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Breakdown
Cover 1 Contain is a man coverage blitz package out of the 3-3 Cub Nickel 4-2-5 personnel that pairs single high safety help with a contain rush design off the edge. Up front the defense sends a five man pressure look while keeping a spy or contain rusher wide to prevent quarterback escape lanes, and every eligible receiver is locked in man coverage underneath the deep safety. The primary read progression for the defense is to identify the number one receiver's release and man up immediately while the contain defender squeezes the pocket from the outside, forcing the quarterback to hold the ball into pressure.
Defensive Reads
Watch the running back's release out of the backfield first since he is the most common check down against man coverage and the contain defender must stay disciplined to not vacate his lane chasing the ball. Key the slot receiver's alignment pre-snap, if he is stacked or bunched expect a rub route designed to beat man coverage and be ready to pass off assignments underneath. Post-snap, watch for the quarterback's eyes on any deep crossing route since Cover 1 leaves a natural void in the middle of the field if your linebackers do not carry vertical routes through their zone. This play shuts down quick game and option routes because of the tight man coverage, but it can be exploited by well timed play-action rollouts if the contain rusher gets sucked in on the run fake. Look for user controlled receivers working against your press corners early since beating man coverage at the line with a double move is the fastest way opposing offenses convert against this call.
Usage Tips
Call this on early downs or third and medium when you expect a dropback pass since the contain rusher takes away quarterback scramble and rollout escape lanes.
Pre-snap, identify if the offense is running bunch or stack formations that can create natural rub routes against man coverage, and use your hot route adjustments to shift the deep safety over the top of the offense's best route runner.
Use the flat zone defender as your eyes on any speed out or quick screen since Cover 1 Contain is vulnerable to underneath option routes if your linebackers do not get a clean man match.
Pair this play with Cover 1 Robber in your play-calling sequence so the offense cannot key on the deep safety help every snap, since Robber sits the safety in the middle read zones instead of true deep coverage.
Mix in Mike Blitz 0 or SS Blitz 0 from this same set after running Cover 1 Contain a few times so the offense respects the contain rush and does not sit comfortably in the pocket expecting only four man pressure.
