Playbooks

3 Double Mable

Quarter·Normal·Big Quarter 3-1-7

Quick Reference

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Breakdown

3 Double Mable is a dime prevent style coverage shell out of the Quarter formation's Big Quarter 3-1-7 personnel, built to defend against desperation situations and explosive vertical shots. This is a zone beater killer, not an offensive play, running a version of Cover 3 with double deep safety help (Mable) stacked over the outside thirds to take away go routes and deep comebacks. The primary read for the defense is inside out: eyes start on the quarterback's drop and shoulder turn, then flow to the deep middle third defender before working out to the double coverage on each sideline.

Defensive Reads

Watch the offensive formation for stacked or bunch receivers on one side, which usually signals a vertical clear out designed to isolate one of your deep defenders. Post snap, key the quarterback's first look, if he stares down one sideline early he is trying to work the double coverage before it fully rotates. This shell shuts down four verticals, deep comebacks, and go route combinations because of the extra deep help stacked outside. It is vulnerable to shallow crossers, drag routes, and quick game concepts underneath since only a handful of defenders are working short zones. User the deep middle defender to rob dig routes and posts, and watch running back checkdowns out of the backfield since the light box invites easy completions underneath if you sell out to the deep shell.

Usage Tips

Call this on 3rd and long or in two minute drill situations when you expect the offense to hunt for one explosive play down the field.

Pre-snap, identify if the offense is running four verticals or double moves designed to stack your corners, since the double deep help over the top is what neutralizes those shots.

Use your user-controlled defender to sit in the deep middle hole and rob any dig or post route trying to split your two deep safeties.

Combine this with Cover 3 Mable and 3 DBL Mable Cloud in your play calling sequence so the underneath flow and disguise look identical presnap, forcing the quarterback to guess which shell he is getting.

Avoid calling this against heavy run personnel since the light box with only three true underneath defenders is vulnerable to gap runs and draw plays.

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