Coach ,

WOW! What an incredible weekend of games. All four had me shouting, “This is an amazing game!” And I think we are in store for more this weekend

Playing sound defense, especially when it comes to coverage will be key next weekend in the AFC Championship game. For the Bengals that will be a tall order with the stable of dynamic receivers that Patrick Mahomes has to throw to.

Defensive Coordinator Lou Anarumo certainly has the Bengals defense peaking at the right time. They started the game out intercepting Ryan Tannehill on the first play from scrimmage and added two more INT’s over the course of the game.

Coach Anarumo spoke at his home state’s clinic this past season and shared two versions of Tampa two which they keep in their toolbox.

Tampa 2 is a coverage that Lou Anarumo can be used at every level in order to outnumber an offense in the run game and have change-ups in coverage that protect the middle of the field deep which becomes a priority of an offensive attack when they see cover two.

The Bengals begin their set-up in the 4-2-5 starting in an over front. In order for Tampa 2 to work, there are five “musts” for the coverage to be successful.  Every coverage has keys and if they aren’t utilize then the coverage will prove to be ineffective. From reading the QB shoulders to how the middle runner drops are explained in this video (click on image for video):

Video: 5 Musts of Tampa

Coach Anarumo has used this from the Division III college level all the way up to the NFL and it’s a coverage he believes can work at any level of the game. In this example, he shows how they start in a disguise in order to not give the quarterback a key.  

He illustrates the coverage on game film in this clip (click on image for video):

Video: Preview of Tampa 2 Game Film

This has been an incredible postseason in the NFL and I am sure you are ready to see what the Championship round brings.

The Bengals will be hard at work this week preparing to stop Mahomes.  Coach Anarumo has done it already, but expect some new wrinkles in his game plan.

Always be growing!

Coach Grabowski