Seattle Seahawks to Run "Tampa 2" Defense

The Seattle Seahawks will predominately run the "Tampa 2" defensive scheme this season. This defense is an enhanced version of a standard Cover 2.

This is how the Seahawks should run this defense in 2009:

Base 4-3: DE, DT, DT, DE, SAM, MIKE, WILL, CB, CB, SS, FS

The Tampa 2 relies heavily on a speedy defense with a secondary that has gang-tackling ability. This defense requires everyone to tackle in an effort to stop the running game. 

In the Tampa 2 cover scheme, each corner is matched up man-to-man with each opposing wide receiver. This leaves the safeties to cover a designated deep zone.  

The linebackers are assigned to cover zones for intermediate and short routes. The linebackers cover their respective zones. Everyone on the line is responsible for their own gap assignments.

In the standard 4-3 Cover 2 defense, the middle linebacker stays underneath the safeties and covers intermediate routes in the middle of the field. 

In the Tampa 2 defense, the middle linebacker is expected to drop into deep coverage between the two safeties. This essentially converts a Cover 2 to a Cover 3. This leaves the deep part of the field covered more, but puts more responsibility on the other two linebackers and the two corners to cover a little more ground.

The Tampa 2 requires a middle linebacker to be extremely fleet of foot, since he has to cover more of the field in this defense.    

Teams that implement the Tampa 2 usually play to the “bend, but don’t break” philosophy, allowing the opposing teams to run short yardage plays to prevent the big play.

This defense is most effective against the West Coast offense, because most plays require a quarterback to throw to a specific zone. The wide receivers are then taught to run to this zone, making timing in this offense necessary to be effective. Throwing off this timing with a quick defensive line allows for more turnover opportunities. 

The Seahawks should be more of an attacking defense this year with head coach Jim Mora’s new defensive strategy. This could call for more blitzes from their weak inside linebacker, creating more pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

If the Seahawks can run this defense effectively, expect them to generate more turnovers this season.  

With an athletic middle linebacker in Lofa Tatupu, the Seahawks should have the pieces to run a successful Tampa 2 scheme.