Cover Easy Throws with Match 3 When You Load the Box to Stop the Run - Donald Gelsomino

High School Level Rip/Liz is a version of cover 3 that takes care of the major weaknesses of cover 3 while still maintaining a single high or Middle of the Field closed look.

York High School (Illinois) under Head Coach Donald Gelsomino wants to load the box to stop the run and uses Match 3 to take away the easy throws that are left open with straight cover 3.

This video is a portion of his entire presentation on HS Level Rip/Liz Match 3 out of the 3-5 Defense, which can be seen in it's entirety on Glazier Drive,

York Rip/Liz Match 3 101

• Rip/Liz is a version of cover 3 that takes care of the major weaknesses of 3 while still maintaining a single high or MOF closed look.
• Saban scheme or at least how its become extremely popular.
• We looked at how they use it and modify it to work for us.
• Combo with some verbiage from Cody Alexander's Match 4 book.
• Rip/Liz terminology we do not use because its part of our base and we are single high.
• You will see some common terms used from Match 4 and Rip/Liz but we used concepts from them to make them our own.
• Extremely flexible to any front 4-2-5, 4-3, 3-4, or our 3-5.

Why Cover 3 and Why Match 3

• Philosophically single high to load box and stop run, I prefer cover 3 to load the box.
• Cover 3 left some simple throws wide open that we were always looking to take away like hitch, smash, 4 vert seams and so on.
• Match 3 takes all the easy throws away or at least provides help to these routes.
• We can be very physical with routes, get more holding and PI penalties but part of being physical and our philosophy.
• With simple Match and zone rules we get 3 coverages out of 1 scheme.