Steelers 2-Read Fire Zone Coverage

The Steelers intercepted Joe Flacco on Thursday Night Football with a zone blitz pattern reading defense known as “2-Read Fire Zone.” 2-Read Fire Zone involves a 5 man pressure scheme with very specific rules for the LBs/DBs who are in coverage. To get a better understanding of 2-Read Fire Zone, let’s first look at what routes the Ravens are running on 3rd and 6:

At the top of the screen, the Ravens are running a 5-yard speed out and a vertical. At the bottom of the screen, the Ravens are running a “Drive” combination, which involves a drag and a dig route.

The Steelers have the perfect defense called to not only stop the play but also force a turnover. First, the Steelers are sending a 5 man pressure scheme via a Fire Zone blitz using multiple DB’s. The blitz should make the ball come out of the Quarterback’s hands before he can fully identify the trap coverage behind it. Quarterbacks are often taught to throw “hot” by throwing the ball where blitzers are coming from, or replacing blitzers with the ball. 2-Read Fire Zone baits Quarterbacks into throwing to a trap:

With respect to coverage, 2-Read Fire Zone is both a zone and pattern reading concept. The coverage transforms depending on the route combination of the offense, but 2-Read Fire Zone is specifically designed to stop the out/vertical concept. The assignments at the bottom of the screen are fixed; the Cornerback on the short side of the field (bottom of the screen) has deep half coverage responsibility while the Linebacker has the short side flat.

As for the top of the screen, the Cornerback gives a man-to-man look but is actually reading the #2 (slot) receiver first. If the #2 receiver runs to the flat, the Cornerback will squat and trap the flat looking for an interception or big hit. The single high Safety in the middle of the field is also reading “2 to 1.” In this scenario, the Safety must match #1 vertical because the Cornerback has trapped the out route. Finally, the outside Linebacker will “Wall #2”, meaning he will try to keep the #2 WR from getting inside of him, and also try to get underneath any deep out cut by #2. See how perfectly the defense unfolds for Pittsburgh:

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Once the Steelers Corner reads #2 (Steve Smith) he traps the out route, while the Safety stays over top of #1 vertical. Flacco feels the pressure from the blitz and releases the ball quick without properly identifying the coverage. If he had, he probably would have had a window to throw to the vertical for a first down. It appears the Steelers had a good reason to call this coverage, as the Ravens had run out/vertical several times earlier in the game.

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The Steelers run the OF Counter here from “22” personnel, with two tight ends, a fullback and running back Le’Veon Bell. As noted above, OF Counter involves two pullers, the guard and the fullback. Thus, the Steelers “leave 2” defenders on the front side of the play for the pullers. (the circled Bengals). The OF Counter is run from a few different formations, and is executed with the following rules:

• Backside Fullback/H-back: Pull through hole and up to second level
• Backside Tackle: Block on or back
• Backside Guard: Pull and look for kick out
• Center: Block on or back

The front side blocking responsibilities depend on the formation, as the Steelers run the OF Counter from multiple sets and personnel groupings. Overall, the goal of the front side is to block down on the edge defenders. The quarterback reverse pivots out to give a mixed flow read. The running back takes his first step laterally to coincide with the quarterbacks and then takes a gather step before cutting and attacking play side.

Bell exhibits excellent patience on his TD run and sets up his blockers beautifully. He presses the defense laterally and makes Adam Jones (#24) believe he is trying to run outside, which allows the second puller (#83 Heath Miller) the get to the second level. David DeCastro (#66) pulls and kicks out the linebacker who has replaced the down block. Bell then cuts inside what is now a huge hole and finishes the run strong:

Later in the game the Steelers run the same play from the same personnel grouping and motion. The Bengals over shift to the motion and are left outnumbered, with the weakside linebacker inside the Steelers left tackle despite the tight end and H-back. The Bengals are out leveraged even though cornerback Adam Jones (#24) inserts himself as the ninth box defender.

The next week, the Falcons defense gets sucked too far downhill and inside. The Steelers don’t use motion this time. The pulling guard continues up field and hooks his man while the pulling fullback doesn’t touch a defender until ten yards down field. Bell has great patience, vision, and quickness to wind this play all the way to the edge. His ability to do so makes it tough for edge defenders to make a play; if they play for an outside run, he can cut on a dime up the field. If they play for an inside run, he can quickly get outside.

Below, the Steelers run OF Counter from the same formation and personnel, except this time the linebackers diagnose the play quickly, scrape fast and flow over the top (#59 and #56). The pulling Steelers are noted in yellow:

The Steelers adjust on the fly; pulling guard David DeCastro treats #56 as the kick out blocker and delivers a pancake block while the pulling fullback works through the hole. The Panthers flowing over the top squeezes the play, but Le’Veon bell recognizes this, puts his left foot in the ground and cuts up field between the tackles for an 11 yard gain:

OF Counter can be run away from the tight end & fullback side as well from 22 personnel. Below, the Steelers line up a tight end and their fullback to the right with only a tight end to their left. The play is still being run to the Steelers left, but the formation makes the edge down blocks easier for the front side of the play, and makes it more clear for the pullers which defenders the “leave 2” will be.

The Steelers have also shown the ability to run the concept from “12” personnel or two tight ends and a running back. The advantage here is one less defender in the box, but now a wide receiver (#11 Markus Wheaton) must also contribute by at least getting his hands on a linebacker. Safety Reggie Nelson (#20) comes flying in at the bottom of the screen, but is easily kicked out by the pulling guard to open a huge lane for Bell:

There is one tendency the Steelers have revealed with the OF Counter: they clearly prefer to run the play going left, with David DeCastro as the pulling guard. However, the play can be run from several formations and personnel groupings. More importantly, Bell can “make the blockers right” with his athleticism, patience, and vision. These two factors make the play effective even when defenses know what’s coming. Overall, the OF Counter is a staple in the offense and an excellent concept to use with an athletic guard, a surplus of tight end/fullback/H-back type players, and a running back with patience and vision. For those interested in the OF Counter the 2014 Steelers at Bengals tape is essentially must watch clinic tape. Below is another example of the Steelers gashing the Bengals with the concept:

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The picture below shows each Carolina defender’s run game responsibility before the motion, represented by the lettered gaps. (A-D). Once again, Kuechly (59), Davis (58), and the weakside Defensive End (95) are the key defenders to focus on. It is important to note here that the Defensive End is playing in a “9-Technique”, or is lining up on the outside shoulder of the Tight End.

Now, the Steelers motion the weakside Tight End (or H-Back) across the formation going right. Kuechely and Davis immediately “pull the string” and shift towards the motion. This picture is shown below, with the gap responsibilities of the key 3 highlighted in red. The key to this huge run is the weakside Defensive End doesn’t change from his original 9-technique position, even though there is no player outside the Left Tackle for the Steelers. This could be a product of a couple things: Carolina could have been out-coached by the Steelers via game film, or the Defensive End should have “reduced” or come down closer to the line in a 7 or even 5-technique, which is on the outside shoulder of the tackle. Because he doesn’t move but the linebackers do, a natural bubble appears, which is also highlighted below.

How does 2 feet worth of misalignment make the difference between a 5-yard run and an 81-yard run? Let’s see how the play begins: the Steelers are running the ball to the right. However, almost immediately you can see what unfolds below: The Steelers get great vertical push via multiple double teams against the Panthers Defensive Tackles. To make things worse for the Panthers, #95 allows himself to be blocked outside, toward the D-Gap. The red bubble that existed in the previous picture has just become even bigger. Thomas Davis, #58, instinctively sees this gap and plants his left foot to go right and attempt to cover the bubble. Meanwhile, Kuechely (#59) reads the blocking scheme and anticipates a run to the right C gap.

This leads to a disastrous consequence for the Panthers. Kuechely (59) is playing a run to the Steelers’ right (his left), there is great push from the Steelers offensive line up the middle, (highlighted above) Thomas Davis (58) is worrying about the gap bubble, and #95 has worked too far outside. But the long run still wouldn’t happen without Running Back Le’Veon Bell setting it up. Below, Bell recognizes the gap and plants his right foot in the ground. This gives him the ability to either press straight up the middle or attack the bubble going left. Because of the great double teams, the crease straight up the middle is now huge by NFL standards. In the picture below, notice the Panthers’ Linebackers feet. Kuechely (59) is totally committed going to his left. Meanwhile, Thomas Davis (58) feet are frozen, as he has the impossible task of defending a huge crease to his left and a big gap bubble to his right.

Being a split second too late costs Davis, as in the next frame (below), you can see Kuechely (59) has been washed away to his left, and Davis (58) is too far right. Le’Veon Bell presents the threat of attacking the bubble, but presses the crease, plants his left foot, and attacks straight downhill up the middle. Davis’ decision to take a step to his right leaves the quicker Bell open to hit the opening for a monster gain.

This is a gigantic alley for any NFL Running Back. The video below shows the key parts of this play in slow motion to show the ripple effect of the Defensive End (95) lining up too wide.

And the full-speed clip below:

As you can see, NFL run play outcomes can be decided by the most subtle of factors. Keep in mind, all of this happened in about 2 seconds. It’s possible #95 was supposed to reduce and didn’t, its possible Carolina’s staff was exposed by the Steelers’ playcalling, and also possible Luke Kuechely (59) over pursued the play. Regardless, Le’Veon Bell took full advantage with a gashing run.

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