The Tampa 2 is a Cover 2 scheme that features two safeties splitting the deep part of the field. The defense has had success throughout the past two decades and was a key part of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Super Bowl victory at the end of the 2002 season.
Although Houston Texans coach Lovie Smith believes in the Tampa 2 as much as he believes in old school R&B music, the 63-year-old knows that the scheme has to adapt some elements to challenge modern NFL offenses.
“In an ideal world, you win or lose games based on how you can play man coverage,” Smith told reporters at rookie minicamp May 13. “If you look at our defense, we play man, we play three-deep, we play quarters, we play two, we blitz. We have a multiple package.”
According to Smith, the key to being able to deploy the multiple packages from the Tampa 2 defense stem from a cornerback’s ability to cover the offense’s best receiver.
“Most of the ones that our defense calls out are corners by himself,” said Smith. “If you have a guy that you feel comfortable covering their best receiver at that slot, it allows you to do some things.”
The selection of former LSU cornerback Derek Stingley with the No. 3 overall pick in Round 1 of the 2022 NFL draft makes sense. Stingley has the ability to be on an island and guard the best receiver on the field. If Stingley can provide that element to Houston’s offense, it will open up more packages Smith can call from the Tampa 2.
“We’re looking forward to the opportunity to do a few things differently this year that we would like to do in an ideal world,” Smith said.
The Texans held opposing quarterbacks to a 94.1 passer rating in 2021, the 12th-highest opposing passer rating in the league.
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