott Parker defense to exploit as many of our strengths
as possible. Nine-man teams can run the
Head Coach same defenses and coverages as 11-man,
minus a strong safety, lineman, linebacker
Marshall County Central or free safety, depending on the type of
High School defense. The 33 Cover 3 has worked well
for us, and I hope it can work for you. I’ll
Newfolden, Minn. show you our Base 33 Cover 3, run, pass,
option responsibilities, Roll Cover 2 vs. the
option, and some of our blitz package.
Diagram 1: 33 Cover 3
Diagram 2: 33 Cover 3
Pass Responsibility
• AFCA Summer Manual — 2001 •
Weak and Strong Side Ends
Alignment: The ends line up on the
inside eye of the offensive end in a three-
point stance.
Run Responsibility: They have B Gap
(the gap they are shaded to). On play
away, the End will trail the play about one
yard deep in the offensive backfield, look-
ing for a reverse or counter.
Option Responsibility: The ends have
the quarterback.
Pass Responsibility: Must keep the
quarterback in the pocket. Keeping an out-
side rush lane, the ends aiming point will
be the back shoulder of the quarterback.
Nose
Alignment: Head up on the center in a
four-point stance, as low as possible.
Run Responsibility: The nose must
read and help protect both A gaps,
(between the center and the guards) draw -
ing a double team by the guard and the
center as much as possible.
Option Responsibility: The nose has
the same responsibility as the run.
Pass Responsibility: The nose must
collapse the pocket. Rushing up the field,
the aiming point will be the front shoulder of
the quarterback.
Will Linebacker
Alignment: Head up on the offensive
end four yards off the line of scrimmage in
a two-point stance. Reading the weakside
guard to the runningback.
Run Responsibility: If the play is to the
strong side he will scrape playside about
three yards off the line of scrimmage and
check for the cutback in the A gap. (fold
technique) If the play is to the weakside, he
will have contain. No one can get outside of
him.
Option Responsibility: Will is respon-
sible for the pitch. He will go straight to the
pitchman on the playside. On the backside
he will use a fold technique. If we need
help, we can roll up the playside corner and
go into a Cover 2 on the backside. The Will
now has the quarterback on the playside
and fold on the backside. See Diagram 3
and 4.
Pass Responsibility: The pass drop
is, back at a 45-degree angle for about
4–5 yards and then out flat. If no threat
he will work depth and to the middle. If
we are in Roll Cover 2 and read pass,
the Will will go to his normal Cover 3
drop.
 Mike Linebacker
Alignment: Head up on the center,
four yards deep, in a two-point stance.
His read is the strongside guard to the
runningback.
Run Responsibility: On the playside
he has A gap to flow and is basically free to
get to the ball.
Option Responsibility: He must check
for dive then move to the quarterback. Most
of the time we want the quarterback to run
the ball. If we are in Base 33 Roll Cover 2,
Mike will have just the dive and then free to
flow to the ball.
Pass Responsibility: His drop is
straight back, looking for the ends running
a seam route or a crossing pattern. If we
are in Roll Cover 2 and read pass, the Mike
will go to his normal Cover 3 drop.
Sam Linebacker
Alignment: Head up on the strongside
end, four yards deep, in a two-point stance.
His read is the strongside guard to the run-
ningback.
Run Responsibility: If the play is to
the strongside, he will have contain. No
one can get outside of him. If the play is to
the weakside he will scrape playside
about three yards off the line of scrim-
mage and check for the cutback in the A
gap (fold technique).
Option Responsibility: The Sam is
responsible for the pitch. He will go straight
to the pitchman on the playside. On the
backside he will use a fold technique. If we
need help, we can roll up the playside cor-
ner and go into a Cover 2 on the backside.
The Sam now has the quarterback on the
playside and fold on the backside
(Diagrams 3 and 4).
Pass Responsibility: The pass drop is
back at a 45-degree angle for about 4–5
yards and then out flat. If no threat he will
work depth and to the middle. If we are in
Roll Cover 2 and read pass, the Sam will
go to his normal Cover 3 drop.
Weakside Corner
Alignment: Five yards off the line of
scrimmage, three yards outside the
offensive formation. Reading the open
guard.
Run Responsibility: The corner will
give secondary run support or give a late
run support once he gets his run-pass
read. If he is the backside corner he will
take a touchdown prevention angle, mak-
ing sure the runner will not get past him.
Option Responsibility: The same Diagram 3: 33 Cover 3 vs. Option
rules as the run apply. When we move to
the 33 Roll Cover 2, the playside corner
comes up to take the pitch. If he is the
backside corner he will drop and take
the weakside deep 1/2. See Diagrams 3
and 4.
Pass Responsibility: He is responsible
for the weakside deep 1/3 of the field. He
will not allow anyone to get behind him and Diagram 4: 33 Roll Cover 2
react up to the ball. If we are in Roll Cover vs. Option
2 and read pass, the corner will go to his
normal Cover 3 drop.
Strongside Corner
Alignment: Five to seven yards off the
line of scrimmage, head up on the flanker.
Reading the strongside guard.
Run Responsibility: The corner will
give secondary run support or give a late Diagram 5: 33 Strong X
run support once he gets his run-pass
read. If he is the backside corner he will
take a touchdown prevention angle,
making sure the runner will not get past
him.
Option Responsibility: The same
rules as the run apply. When we move to
the 33 Roll Cover 2, the playside corner
comes up to take the pitch. If he is the
backside corner he will drop and take Diagram 6: 33 Weak X
the strongside deep 1/2. See Diagrams
3 and 4.
Pass Responsibility: He is responsible
for the strongside deep 1/3 of the field. He
will not allow anyone to get behind him and
react up to the ball. If we are in Roll Cover
2 and read pass, the corner will go to his
normal Cover 3 drop.
Free Safety Diagram 7: Will GO
Alignment: Eight to 10 yards off the
line of scrimmage, behind the Mike line-
backer, in a position to read the strong-
side guard.
Run Responsibility: The free safety
will give secondary run support or give a
late run support once he gets his run-pass
read.
Option Responsibility: The same rules
as the run apply. When we move to the 33 Diagram 8: Sam GO
Roll Cover 2, the free safety will cover the
playside deep 1/2.
Pass Responsibility: He is respon-
sible for the strongside deep 1/3 of the
field. He will not allow anyone to get
behind him and react up to the ball. If we
are in Roll Cover 2 and read pass, the
free safety will go to his normal Cover 3
drop.
• AFCA Summer Manual — 2001 •