46 Or Bear-Roll Coverage Forces Offenses To Hibernate

MOST DEFENSES WHICH subscribe to the 46 or Bear scheme mainly use a man-free coverage. Those teams do not reap the full benefits of this highly effective and flexible defensive scheme.

Roll coverage, which on alignment looks like man-free coverage, can be used against double width as well as nub formations. The roll coverage can be rotated toward or away from the tight end, wide side, short side, left, to the one-receiver side, to the two-receiver side or toward a particular receiver.

This coverage is especially effective vs. overloaded formations such as twins or trips.

DIAGRAM 1: Positions, Alignments For 46 Or Bear Package.

This diagram details the positions as well as basic alignments of the Bear package. The abbreviations are as follows:

- Stud (ST).
- Bandit LB (B).
- Defensive Tackle (T).
- Nose Guard (N).
- Defensive End (E).
- Will LB (W).
- Strong Safety ($).
- Sam LB (S).
- Free Safety (FS).
- Cornerbacks (C).

Roll Will

PLAYER ASSIGNMENTS:
Stud (ST): This player is the cutter. If he reads that the play is a pass, he provides underneath coverage on the No. 1 receiver.
Bandit LB (B): Takes the TE man-to-man.
Defensive Tackle (T): Must contain rushing plays. He’ll be able to do this because the offensive tackle almost always uses a kick step to block the Stud.
Nose Guard (N):  Defend the rush lane. He aligns in a strong shade to balance the rush.
Defensive End (E): Defends the rush lane.
Will LB (W): Contains the rush.
Strong Safety ($):  Man-to-man on the back to his side.
Sam LB (S):  Man-to-man on the back to his side.
Free Safety (FS): Rolls over the top and helps on the weak side.
Right Cornerback (C):  Works man-to-man on the weak-side receiver. He can really squat because he has help over the top.
Left Cornerback (C): Reads for a three-step drop before he works to half field. The corner breaks on any quick or out routes and works back only on vertical releases.

Roll Stud

PLAYER ASSIGNMENTS:
Stud (ST): Contains rushing plays.
Bandit LB (B): Takes on the TE man-to-man.
Defensive Tackle (T): Defends the B-gap rush lane.
Nose Guard (N):  Defends the rushing lane. He aligns in a weak shade to balance the rush.
Defensive End (E):  Defends the rushing lane. Must contain the rush because the offensive tackle will kick step to block the Will LB.
Will LB (W): Cutter. If he reads that the play is a pass, he provides underneath coverage on the weak-side receiver.
Strong Safety ($):  Man-to-man on the back to his side.
Sam LB (S):  Man-to-man on the back to his side.
Free Safety (FS): Rolls over the top and provides coverage on the strong side.
Right Cornerback (C):  Reads for a 3-step drop before he works to half field. The corner breaks on any quick or out routes and works back only on vertical releases.
Left Corner

back (C): Man-to-man on receiver. He can really squat because he has help over the top from the FS.

The Art Of Roll Coverage

Roll coverage can be highly beneficial against teams that try to overload a side of the formation with receivers. Roll coverage is a great way to get a four-over-three ratio vs. trips.

PLAYER ASSIGNMENTS:
Stud (ST): Since there’s no wideout to his side, he should gain width and depth and look for the back or he can supply outside help on the TE.
Bandit LB (B): Takes the TE man-to-man.
Defensive Tackle (T): Contains any rushing play.
Nose Guard (N):  Defends the rush lane. He aligns in a strong shade to balance the rush.
Defensive End (E):  Defends the rush lane.
Will LB (W): Contains any rushing play.
Strong Safety ($):  He is the adjuster. He handles any break of formation. Against trips formation, he takes the No. 3 receiver. He can squeeze down because he has help over the top.
Sam LB (S):  Takes the remaining back man-to-man.
Free Safety (FS): Rolls over the top on the trips side.
Right Cornerback (C):  Man-to-man on the No.1 receiver. He can really squat because he has help over the top from the FS.
Left Cornerback (C): Plays match coverage. He will take the No. 2 receiver man-to-man. He can really squat because the FS is over the top.

A myriad of coverages can be used in the Bear system. Teams which use only the man-free concept are only scratching the surface of a great pressure package.

Coaches who are interested in implementing or expanding their current Bear package can consult my book, Football’s Attacking 46 Bear Defense by Harding Press.