Game Planning and Defending 3x1`s with Split Field Coverage Concepts

by Jason Thier

Description

Here at Dickinson State University our base coverages are all rooted in split field concepts. We implement mostly two-high split field coverage concepts but also utilize single-high split field coverage concepts as well. We use these split field concepts in most of our 3-man, 4-man, and 5-man rushes out of both odd and even spaced fronts. Using split field coverage concepts has been a major piece of a defense that over the last four years has averaged 16.6 points per game, 306 total yards per game, 29 takeaways per year, and a 31% win percentage on 3rd down.

After performing a study on the types of formations we defend the most often, we realized that we defend 3x1 formation more than any other type. With this in mind it became important to us to be multiple in how we defend 3x1’s to prevent predictability and have answers for how offenses try to utilize 3x1 formations to attack defenses. This course will specifically address how to use split field coverage concepts to defend 3x1 formations. Even if you currently do not utilize split field coverage concepts, you can easily take the information from this course and adapt it to full field concepts to defend 3x1’s. This course will break down why we believe you need to be multiple in 3x1 coverage options, present things to consider when game planning 3x1 formations, outline single wide receiver side coverage concepts, outline multiple wide receiver side coverage concepts, and detail a method to choose how to take away what each offense wants to do the most out of their 3x1 formations.

Lessons

Intro

1 What we defend the most Free 2:38

Game planning tools

2 What to consider when game planning 3x1 formations Free 3:27 3 Game plan flow chart 1:24 4 Game Planning Flow Chart

Single WR Side Man Concepts

5 Insert 6:35 6 Sheriff 3:39 7 Cowboy 4:51 8 Cone 3:49 9 Poach Free 4:44

Single WR Side Zone Concepts

10 Cloud and Cut 7:25 11 Trap and Slash 3:43 12 Zone 3:33

Multiple WR Side Concepts

13 Vertical of #3 Free 2:49 14 Stress 10:46 15 Special 8:00 16 Carry 4:29

Using the flow chart to combine the concepts

17 We need plus one in the box and can play man-to-man to the single side 11:27 18 We need plus one in the box and can not play man-to-man to the single side 11:06 19 We do not need plus one in the box and can play man-to-man to the single side 7:33 20 We do not need plus one in the box and can not play man-to-man to the single side 6:57

Conclusion

21 Final thoughts 3:47

The Coach

Jason Thier

Follow

Coach Thier is the Defensive Coordinator at Dickinson State University, where they finished the 2023 season winning their ninth consecutive NSAA Conference Championship. He just completed his 15th season as a college football coach with experience at the NAIA, Division II, and FCS level. Twelve of his 15 season have been spent as a Defensive Coordinator. He has been a part of seven conference championship and reached the quarter finals of the national playoffs three times. Following the 2021 season he was voted the NSAA Conference Assistant Coach-of-the-Year. During his time as a college coach he has coached seven All-Americans, 30 All-Conference players, and four Conference Players-of-the-Year. He has spent the major of his career coaching linebackers with two seasons spent coaching defensive backs. 

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