Playbooks
Tampa 2 Contain is a zone defense out of the 3-3 Wide Jack Nickel package that combines a two deep safety shell with underneath contain principles. The Mike linebacker drops into the deep middle hole to take away the traditional Tampa 2 seam throw, while the corners sink into deep quarter/half responsibilities and the outside linebackers and Sam squeeze the flats to contain scrambles and bootlegs. This is a zone beater killer for teams that live on seam routes and deep crossers, and the primary read progression starts with the deep middle hole defender, then flows to the two deep safeties over the top, and finally to the flat defenders funneling anything that leaks outside the tackle box.
Key the quarterback eyes immediately after the snap since this defense is designed to bait throws into the deep middle hole where your Mike is sitting. Watch for the classic Tampa 2 hole shot attempt on seam routes, if the offense runs twin verticals or a post dig combo your deep hole defender should be the first to react and undercut the throw. Identify trips or bunch formations pre-snap since they can overload one flat defender, user that flat zone defender manually to jump underneath routes and force the quarterback to hold the ball. Watch running back releases out of the backfield on third and long since check downs into the flat are the natural answer to this shell, and a lurking user defender there can bait an interception. This coverage is vulnerable to quick game and RPO slants that attack the space vacated by the OLBs stepping up to contain, so if the offense audibles into bunch or stack formations with quick out routes, be ready to sink your corners faster than the default zone drop.
Call this on early downs or second and long when you expect play-action or shot plays down the seam since the deep middle defender eliminates that throwing lane. Check the safety alignment before the snap, if you see two high safeties already sitting deep this play reinforces that shell and disguises whether you are actually in Tampa 2 or Cover 4 Quarters from the same personnel. Use the flat defenders to squeeze bootlegs and rollout play-action since contain responsibilities are built into the OLB and Sam assignments. Pair this call with Cover 2 Match and Cover 6 Zone in your play-calling sequence so opposing quarterbacks cannot key on your two deep safety look and burn you with an underneath sit route or shallow drag. Avoid calling this against heavy run personnel on early downs since the seven defenders in coverage leave you light in the box against inside zone or power runs.