The Rise, and Fall of the Tampa-2 Defense As We Know It

Also, the Cover-3 zone (which the Tampa-2 basically is) has two seam routes that can be exploited. A seam route is usually 15 yards in from the sideline and about 3 yards wide. The seems extends from 14 yards to 25 yards. The seam is between the underneath coverage and the safeties. Often you will see the slot receiver or tight end run a fly route (also called a streak or go route), which is simply a vertical route straight towards the end zone. The idea is for the quarterback to get the ball to the receiver between the underneath coverage and the safeties and/or the extra DBs.

Peyton Manning and Dallas Clark are the masters at exploiting the seam in zone coverages. What's most impressive is they often run it from the Ace formation where you're only going three wide. That's why you see Clark take those big hits from the DBs after he catches the ball; the catch is made right in front of them.  

Of course there are a lot of other ways that defenses have figured out to beat the Tampa-2. One of the biggest things that has happened that has reduced the effectiveness of the Tampa-2 is that the West Coast offense has evolved. The West Coast offense that is run today is not like the one Bill Walsh came up with. Teams run the ball far more often now. Herein lies the biggest problem with the Tampa-2.

The Tampa-2 looks for guys who are fast, smart, and flawless tacklers. This means that the defensive lineman, linebackers, corners, safeties are all undersized compared to other defenses and opposing offenses. To make up for this they rely on speed and gang tackling.

Here is the problem: When you're a DL who weighs 285 to 295 lbs going up against an offensive lineman who weighs anywhere from 305 to 330 lbs you are going to have a hard time covering your gap, no matter how agile you are. If you can't get off your block when it's a running play, and the undersized LB makes a poor tackle, teams can, and will run all over you.

Remember, in the Tampa-2 each player in the front 7 is responsible for his gap. If one guy doesn't maintain gap control, and allows the running back through, then your in trouble. If this keeps happening then it destroys your whole zone scheme because now you need to bring your SS down into the box to stop the run. This basically leaves you with three coverages to run: Cover-0, Cover-1, and Cover-3.

The Colts D is not built for Cover-0 or Cover-1 on every down. Their corners are great at zone coverage and tackling. When they have to play man coverage their mediocre. If they're in Cover-3 then it's an easy read for the quarterback and he can make a pass for a big gain or run the ball.

What happened to the Colts was that teams in the division decided that they weren't going to get into a shoot out with them. They were just going to get big up front and run the ball down their throats. It's the same strategy that has been used against them in the playoffs. The easiest way to beat the Colts is to have Manning sitting on the bench for 12 minutes while you wear down that undersized defense running the ball.

The Colts defense was built to play with a lead. When that's the case they force the opposing team to give up on the running game and throw the ball. For the defense to be successful they need to keep the offense out of third and short. When it's third and long then Freeney and Mathis can do their thing.

This is why when Tony retired the first thing Polian and Caldwell did was show Meeks the door. Under Meeks the Colts were awful against the run, and terrible on third down.

Over the past seven years they have been averaging ten offensive possessions per game. This is two below the league average. Over the past four seasons they have been last in the league in offensive possessions per game. The fact that Manning has put up the numbers he has, and won a Superbowl, is amazing when you think about the aforementioned stats.

This is why the Tampa-2 as we know it in Indy is dead, and you know what? That's a good thing!

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