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Cover 0— Zero Deep Man |
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Defensive Coverages |
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Cover 0—Zero Deep Man Cover Zero is a man to man defense with the middle of the field open and all defenders on the line of scrimmage. It is used to stop the run, pressure the quarterback and disrupt short passing plays with everyone on the line threatening to blitz. The free safety rolls up to the line of scrimmage to cover or blitz. Corners play 3 to 5 yards head up or inside receivers and often play bump and run coverage. Outside linebackers and the strong safety take the runningbacks or tightend. The middle linebacker usually blitzes. Defenders often look at the receivers, rather than at the quarterback. In cover zero, the open areas are in the middle of the field and away from the defenders. The QB needs to pick up the blitz and throw the ball early to an outlet running back or receiver. There is also a curl and post seam in the middle of the field since the middle linebacker vacated to blitz and there is no deep free safety. A final option is to quickly throw outs, slants, fades, and corners to receivers running crossing routes away from defenders, especially where there are mismatches with faster receivers. Keep in mind that the free safety can disguise cover zero as cover one by setting up deep and then rotating to the scrimmage line. |
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Cover 1— One Deep Man |
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Cover 1—One Deep Man Cover One is a man to man defense with the middle of the field closed by a single deep free safety. It is used to take away the run, pressure the quarterback, and disrupt short passes. The free safety covers the deep middle of the field and may provide some double team support on a dominant wide receiver. Corners play 3 to 5 yards head up or inside receivers and often play bump and run coverage. Outside linebackers and the strong safety take the runningbacks or tightend. The middle linebacker usually blitzes. Defenders often look at the receivers, rather than at the quarterback. In Cover One, the open seams are in the middle curl zone and away from the defenders. The QB needs to pick up the blitz and throw the football early to an outlet running back or receiver. There is a seam in the middle curl zone where the middle linebacker vacated to blitz. Another option is to quickly throw outs, slants, fades, and corners to receivers running crossing routes away from defenders, especially away from the free safety and where there are mismatches with faster receivers. Keep in mind that the free safety may disguise cover one as cover zero by setting up on the scrimmage line and then rolling back to the deep middle.
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Cover 2— Two Deep Zone |
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Cover 3— Three Deep Zone |
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Cover 4— Four Deep Zone |
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Tampa 2— Three Deep Zone |
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Cover 2 Man— Two Deep Zone |
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Cover 2—Two Deep Zone Cover Two is a two deep zone defensive scheme with five underneath zones. It is used to disrupt the short passing plays and protect against long passes, while conceding the shorter running game. The middle of the field is open with the free and strong safety dividing the deepest part of the field into halves and providing deep coverage. The corners play 3 to 5 yards head up or on the outside shoulder of the receivers and cover the flats. The middle and two outside linebackers split the curl zones into thirds. Defenders look at the eyes of the quarterback rather than at the receivers. In cover two, the seams are over the corners and under or between the safeties. The QB can throw above the corners to receivers running postcorners, wheels, or fades. Other seams are under the safeties with dig routes and between the linebackers with curl routes. Four receivers can also streak to stretch the field vertically and create deep open receivers. A final option is to flood a side of the field and stretch key defenders (safety / corner) with a post, corner, out, and curl route and then hit the open receiver. Keep in mind that the corners may disguise cover two as cover four by setting up deep and then rolling up into the flats. A variation of cover two zone is Cover Two Man with two deep zones and five underneath defenders playing man. It is used to confuse the offense by looking like cover two zone. The middle of the field is open with the two safeties dividing the deepest part of the field into halves. The three linebackers and two corners play man coverage on the five eligible receivers. The seams are away from defenders, over the corners, and under the safeties. QBs can throw postcorners, wheels, and fades to receivers running away from defenders. Another option is to run short crossing routes (outs, curls, and slants) and hit the open receiver. |
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Cover 3—Three Deep Zone Cover Three is a three deep zone defensive formation with three or four underneath zones. It is used to stop the run and prevent long passes by keeping everything in front of the deepest defenders. The middle of the field is closed with the two corners and free safety splitting the deep part of the field into thirds. Corners play 8-10 yards head up or on the outside shoulder of receivers and retreat into their deep zones. Outside linebackers take the flats and middle linebackers drop into the middle curl zones. Defenders look at the eyes of the QB, rather than at the receivers. In cover three, the seams are in the flats and underneath zones. The QB can throw quick hitches, screens, slants, and outs to the flats. Other seams are under the safeties with dig routes and between the linebackers with curl routes. A weak side post seam may also emerge when the free safety cheats to the strong side. A final option is to flood a side of the field and stretch key defenders (safety, corner, and outside linebacker) with a post, corner, out, and curl and then hit the open receiver. Keep in mind that the corners can disguise cover three as cover one by setting up on the line and then rolling back into coverage. A variation of cover three is Tampa 2 with four underneath zones and three deep zones and the third deep defender is the middle linebacker. It starts out looking like cover two with two safeties, but the middle linebacker drops into the deep middle part of the field. The two corners play the flats and the two linebackers split the curl zones. Tampa Two makes the deep pass more difficult, but creates open areas in the flats and underneath zones. The QB can throw quick hitches, screens, slants, arrows and outs to the flats. Other useful routes include digs underneath the safeties and curls in the seams between the corners and linebackers.
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Cover 4—Four Deep Zone Cover Four is a four deep zone defensive formation with three underneath zones. It is used to prevent long passes and avoid giving up the big play, while conceding shorter runs and passes. The middle of the field is open with two safeties and two corners dividing the deep part of the field into quarters. Corners play 8 to 10 yards head up or on the outside shoulder of receivers and retreat into their deep zones. The outside linebackers take the flats and middle linebacker drops into the middle curl zone. Defenders look at the eyes of the quarterback rather than at the receivers. In cover four, the open seams are in the underneath zones and flats. The QB can throw quick hitches, screens, slants, arrows, and outs to the flats. Other seams are under the safeties with dig routes and between the linebackers with curl routes. Receivers can also run posts, corners, wheels, and fades provided the ball is thrown on a line underneath the deep defenders. A final option is to stretch the field horizontally and flood a side with short routes (out, curl, and slant) and then hit the open receiver. Keep in mind that the corners may disguise cover four as cover two by setting up in the flats and then rolling back into coverage.
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Director Gene Straughan / 509-432-5535 / airitoutfootball@yahoo.com |
