2. Introduction
Important things to know about the Robber Defense:
Most of the superior athletic teams use standard 3-3 defense – the
essential foundation of the Robber Defensive coverage.
Holes can be tough for QBs to find as defenders are in gaps that are
commonly open versus a Cover 2 defense.
Easiest defense to maintain a 1:1 WR to Defender defensive ratio.
3. Base Play
3-3 Defense
Strong vs Deep Routes and Patterns
Center Balanced
4. Robber Base Alignment
CB’s should align approximately 7 yards from the sideline.
LB’s should align approximately 5 yards from the CBs and
each other.
All CBs and LBs should align in a single row.
Right before the snap, it is ok for the CBs to cheat back a little, but
they MUST NOT start in a cheated position.
5. Robber Proper Alignment
These alignment shifts should be subtle, and not create large gaps in
the defense.
CBs aligned to the inside shoulder of the Wideouts.
MLB and Safety aligned over Center. Ok if Safety aligns slightly to the
strong side.
OLBs aligned over inside shoulder of slot WRs.
Strong side slot WR bracketed by strong side OLB.
6. Bracketing the Strong Slot WR
Regardless of where the Strong side WR (H) lines up, the
defense creates a bracket on either side of the Strong Side
Slot WR (Y), and the WR they lineup next to.
If the Strong side WR (H) lines up inside, the Strong side OLB
aligns directly between him and the strong side slot (Y). If the
strong side WR (H) lines up outside, the strong side OLB
aligns directly over top of him and brackets the strong side slot
(Y) with the CB.
7. Front Line Depth
CBs and LBs align 5-7 yards from the line of scrimmage.
LBs can drop up to 15 yards from the line of scrimmage - more
if necessary.
CBs are responsible for the deep third of their side of the field,
so must drop back as deep as a WR goes on their side.
8. The Balance of a Robber
Most of the time, either the Center or a Strong Side WR will
cross to the Weak side creating a 1:1 ratio.
If the cross happens shallow, the MLB maintains balance. If
the cross happens deep, the Safety maintains balance.
9. Weak spots of a Robber
3 general weak spots on the field.
Both flats, and the weak side seam.
Safety can be pushed back by a deep route from the slot, and is
susceptible to deep crosses underneath.
Both flats on this play have defenders in pursuit who will be
delayed and so are weak to the quick out. However, the
defenders should know we are giving up the flats and be
prepared for the double move up the sideline.
The longer the play takes the greater the chance for an opening
underneath.
10. Strengths of the Robber
It takes ownership of the Medium / Long
middle field. Situations
MLB and Safety can quickly
stack either side to maintain the The Robber allows the
1:1 defensive ratio. defense to stack 5
The open areas at the short defenders on the line for
sidelines, or the weak side the first few seconds of
seam, so if the QB rolls to the the play, but then
strong side he severely lowers transitions to a 3 deep
his chances of completing a coverage defense.
pass to the 2/3 weak spots on
the weak side.
11. Common Weak Side Routes
Weak side CB is responsible for deep third of the field, but if his
WR runs a deep post he must stick with him until called off be the
Safety.
Weak side OLB keys the slot, and will follow him to the sideline,
or to the middle of the field – further if necessary – until a threat
emerges from the strong side to cross back into the weak side or
middle of the field.
MLB keys the Center, and makes a read depending on the
direction the Center runs his route.
12. Coverage for Common Weak Side Route Patterns
The MLB will follow the 1st WR from the middle of the field that goes to the
weak side (likely the Center). The Safety will do the same, but only if it
happens at the 2nd level behind the MLB.
The Safety will keep an eye on the weak side slot WR post route, but must
faovr the strong side. The Safety is not responsible for a deep post coming
from the either side’s Wideout. The CB on either side must stick with them.
The OLBs must cover slots moving to the outside, and stick with them on
double moves up the sideline. However, if the slot runs inside, the OLB should
stick with them until called off by the Safety or another WR threatens to cross
into their zone from the Strong side of the field.
13. Common Strong side Route Patterns
Assuming the Center goes to the Weak side and creates a
balanced attack, the Strong side generally is in some form of a
trips alignment.
14. Coverage for Common Strong side Route Patterns
Strong side OLB always crashes on the 1st route to the outside, but if no
Strong side WR runs outside then the Strong side OLB must look for an
inside cross from the strong side Wideout, or begin looking for a crossing
route from the weak side.
Safety always has the deepest threat in the middle of the field, but must
favor support to the strong side.
Strong side CB has deep coverage responsibility for a third of the field
and must get back deep quickly.
15. What if they flood?
Either the Center going to the Strong side, or a Weak side WR
crossing to the Strong side, causes a flood (greater than 1:1
ratio).
16. Robber Flood Coverage
If the Center or weak side WR runs to the strong side creating
a flood, the counter is as simple as having the MLB and Safety
move towards that side of the field from the center line.
The Robber is exceptionally strong against flood route
patterns.
17. What if it looks like a flood, but isn’t?
The MLB will key the Center, and if the Center runs to the
Strong side the MLB will pickup the inside most WR, and is
responsible for covering the 1st WR to cross towards the
middle or weak-side.
18. Recap
Maintain 3-3 alignment, with MLB and Safety playing the
center line.
Front line of defenders are CBs and LBs. LBs need to drop
up to 15 yards, CBs are responsible for a deep third of the
field.
By design there are 3 holes in a Robber, but it isn’t
susceptible to flooding.
MLB controls the balance of the play by keying on the
Center.
Weak side CB and Safety need to key the Weak LB so they
can adjust coverage accordingly.
