Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Cover 1 Contain is a man coverage defensive play out of the Dime 4-1-6 personnel package, built to defend obvious passing situations with an extra DB on the field. The diagram shows the single deep safety patrolling the middle of the field with man responsibilities underneath from the corners and nickel defenders, while the four down linemen rush the passer with contain rules to keep the quarterback boxed in the pocket. This is a man beater killer that relies on the deep safety cleaning up any leaks over the top while the rush lanes stay disciplined outside, so the primary read is the single high safety diagnosing the quarterback's launch point and mirroring any scramble or rollout attempt.
Defensive Reads
Key the single deep safety and make sure he is reading the quarterback's eyes rather than biting on the first route he sees, since any hesitation opens up deep shots against man coverage. Watch for rub routes and pick concepts designed to spring receivers open against man defenders, especially from bunch or stack sets. If the offense uses max protect with extra blockers, expect the pocket to hold longer, so your contain ends need to stay patient and not overrun the quarterback outside. This coverage is vulnerable to well timed levels concepts and crossing routes that put your man defenders in traffic, so communicate switches if defenders run into each other. Look for offenses attacking the contain rush with quarterback designed runs or scrambles up the middle, since the interior of the pocket can open up if the deep safety commits too early to a receiver.
Usage Tips
Call this on third and long or in two minute drill situations when you need a pass rush with numbers in coverage but still want man leverage on receivers. Pre-snap, check for stacked or bunch formations that could create natural picks against your man defenders, and consider shading your safety toward the offense's best route runner. Use the contain rush to bait mobile quarterbacks into holding the ball too long, since the ends are keeping outside leverage instead of crashing straight upfield. Pair this with Cover 1 Robber Press on early downs to disguise your single high look and keep quarterbacks guessing between press man and off man shells. Mix in Dime Blitz 3 or SS Blitz 3 in similar personnel to make it harder for the offense to identify pressure versus contain based on pre-snap alignment alone.
