Playbooks
Breakdown
Tampa 2 out of the Dime 1-4-6 Big Dime personnel is a zone coverage shell built to defend both the deep pass and take away the middle of the field. The two deep corners bail into deep thirds turned quarter alignment while the Mike backer sprints vertically down the seam to rob any deep post or dig, giving this shell true two-deep safety help over the top with four underneath zone defenders (two flat corners, two hook/curl backers) sitting on shorter routes. This is a zone beater designed to shut down four verticals, deep crossers, and post routes, and the primary read progression starts with the Mike linebacker's vertical seam drop, then works outward to the underneath flat and curl/hook zones for anything thrown short.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety depth and alignment since both safeties should show two-high shells, if one safety cheats down late that is your tell the offense expects a blitz or run check. Post-snap, watch for the Mike linebacker's seam drop to erase any deep in-breaking routes, this is what shuts down four verticals and deep dig or post combos that attack the middle. This shell is vulnerable to sideline stretch throws like corner routes into the flat zone bubbles the corners leave, especially if the underneath defenders are slow to sink. Look for user-controlled lurk threats sitting the Mike backer's drop area, if the CPU or opposing user does not commit him deep, quick posts and deep crossers can slip through the seam. Watch running back releases into the flat since the underneath zone defenders can be picked off by natural running routes if they are late diagnosing pass versus run based on the offensive line's blocking assignments.
Usage Tips
Call this on passing downs like second and long or third and medium when you expect four verticals or dual post routes from the offense.
Key the Mike linebacker drop before the snap and make sure you user him if you suspect a seam or deep dig, since he is the lynchpin that turns this into true Tampa 2.
Pair this play with Cover 2 Sink or Cover 3 Sky in your play-calling sequence so opposing quarterbacks cannot key on the two deep safeties and settle into an easy beater.
Hot route the flat corners into a slightly deeper curl if you are facing spread sets that stretch the underneath zones horizontally, since Dime personnel already gives you extra speed on the outside.
Avoid calling this against heavy run personnel since Big Dime 1-4-6 is a lighter box and can get gashed if the offense checks into inside zone or power runs.
