Kirby Smart has evolved as a play-caller throughout his time coaching in college football.
Leading up to the Tennessee-Georgia game, Vols Wire previews Smart’s defensive looks and what UT can expect.
Smart likes to showcase a boundary-side cornerback blitz, which typically leaves a boundary-side safety playing man coverage on the No. 1 wide receiver, creating a 2-high coverage to the field-side.
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In Smart’s defense, CLAMP is where a cornerback plays against the No. 2 wide receiver within five yards to defend the flat.
In 3×1 sets, CLAMP is with the No. 1 and No. 2 wide receivers, and man coverage is on the No. 3 wide receiver that is playing underneath (HOOK). Man coverage happens on the No. 3 wide receiver when he is underneath, except for when the No. 3 wide receiver is running a curl route, or going deep on a crossing route.
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Tennessee offensive coordinator Jim Chaney has ran 10-personnel with three wide receivers on the field-side during the Vols’ first two games this season.
Smart is known to defend these 3×1 looks by having the HOOK rush with a strong safety and coming down to cover the area. This will be a common look for Smart if Chaney runs his 3×1, 10-personnel set from the far hash-mark against Georgia.
When Tennessee lines up in 11-personnel, on the 3×1 side, Smart will not shy away from running STUBBIE. STUBBIE is when the cornerbacks play tight coverage and are not off the ball. On the weak-side, STUBBIE and STUMP are the same.
The MONEY is the POSTER. The field cornerback will play press coverage on the No. 1 wide receiver. The STAR has the No. 2 wide receiver, six yards off, unless the third wide receiver goes into the flat. If the No. 3 wide receiver enters the flat, the STAR has him. If the No. 2 wide receiver goes underneath, the STAR also has the responsibility for him.
The weakness of STUBBIE is vertical passes and post routes against the safeties.