Robber

Defense

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.

Base Play

3-3 Defense Strong vs Deep Routes and Patterns Center Balanced

Robber Base Alignment

CBs should align approximately 7 yards from the sideline. LBs 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Strengths of the Robber

It takes ownership of the middle field.

MLB and Safety can quickly stack either side to maintain the 1:1 defensive ratio. The open areas at the short sidelines, or the weak side seam, so if the QB rolls to the strong side he severely lowers his chances of completing a pass to the 2/3 weak spots on the weak side.

Medium / Long Situations

The Robber allows the

defense to stack 5 defenders on the line for the first few seconds of the play, but then transitions to a 3 deep coverage defense.

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.

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 sides 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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

What if it looks like a flood, but isnt?

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.

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 isnt 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.