Cover 3 Hold Basics
Some starting points for this classic Canadian football coverage
It would take an entire library of books to cover all of the schemes, techniques and nuances associated with the Canadian football Cover 3 Hold coverage. That is not the attempt here. Instead of an exhaustive report, this newsletter will outline a few basic starting points when it comes to setting up this coverage within your defence. I hope to elaborate on some of these concepts in future editions of the Canadian Football Chalk Talk newsletter.
What is Cover 3 Hold?
Simply put, this is a coverage that uses three Deep Zone defenders to cover the field. Often this includes both Cornerbacks as well as the Free Safety. The remaining defenders will serve as Low Zone players.
Why Cover 3 Hold?
As with anything in football, there are strengths and weaknesses associated with this coverage.
Pros
Solid against the RUN. This Coverage uses a number of Low Zone defenders who are all able to keep their eyes inside initially to check for run.
Pushes “soft” areas away from the Quarterback. Forces the Quarterback to attempt tougher, farther throws into the flats. Takes away easy completions.
In theory this coverage allows your stronger coverage players (Corners, FS) to be responsible for the most dangerous routes (Vertical).
Cons
It’s a challenge to cover route combinations that include Four Verticals.
If the offence recognizes this coverage early, there are soft areas for them to attack (ie. Flats).
It’s a challenge in Canadian football to remain sound in Cover 3 versus all formations and motions.
Deep Zone Techniques (Corners, Free Safety)
As stated above, your Corners and Free Safety are the Deep Zone defenders in this coverage. You will have some decisions to make as a coach when it comes to their specific techniques and how you want them to work together with the Low Zone defenders. It’s common to place the Corners in an INSIDE SHADE in this technique so they can get to a Vertical Route by the #2 Receiver. The Free Safety often aligns in the Middle of the Field.
Some questions to consider:
What DEPTH do you want for your Corners? Is it the same for your Field Corner and Boundary Corner?
How would you like the INITIAL MOVEMENT of your Corners to look? Backpedal? Shuffle? How fast would you like them to get depth at the snap?
Who are the Corners reading? It’s common to have your Corners read the #2 Receiver in this coverage. The action of the #2 Receiver can tell them a lot about what type of route combination they are about to see.
How do Deep Zone defenders react when they see Multiple Verticals being run at them? It’s common to have your Corners cheat to the inside vertical as that is the easier throw for the Quarterback.
What is the Eye Progression for your Free Safety? How do they eliminate routes and get to their most dangerous threat?
Low Zone Techniques (Halfbacks and Sam)
In my opinion, your Low Zone techniques — and the amount of detail you use when teaching these techniques — are the keys to a successful Cover 3 Hold in Canadian football.
Some thoughts:
What DEPTH do you want your Low Zone defenders to use? Is it the same across the board or does it vary? Are they right up at the line and JAMMING? Are they playing OFF?
What SHADE are they using on the Receiver? It’s common to use an INSIDE SHADE for these techniques, but does that flip if you have tight splits?
The real heart of the technique is this: How does your Low Zone defender REACT when they see various types of routes? It’s helpful to break things down into “families” of routes (in-breaking, out-breaking, vertical, etc.). This way you can drill all of these situations separately and create confidence in your Low Zone defenders.
Linebacker Techniques
Your Linebackers can serve as Hook Zone players in Cover 3 Hold. They will often be “Run First” and may bite on a Play Action Fake or an RPO. Again, it’s your choice as a coach to decide how much you will rely on your Linebackers in coverage in your Cover 3 Hold.
Some considerations:
How do you want your Linebackers to work together with your other Low Zone defenders? This will dictate how early your Halfbacks can come off routes and expand.
How will your Linebackers react to a Running Back leaking into a route?
Are you willing to Blitz one or both Linebackers and void a Zone in your Cover 3 Hold?
Further Considerations
As stated above, this is merely a drop in the ocean when it comes to this complex Canadian football coverage. There are many more details needed and a lot of further things to consider, but this may help you get started.
Here are just a couple additional points:
What is your plan for route combinations that include Four Verticals? Often one of your Low Zone defenders will need to CARRY one of the Verticals. Or, depending on the level you coach and the quality of the Quarterbacks you are facing, maybe you are confident that your three Deep Zone defenders can split the routes and get the job done.
How will you control the SEAMS? This is a common plan of attack for most offences when facing Cover 3. You will need great cooperation between your Low Zone and Deep Zone defenders in order to control the SEAMS.
How will you adjust to all of the different formations and motions you might face? This is the essence of coaching defence in Canadian football.
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Please reach out and let me know if you’d like me to expand on any of these thoughts in a future edition of the Canadian Football Chalk Talk newsletter.
Thanks for reading.
All the best!
Jon Svec
Defensive Coordinator
St. Francis Xavier University
X-Men Football
IG: @jonsvecx
Twitter: @jonsvecx
Great article - enough depth and CPs for any coach to be sound. Two items I'd add - HBs (Sam) could play from depth and still force seam receiver to bubble wide - too easy for QB otherwise. 2nd vs RB Swing/Arrow might have to add DE Peel tech - seems to be a huge Def weakness at all levels including pros.