How to Throw Down the Middle Against Tampa 2

And a Word on Conviction

Good morning, today we talk about Tampa 2.

More specifically, how to attack how the defense covers up their biggest weakness in Cover 2: the middle. In Cover 2, we assume that the middle of the field is open when two safeties make way for either side of the field. The “one word” we teach our QBs to understand the weakness of Cover 2 is “Middle.” So in Tampa 2, the defense tries to eliminate this inherent weakness by running the Mike down the middle of the field. This creates issues if you’re not ready for it. And that is why we also teach the word “Hole” as the other weakness to Cover 2 (the space between the cornerback in the flat and the safety playing halves). However, Tampa 2 doesn’t mean you can’t attack the middle. It’s possible and there are multiple ways to do it.

Hitting the Clear Route on Dagger

Firstly, we look at how you can attack the Mike deep down the field. When the Mike attaches to a vertical, it’s like man coverage. In man coverage, the QB needs to throw a 3 ball to get over the defender and give the WR a chance to track the ball. The issue is the awkwardness of this relationship between the Mike and the WR. Since the Mike is an inside linebacker, he often just comes out of nowhere and sticks to the vertical. Oh how the middle of the field looks so open until that Mike shows up. But the good news is that most often the Mike does not look comfortable. He’s an inside linebacker, not a defensive back.

This tactic, that of running the Mike down the middle, is one of those things that the defense does to recapture space by simply putting a person in that space. It’s efficient in that there is a person to navigate around, but it’s a really tough ask of the Mike to carry speedster WRs down the middle.

Here is an example from Georgia hitting the clear route in the Dagger concept deep over the Mike’s head when the Mike is trailing a vertical:

The clear route, as demonstrated by the name, not really a route available on the Dagger concept. Instead, it’s supposed to clear out the middle for the deep dig coming from the outside WR. However, the weakness of Cover 2 is the deep middle and that’s exactly where the clear route attacks (and the deep dig attacks the deep middle, just not as deep).

From the end zone view, it’s hard to say where QB Stetson Bennett is taught to look on this play. He appears to look backside first at a slant by TE Brock Bowers — very understandable as he’s a great TE. However, it seems that Bennett doesn’t love it or at least has eyes set on a bigger prize. In a moment of hesitation seen by the stripe on his helmet, Bennet looks left, right, left again and then settles back to the right just in time to launch the ball to the WR on the clear route who has now put the Mike in full-on panic mode.

Bennet throws the 3 ball a little low and to the left so the WR can run back to it. That is a good use of leverage by the WR and QB, and only works because the Mike cannot see the ball and there is no underneath defender able to undercut the route. This play, then, is a great example of a QB trusting his understanding of the weakness of the defense and knowing where to go in the called concept to attack this weakness. So this play was an example of understanding the weakness of Tampa 2 and also beating man coverage. Though surmising this without being in the mind of the QB, it’s like Bennet thought about the safe option to go to Bowers on the one-on-one slant, but knew he had a chance at a big time play down the middle because of the defensive structure. He trusted his gut and let it rip. Good choice, good QB play.

Hitting a Deep Curl on the Backside of Smash

The Smash concept is the simplest way to attack the “Hole” of Cover 2, but it requires the cornerback to be aggressive in the flat and the WR running the corner to snap their route a little flat to create more space away from the half-field safety.

Georgia has a Smash concept called, a good call, but Bennett doesn’t throw it perhaps because the cornerback isn’t aggressive in the flat and plays in “no-man’s-land.” The Mike is also in “no-man’s land.”

When the Mike turns and tries to find the vertical, there is the possibility that the vertical looks like a vertical but isn’t a vertical. That’s what happens here. Like a vertical on the outside converting to a stop route and putting the cornerback in a no win situation, so does the curl route to the Mike in Tampa 2 assuming one thing holds true: the QB throws on time and with conviction.

In this clip, the Mike doesn’t immediately turn and hunt for a vertical. Instead he is getting depth, but without urgency — a fateful mistake. And because Bennett’s eyes are to the left looking at the Smash concept, the WR on the deep curl is able to sneak into the middle of the field. But truly, it is Bennett’s throw of conviction that makes the play work. Against zone, all eyes are on the QB. If you see an open man, sometimes it’s too late to throw because the defense can react to the eyes and with the WR still moving, be able to intercept the ball. That is why anticipation is highly valued skill.

Another valued skill is that of conviction. Seeing what you know to be open and letting the ball rip so that the defender doesn’t have a chance. And conviction is on full display in this clip. Bennett sees it and puts the Mike in trouble because of the velocity he puts on the ball. Great choice, great QB play.

Putting a Pin in Tampa 2

These two plays are two different ways you can still attack the middle of the field against Tampa 2. The first one went deep with a ball with lots of air and the second play was a strike down the middle. The first was a gutsy shot by the QB and the second was simply the next step in the progression. But what both these plays show us is that defenses can still be attacked in the spots they are trying most hard to protect. Weaknesses are still weaknesses and knowing where they are and how to attack them are two of the most important traits a QB can have.

Until tomorrow,

Emory Wilhite

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