Cover2

Cover 2 is the third type of defense with two safeties covering one deep half of field width.

It has more advantages compared to Cover1 because the defenders share the coverage responsibilities. They need to have skills of re-routing, tackling and stout defenders to play deep.

This scheme includes two safeties – the free and strong (FS and SS). The other participant here is also a middle linebacker whose task is coverage of underneath zone. But some teams prefer to use a hybrid of our topic and Cover3 tactics called Tampa-2 in honor of Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The middle linebacker here guards the middle quarter of the field between hash marks while safeties responsible for zone outside them. It must prevent the clearing play side for receivers taking part in dagger offensive combination.

Cover2 sometimes may seem very ineffective. That’s connected with honey holes – the areas left without coverage in this case. That’s why it must combine with other defensive technics.

The cover2 scheme starts in the 3-4 and the 4-3 formations. The traditional formula is “bed-but-not-break”. Some underneath defenders have a good position to drive on the short route for disrupting the route or get a quick tackle.