How To Beat Cover 2 Defense

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

In today'southward installment of the "NFL 101" series, former NFL defensive back Matt Bowen breaks downward the basics of Cover 2 to give you a better understanding of the game.

Click here for an introduction to the basics of Cover 1.

Cover 2 is a two-deep, five-under zone defense run out of both base of operations and sub-package personnel (dime, nickel) at the pro level.

Past rushing four, and dropping vii into coverage (with eyes on the quarterback), the defense can take away vertical concepts while forcing the ball underneath to the flat or check-downwards selection.

In the NFL, the Tampa ii scheme is the nigh mutual two-deep beat nosotros meet on Sundays with the Mike 'backer running the inside vertical seam to requite the defense a three-deep look.

Today, nosotros will introduce the basics of Cover 2 with a focus on the landmarks, zone drops and techniques that are vital to producing results—and limiting explosive plays.

Using the All-22 coaches tape, let'southward take a look at Tampa 2, Ruby-red 2 and Green ii while besides breaking downward the top Embrace ii beaters and discussing some important keys for the safeties in their initial run/pass reads.

Tampa 2

To get a better experience for Tampa 2, let's look at a pre-snap example from the Bears-Steelers matchup this by season and break down the dorsum vii of the defense.

The Bears are in their base iv-three front versus the Steelers Ace/12 personnel (2WR-2TE-1RB) in a Unit Wing alignment.

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- In Cover 2, both safeties (free/strong) are responsible for the deep halves of the field and fill the "alley" (between cornerback and edge of formation) versus the run game. They marshal at a depth of 15 yards and work to 18 yards at the snap with the peak of the numbers as their zone landmark. The safeties read the release of the No. i wide receiver for their run/pass key and play "top-down" while overlapping any throw to the deep middle of the field.

- The cornerbacks align in printing and jam the No. one receivers at the snap to forcefulness an inside release. This is crucial to prevent an exterior release, as that will widen the safeties off their landmarks and open up the eye of the field. After the jam, both cornerbacks sink hard at a 45-degree angle to protect/cushion the safeties on a possible 9 route or 7 (corner) route while reacting to any throw in the flat.

- To create that "three-deep" wait, the Mike 'backer runs the inside vertical seam. He volition open his hips to the passing strength (two-tight end side in this example) and carry/match the seam route down the center of the field. The Mike has to show the athleticism and hip flexibility in Tampa 2 to redirect if the quarterback comes back to the open (weak) side of the formation.

- The two outside linebackers (Sam/Will 'backers) are the "seam-hook" defenders. They sink to a depth of 10 to 12 yards between the numbers and hash marks to absorber the within vertical seam and react to any throw underneath. Both linebackers read the quarterback one time they get to their zone landmarks and "cheat" to the throw (drive to opposite hash to step into throwing lanes).

- With any zone coverage, the front-four rush is vital to the success of the defense. If you requite an NFL quarterback fourth dimension in the pocket, he tin can light upward two-deep coverage. However, when you accept a front-four rush that gets home—plus seven defenders dropping into coverage with their eyes on the quarterback—Embrace ii is a scheme that volition limit the offense's ability to produce explosive plays.

Tampa 2 vs. Slot Germination

Permit'southward accept a quick await at Tampa 2 versus a slot formation to focus on the cornerback and the stiff condom aligned to the tight end side.

Here's an example from the Cowboys-Chiefs matchup with Kansas Metropolis showing a slot germination to the open side of the field.

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- In Cover 1 (man-complimentary), the cornerbacks "travel" versus a slot formation and match to their coverage. Withal, in Cover 2, the cornerbacks stay to the closed (strong) side of the formation. And considering of that, the cornerback becomes the "primary" edge-back up player versus the run game. That means they have to take on the fullback or pulling guard and ready/restrict the edge of the defence. If they read pass, the cornerback sinks and protects the safety versus a possible 7 route from the tight end while reacting to any throw in the apartment.

- Check out the strong prophylactic. Instead of dropping to the top of the numbers landmark (as we see from the gratis rubber to the open side of the germination), he will drop inside of the tight finish (safety always aligns/drops within of the No. one receiver). And versus the run game, the stiff safety fills to the closed side "C" gap.

- If a defense is going to play Cover 2 in early down and altitude situations, it is important to find cornerbacks who are willing to tackle, fill and defend the edge when the criminal offense aligns in a slot germination. That's not easy piece of work when an offensive guard pulls to kicking out the cornerback. Fourth dimension to get low, play with leverage and restrict that running lane.

Red 2

Once the brawl moves into the deep red zone (plus-xv-k line), Tampa 2 turns into Red 2 with the safeties and cornerbacks adjusting their technique to account for the short field and reduced throwing lanes.

Using an instance from the Cowboys-Broncos matchup, let's focus on the cornerbacks and the safeties.

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- In Red 2, the defence is creating a "five across" expect to protect the goal line using the two-deep one-half safeties, the Mike 'capitalist and the two cornerbacks with the nickel/Will 'backer playing the seam-claw drops.

- Both cornerbacks play with a "soft squat" technique. Instead of jamming the receiver on the release, the cornerbacks open and sink with a zone technique (back to the sideline) to behave the outside fade route (plays out like Quarters technique) while reacting to the flat.

- The safeties play with a "flat-human foot read" technique. With limited room to work and a reduced field, there is no demand for the safeties to backpedal. They will flat-foot read/shuffle through their run/pass keys and drive "acme-down" on whatsoever 3-step route (camber, flat) and utilise the end-line (back of the stop zone) as their help versus the dig/mail service.

- The Mike 'backer volition again open to the passing strength (three-broad receiver side in this instance) and match quickly to the inside vertical seam. This is where we see NFL offenses occupy the safeties and create a one-on-one matchup inside with the tight end versus the Mike 'backer.

- The two seam-hook defenders (nickel/Will 'backer) shorten their drops and read the quarterback. They must widen versus No. ii on the flat and absorber whatever intermediate throw that can threaten the safeties.

Light-green 2

In 3rd-and-11-plus situations, the defense can play Green 2 to put a tent on top of the defense, protect the sticks and strength the quarterback to take the checkdown.

Hither's an case of the Panthers' Dark-green 2 versus the 49ers in a 3rd-and-11-plus situation from last flavour's matchup at Candlestick Park.

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

- Instead of aligning at fifteen yards, the safeties will go to 18 before the snap and increase their depth to be in a position to drive "top-downwards" on any vertical concept.

- The Mike 'backer adjusts his alignment and volition get to a pre-snap depth of 10 to 12 yards to play the within vertical seam. This creates that true "three-deep" coverage and eliminates a throw down the heart of the field.

- Both cornerbacks will once again jam and sink versus No. ane. However, they will play this almost as a "trail-homo" technique down the field and react late to the flat road to cushion the 9 or vii.

- When playing Green 2, the defence force volition surrender the flat/check-down voluntarily to protect the sticks and become off the field on third down.

Defending the Top Cover 2 Beaters

Four Verticals, Flat-7 and the deep dig are the height Cover 2 beaters NFL defenses encounter every calendar week as the opposing offense looks to attack the peak of the secondary and set some bait underneath to open up throwing windows.

Let'south cheque them out…

Iv Verticals

Four verticals consists of two exterior 9 routes and two inside seam routes. The offense wants to put stress on the two-deep half safeties and work the Mike 'capitalist in the middle of the field to expose the holes in Cover 2.

Using an case from the Jaguars-Broncos matchup, here'due south a wait at Denver'due south 4 Verticals out of Posse/eleven personnel in a 2x2 Doubles formation.

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With the Jaguars showing two-deep, Peyton Manning wants to get the matchup of the inside seam routes (Wes Welker, Julius Thomas) versus Mike 'backer Paul Posluszny.

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Both safeties are at the proper depth, foursquare to the quarterback and on tiptop of their landmarks (top of the numbers). That puts them in a position to drive downhill on the ix route or the seam.

Check out the cornerbacks. Fifty-fifty though they permit an outside release, the cornerbacks sink with the 9 routes (protect the safeties). And with the nickel/Will 'backer cushioning the inside seam routes, Posluszny can proceeds depth to read Manning.

Now that the throwing lanes are reduced, the Jaguars' Mike 'backer can match to Welker on the within seam and drive on the throw to intercept this brawl.

Apartment-7

The Flat-7 is one of the most common Encompass ii beaters because information technology allows the offense to set the bait for the cornerback (apartment route) while opening up a deep hole to target the vii road.

Hither'southward a await at the Flat-vii from the Cowboys-Lions matchup with Calvin Johnson aligned as the No. 1 receiver to the airtight side of the formation out of a 2x2 Doubles alignment with Posse/11 personnel on the field.

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From a "plus-split" alignment (two to three yards on top of the numbers), Johnson takes a hard inside stem (create room for the seven road) before pushing upward the field vertically to stalk to the corner. Underneath, the Lions send the tight end to the flat (bait).

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

What went wrong for the Cowboys? Allow's beginning with the closed-side cornerback.

Instead of sinking difficult at a 45-degree angle to protect the safety on the seven cutting, he squats and takes the bait of the underneath flat route. Retrieve, play deep to brusk at cornerback and only react to the flat once the seven route is eliminated.

Now look at the rubber. He is 30 yards off the brawl. I tin can understand the increased depth due to the threat of Johnson (I used to be off the screen versus Randy Moss). Withal, this rubber is then deep that he increases the already large throwing window for quarterback Matthew Stafford to target Johnson for an explosive gain.

A road that should take resulted in Stafford dumping the ball to the tight end in the flat turns into a completed pass down the field because of poor subject and technique from the Cowboys defense force.

Deep Dig (Square-In)

NFL offenses will run the deep dig out of the Dagger and Sucker concepts (clear-out seam, dig combo) to remove the Mike' backer, set some allurement for the nickel and target the deep, inside breaking cut for a positive gain.

Hither's an example of the Sucker route the Ravens ran this past season versus the Lions to movement the sticks in a crucial game situation.

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

By removing the Mike 'backer on the seam (and forcing the nickel to take the bait versus the underneath curl), Joe Flacco targeted Jacoby Jones on the deep dig road in front of the stiff safe.

Withal, defenses can eliminate the dig route if the nickel plays with discipline and gains depth while reading the quarterback, as the Panthers did versus Geno Smith and the Jets.

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

With the safety in a position to drive top-down on the throw (and the cornerback sinking to protect versus a possible 7 cutting), the nickel ignores the bait underneath (flat route) and drops directly into the throwing lane. This results in an interception, and Smith forces this brawl into coverage instead of taking the flat route.

The Embrace 2 "Cheat Sheet"

Earlier we wrap upwards this Comprehend 2 breakup, I wanted to give you my "cheat sail." A simple guide that every safety should follow in the deep half when identifying run/pass keys and wide receiver stems.

Credit: Matt Bowen/Bleacher Written report

- With the receiver in a "plus-two" split, an outside release equals i of two routes: fade or comeback. That'south information technology. Considering of the restrictions the sideline puts on the receiver, there isn't plenty room to run outside breaking concepts such every bit the deep out or 7.

- An within release to a vertical stalk (superlative of the numbers) tells the condom to play for the dig, vii and a possible post.

- A apartment, inside release is the three-step game (slant) or the shallow drive road.

- If the broad receiver blocks, the safety gets his optics dorsum inside to fill the alley as a "secondary" run-support player.

- This is just a quick guide to use the next time you watch film. However, it reminds us that the No. one receiver reads similar an open book if the safety plays with eye discipline when identifying the initial stem and run/pass keys.

7-yr NFL veteran Matt Bowen is an NFL National Lead Writer for Bleacher Study.

Follow @MattBowen41

Source: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2039934-nfl-101-introducing-the-basics-of-cover-2

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