Originally posted by ckparrothead
Dude, sorry but I think you're just wrong there. I mean I know mostly we might be splitting hairs but to call our base defense "zone" mainly would be just plain wrong. I know this because our guys were complaining about not having some zone schemes to mix in.
I'll say it again, Cover 2 does not necessarily have to be zone. Thats just the way Tony Dungy runs it. We run it man to man, with press. Its been said time and again by analysts, this is why it is PARTICULARLY impressive that our CBs get so many interceptions because they NEVER play zone. They don't get to look at quarterbacks eyes most of the time unless they make a real good move. Deion Sanders himself came over and interviewed Sam and Pat and remarked how impressive it is that these guys play man to man all day, never play zone, and they still get the interceptions.
Just because our safeties play mostly in pass coverage rather than run defense or blitzing, it doesn't mean they actually take over a zone of the field for a disengaging quarterback. The simple fact that Sam Madison on a normal defensive play went way down the field last year and wrestled the ball out of Marvin Harrison's hands and injured his shoulder in the process, merely is a good example of how our guys are supposed to follow their WR wherever he goes, unless he's making a jump on a thrown ball.
Ask any professional analyst and they will tell you, Miami plays a man to man press coverage with safety help over the top. It can be called a "Cover 2" because of the safety help from both safeties but that doesn't change the fact that it is man to man coverage, at least out of the base defense it is. Fvck man why do you think everyone is talking about how Jamar Fletcher has been miscast in the Dolphins system because he played mainly zone in college and we're asking him to play press man here.