Cover 3 Match: Teaching Progression and Implementation

with Jason Burianek,
Missouri Baptist University Head Coach;
former McKendree University Assistant Coach;
former Belleville West High School (IL) Offensive Coordinator

Cover 3 is one the most utilized coverages in football due to the three deep structure which protects the deep part of the field, and allows the defense to keep enough defenders in the box to outnumber the run. Cover 3 match allows the defense to play a three deep zone defense against four verticals, and modern spread RPO attacks that put defenders in conflict. In this video, Missouri Baptist head coach Jason Burianek delivers some of his best cover 3 tactics for you to take and apply with your own team.

Carry Call

Coach Burianek begins by diagramming how his team plays cover 3 match. He explains that the safety on each side of the field has the ability to make a carry call. The carry call tells the curl/flat defender to carry the slot receiver on a vertical route. This adjustment to the basic three deep zone allows the defense to protect cover 3 against four verticals. Burianek covers how to play man to one side and zone to the other side, how to communicate secondary rotation, and how to teach three deep zone landmarks.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Coach Burianek gives a detailed explanation on the strengths and weaknesses of the traditional cover 3 zone defense and the cover 3 match scheme. Throughout the presentation, several game footage examples are shown of how each of the weaknesses of the coverage are addressed, such as:

• Handling motion and shifts.
• Playing cover 3 match vs 3x1 formations.
• Utilizing the free safety against QB run teams to keep the numbers in your favor.

Cover 3 match coverage is one of the most effective coverages that is being played against modern offensive attacks. The methods covered in this video by Coach Burianek can be a true difference maker for your program!

104 minutes. 2021.