What’d He Do Wrong? Bombed in Cover 2

Watching this unfold really did stress me out.  By now we all know how the end of the Tampa Bay vs. LA Rams playoff game turned out.  A key play in the game came at the end of the half with the defense on the field for the Buccaneers with the game on the line and they failed to come through.  Furthermore the biggest play in the half came vs. the Buccaneers bread and butter coverage.  In this post and the video below we’ll talk about what went wrong.

The situation displays a number of important things that I harp on both in this member’s area and in my training sessions.  First,  is having a competent back pedal as a defensive back.  If you are not getting enough reps doing it during practice,  then spend the time after practice or in the offseason developing it and perfecting it.   Second,  is knowing your assignments in your coverages and finally,  it’s knowing the jobs of others in the coverages that you run so that you don’t get confused about your job.

There were two major breakdowns on the final defensive play of the first half for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in their game vs. the Rams.  Unfortunately,  the breakdowns both happened on the same side of the field where the NFL’s best wide receiver in 2022 was located.  As you can imagine,  this led to a huge play at the end of the half that may have been the difference in the ball game.

In the video below,  I discuss went wrong with both defenders,  how it could be avoided and what defenders should know when running Cover 2 so that they coverage can work in their favor.  There are important lessons to be learned from this very crucial breakdown in the game.  No one play loses you a game but there are key moments in every contest where opportunities present themselves to swing things in your favor and you can’t have breakdowns.

Enjoy the video breakdown below and as always if you have questions or a comment,  feel free to send me an email at cwilson@alleyesdbcamp.com – Thank you for being a member.

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alleyesdbcamp

Owner at All Eyes DB Camp

Chad Wilson is the founder of All Eyes DB Camp and a former standout defensive back for the Miami Hurricanes. After an elite collegiate career, Wilson spent a season with the Seattle Seahawks before transitioning into coaching. A 3-time Florida state champion defensive coordinator, he has spent over 20 years developing the "All Eyes" blueprint that has produced NFL All-Pros and stars like Xavien Howard, Patrick Surtain II, Tyson Campbell, Minkah Fitzpatrick and more. His coaching system is proven at the highest levels—his own sons, Quincy and Marco Wilson, both excelled as starters in the SEC before being drafted into the NFL.

Chad is the author of "101 DB Tips"—The Ultimate DB Reference Guide. You can find more information on the manual and how to order your copy in the sidebar and footer of this page.

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