Muskingum College: Effective Cover 2 Defense

by: Shap Boyd
Defensive Coordinator, Muskingum College
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This article will attempt to discuss and break down Cover 2 or a 2 deep zone coverage with five underneath. As with anything else there are many different ways to teach this coverage. We will break this up into three sections so that we can discuss in detail how we teach and approach this coverage. In this first section we will discuss the WHY of Cover 2 as well as the reasons that a defense would want to employ this coverage and conversely why offenses like to see this coverage. The interesting point is the paradox that exists between both offensive and defensive philosophies. Both camps feel like they win or they have the answers while facing each other. Ultimately he who gets the chalk last wins.

Why Cover 2?

From a defensive perspective, here are the reasons to use Cover 2:

1. It gives defenses the ability to cover down all field zones pre-snap depending on the formation.

2. It gives you a cover down effect so that there are no receivers that are uncovered (for example cover 3 or 1).

3. It gives you good perimeter run support.

4. It gives you the ability to line up on your landmark.

5. It helps to control the short passing game. Most teams are not vertical passing teams.

6. It forces teams into attacking down the field. It forces teams into playing you left handed or out of their comfort zone.

7. In general, the shorter the pass the higher the percentage of completions. It forces them to throw the ball where they don't want to - down the field.

8. It has the ability to give the QB the same pre-snap read. There are many coverages that we can stem into from this shell. Now the offense has to worry about attacking Cover 2 or what appears to be Cover 2. They must be proficient at sight adjustments or they must assume that we are going to roll on each snap. That will limit what they can do to attack the coverage.

9. The ability to disrupt the timing and affect the ability of QBs and receivers to get on the same page is essential. This can be achieved in one of two ways: move the QB and/or disrupt the WRs' stem. Either way the timing is affected.

Cover 2: Personnel Groups

We have broken down Cover 2 against four different personnel groupings: vs. 10, vs.11, vs. 20 and vs. 21. (See Diagram 1).

Diagram 1: Personnel Groups

Vs. 10 Personnel - you can see that offensively they can spread you out and create a mismatch with the number of gaps that a defense has to defend. Offensively they can position up to six blockers to block five defenders (See Diagram 2).

Diagram 2: Vs. 10 Personnel

Vs. 11 Personnel - there are now seven gaps to defend with six defenders to defend them. In addition any time you have a running QB you gain another man (See Diagram 3).

Diagram 3: Vs. 11 Personnel

As you can see there is a recurring theme - offensively they formation us into gaining either a NUMBERS advantage or a GAP advantage. They can achieve this by utilizing different personnel groups and formations. Ultimately you can see why offensive coaches would like to see this coverage.

Vs. 20 Personnel - even if we can get our gaps matched up with the number of defenders, they can build in another blocker and still gain an advantage (See Diagram 4).

Diagram 4: Vs. 20 Personnel

Vs. 21 Personnel - again we get our gaps matched up with the number of defenders. However we have additional blockers that we now have to contend with (See Diagram 5).

Diagram 5: Vs. 21 Personnel

At this point it is pretty easy to see why offensive coaches would like to see two High Safeties. It appears that enough indicators point to the offense having advantages. On the surface this appears to be correct. In this lies the difference between offense and defense. Offensively, they want hat on a hat. Defensively, we feel that if our numbers match up, we can hold up. We would like to get a numbers advantage when possible but ultimately it still comes down to beating somebody at the point of attack, getting off blocks and getting to the football.

Having said this, I think one can see that the coverage has benefits for both offense and defensive perspectives. Ultimately, it will still come down to execution.

Part II and Part III will be available on AFM's web site: www.AmericanFootballMonthly.com

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