Solving defensive problems with data and film.
MatchQuarters | Let’s Talk Ball! Pod | 6x Author
No Frills Daily Football Clips
Cody Alexander
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The culprit: Wide Nickel alignments created spatial issues on time-to-target in the backfield.
It was the Hurricanes’ #1 pressure tool in ‘25.
Inside the paradox of Miami's Bench Front & use of overhang pressures: www.matchquarters.com/p/miami-benc...
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The pressure is designed to work across his face and funnel the RB into a phone booth using a traditional "Cross-Dog" fit.
For more on this pressure, check this out: www.matchquarters.com/p/attacking-...
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If you are seeing a lot of zone-centric gun runs, the "Cross" path is best-practice pressure to carry on early downs.
Below, the Saints attack the Center "turn" with the LB opposite the RB.
In most zone schemes, the Center will "push" away from the RB.
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One of the main ways the Saints leveraged 12 personnel on early downs was by engaging the weak Edge and playing split-field coverage behind it.
Learn more about this scheme here: www.matchquarters.com/p/saints-wil...
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Clip 1 illustrates the standard "Will 6" scheme, placing the Cover 2 "rotation" to the Wing alignment (YY).
In Clip 2, the Saints utilize a "double" C2 call, placing triangles over the Wing and the two-receiver stack.
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How do wide splits erode an elite run defense?
When static, Corey Hetherman’s Miami defense snuffed out runs to a tune of -0.371 EPA/play (#2 in the P4).
But when he brought 5-man pressures on early downs, efficiency plummeted to a neutral -0.027.
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See how Indianapolis attacked early down offenses in this week's clinic: www.matchquarters.com/p/anarumo-co...
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Down Safety pressure was a main early down run stop call for the Colts in '25 under Lou Anarumo.
Against Split Zone, the interior D-line executes a "jam" stunt to tie up the O-line, preventing them from climbing to the 2nd-level while freeing up the boundary blitz.
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Pre-snap alignment shows the Raiders showing a split-safety Cover 2 or Tampa look from a Dime package.
Post-snap, the defense drops into a weak-rotation Cover 3, using the Down Safety as a backstop while building a "box" to handle the offense's front-side scheme.
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Understand why this coverage has taken over Tampa 2 on 3rd Downs in the NFL: www.matchquarters.com/p/weak-rotat...
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MQ details RAPTORS, a best-practice path that stems from the MEX/Allen Sim. | #ArtofX
