Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 11 playbooks
Breakdown
Tampa 2 Drop is a zone coverage shell out of the 3-2-6 Dime package built to take away the deep middle and stack the underneath passing lanes. The two deep corners bail into deep half zones while the middle linebacker drops down the pipe to rob any vertical seam route, sitting underneath the two deep safeties who split the field. Underneath, three defenders (two flat/curl zones and a shallow zone) squat on the intermediate routes while the two outside cushion defenders hold contain in the short flat, making this a zone beater killer designed to shut down deep shots and force the offense into a long, patient underneath progression.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety depth: if both safeties are sitting at 10 to 12 yards with the corners showing outside leverage, that is your Tampa 2 shell tell, so bail your deep defenders immediately at the snap. Watch the corner alignment on the outside receivers, since soft corners signal deep half responsibility while press alignment can mean a disguised man look, adjust your jam and drop accordingly. Post-snap, key the offensive quarterback's eyes toward the deep middle seam, this coverage is designed to bait a seam throw right into the robbing linebacker for a user pick. This shell gets beaten by four verticals with a seam-clearing route or by deep out and comeback routes to the sideline, since the deep half corners have to respect the seam runner and can get stretched vertically before turning to the sideline. It shuts down slot fades, posts, and any route trying to work the deep middle, so if the offense keeps trying seam shots into this look, sit on the route and jump it with your linebacker for a takeaway.
Usage Tips
Call this on early downs or obvious passing downs when you expect a play-action shot or deep shot play, since the two deep halves and the robbing linebacker take away go routes and post routes immediately.
Pre-snap, identify if the offense is aligned in a stack or bunch to one side, since that can overload one of your flat defenders and create a natural rub against your underneath zone drops.
User the middle linebacker in his deep drop to jump any seam or dig route from the tight end or slot receiver, this is the single biggest coverage-beater window in the play and where most user picks come from.
Pair this call with Cover 3 Buzz Match or Cover 4 Drop in the same set to disguise your shell, since all three keep two deep defenders wide off the snap but rotate differently, keeping the quarterback guessing on the deep middle.
Avoid calling this on short yardage or obvious run downs, since the light box in Dime 3-2-6 personnel gets exposed against inside zone and power runs.
