Basics of the Secondary for the Armchair Quarterback Part 2
written by osugrad21 (6/20/2004)
Secondary play is a game of choosing your poison and knowing your personnel. Certain coverages, as covered in Part 1 of this blog, are successful for some teams, but not as productive for others. The following is a breakdown of strengths and weaknesses for each of the base coverages discussed in Part 1. Again, this is the vanilla variety of basic secondary play without various combination coverages or schemed responsibilities according to defensive audibles.
Cover 1
Cover 1 is commonly used in the redzone, but it is also used as a base blitz coverage. Cover 1 provides tight coverage, usually bump and run where the cornerbacks will engage the receiver at the line to disrupt timing. This disruption can allow time for a blitz to reach the quarterback or cause a bad throw. Also, Cover 1 brings the strong safety closer to the LOS which will help in run support situations. As mentioned before, Cover 1 also allows multiple blitz options as long as the defense is aware of assignment changes due to the blitz. For instance, if the will linebacker was "hot," the mike linebacker must realize that he is responsible for back out on his side.
The weakness in Cover 1 lies in the fact that there is no help for a beaten defender. Crossing routes and pick routes (where the receivers intentionally run into defensive backs to throw them off the coverage) cause major problems for a secondary when the quarterback has time to throw. Also, given the fact that there is no help inside, the corners must play inside position to take away quick slants. This opens up the quick out routes for the receiver. Finally, playaction passes are the worst enemy of Cover 1 if the quarterback has proper time. This is where you will see receivers running the double-move routes--out & up, post-corner, etc. If the blitz does not reach the QB and the DB bites on the route, the result is disaster for the defense.
Cover 2
Cover 2 also can incorporate the bump and run technique as the corners are not responsible for any deep coverage. This works as a strength for Cover 2 as the jam will allow the safeties to read the number 2 receiver, tight end or slot, to get a better read on the play. Also, the combination of five defenders underneath limits any crossing routes by the receivers. Also, the corners can gamble on quick out routes or anything else in the flats with confidence that help from the safety is directly behind them.
The weakness of Cover 2 lies in the deep coverage. This is especially true in the deep middle third (between the hashes) and also in the fade zone (behind the flats along the sideline). A tight end streaking between the hashes is usually open in cover 2. A safety facing multiple vertical routes, say a TE and WR on the fly, must split the difference between the two while continuing to gain depth. Knowing that the ball must travel a long distance in the air, an athletic and well-positioned safety should be able to get over to make the play. Cover 2 also removes the Strong Safety from the box due to his deep responsibility. Since he absolutely cannot bite on any playaction, this leaves the off-tackle areas susceptible to the run. Also, the field side curl zone will be a good amount of grass to cover for the linebacker in pass defense.
Cover 3
Cover 3 gives the secondary three deep defenders and many options on the blitz. The Strong Safety is again lined up in the box and responsible for the flats to his side. This is a huge factor in run support and blitz options. The three deep secondary allows the corners opportunity to gamble as the Free Safety is available for help over the top.
Cover 3 also leaves a few soft spots however. The weakside curl/flat zone is susceptible as the Will has flats responsibilty. Also, flood routes, combo routes, and square-in routes can wreak havoc on safeties and corners when either one bites on a dummy route only to get beat over the top. For instance, in a slot or twin set with two receivers to one side, if the outside receiver runs a stop route at 8-10 yds and the slot or inside receiver runs the wheel route (basically a fly where he cuts off of the outside receivers outside hip and flies), if the corner bites on the stop route, the safety cannot possibly get over the top fast enough to break up the long gain. There are numerous combo routes such as these that cause headaches for the secondary. Also, the deep square-in routes tempt a safety to step up on the route while a backside post pattern is waiting to burn him deep.
Cover 4
Cover 4 divides the field into quarters which allows for more aggressive play in the secondary. The playside safety can play the run more aggressively knowing that the backside safety is still deep in case of emergency. Also, Cover 4 allows for double coverage on outside receivers in a typical Pro-Set. Finally, the Corners can once again play aggressively on any quick routes as the help is available over the top.
Weaknesses for Cover 4 lie in flat coverage. With four deep defenders, the three linebackers are responsible for a large amount of the field underneath. Also, since the safeties are playing the run aggressively, the playaction pass can cause major problems if the safety is caught out of position and multiple vertical routes are called. Finally, the double coverage scheme can be nullified by having the #2 receiver, TE or Slot, attack the coverage of the safety. This will isolate a corner into man to man coverage.
Cover 5
Cover 5's strengths and weaknesses are identical to Cover 1's except that there is help over the top from the Free Safety. This allows the corners to play more aggressively on the edges and also to nullify the quick out routes. However, since it is still essentially a man coverage, this scheme is still susceptible to crossing/pick routes and play action.
written by osugrad21 (6/20/2004)
Secondary play is a game of choosing your poison and knowing your personnel. Certain coverages, as covered in Part 1 of this blog, are successful for some teams, but not as productive for others. The following is a breakdown of strengths and weaknesses for each of the base coverages discussed in Part 1. Again, this is the vanilla variety of basic secondary play without various combination coverages or schemed responsibilities according to defensive audibles.
Cover 1
Cover 1 is commonly used in the redzone, but it is also used as a base blitz coverage. Cover 1 provides tight coverage, usually bump and run where the cornerbacks will engage the receiver at the line to disrupt timing. This disruption can allow time for a blitz to reach the quarterback or cause a bad throw. Also, Cover 1 brings the strong safety closer to the LOS which will help in run support situations. As mentioned before, Cover 1 also allows multiple blitz options as long as the defense is aware of assignment changes due to the blitz. For instance, if the will linebacker was "hot," the mike linebacker must realize that he is responsible for back out on his side.
The weakness in Cover 1 lies in the fact that there is no help for a beaten defender. Crossing routes and pick routes (where the receivers intentionally run into defensive backs to throw them off the coverage) cause major problems for a secondary when the quarterback has time to throw. Also, given the fact that there is no help inside, the corners must play inside position to take away quick slants. This opens up the quick out routes for the receiver. Finally, playaction passes are the worst enemy of Cover 1 if the quarterback has proper time. This is where you will see receivers running the double-move routes--out & up, post-corner, etc. If the blitz does not reach the QB and the DB bites on the route, the result is disaster for the defense.
Cover 2
Cover 2 also can incorporate the bump and run technique as the corners are not responsible for any deep coverage. This works as a strength for Cover 2 as the jam will allow the safeties to read the number 2 receiver, tight end or slot, to get a better read on the play. Also, the combination of five defenders underneath limits any crossing routes by the receivers. Also, the corners can gamble on quick out routes or anything else in the flats with confidence that help from the safety is directly behind them.
The weakness of Cover 2 lies in the deep coverage. This is especially true in the deep middle third (between the hashes) and also in the fade zone (behind the flats along the sideline). A tight end streaking between the hashes is usually open in cover 2. A safety facing multiple vertical routes, say a TE and WR on the fly, must split the difference between the two while continuing to gain depth. Knowing that the ball must travel a long distance in the air, an athletic and well-positioned safety should be able to get over to make the play. Cover 2 also removes the Strong Safety from the box due to his deep responsibility. Since he absolutely cannot bite on any playaction, this leaves the off-tackle areas susceptible to the run. Also, the field side curl zone will be a good amount of grass to cover for the linebacker in pass defense.
Cover 3
Cover 3 gives the secondary three deep defenders and many options on the blitz. The Strong Safety is again lined up in the box and responsible for the flats to his side. This is a huge factor in run support and blitz options. The three deep secondary allows the corners opportunity to gamble as the Free Safety is available for help over the top.
Cover 3 also leaves a few soft spots however. The weakside curl/flat zone is susceptible as the Will has flats responsibilty. Also, flood routes, combo routes, and square-in routes can wreak havoc on safeties and corners when either one bites on a dummy route only to get beat over the top. For instance, in a slot or twin set with two receivers to one side, if the outside receiver runs a stop route at 8-10 yds and the slot or inside receiver runs the wheel route (basically a fly where he cuts off of the outside receivers outside hip and flies), if the corner bites on the stop route, the safety cannot possibly get over the top fast enough to break up the long gain. There are numerous combo routes such as these that cause headaches for the secondary. Also, the deep square-in routes tempt a safety to step up on the route while a backside post pattern is waiting to burn him deep.
Cover 4
Cover 4 divides the field into quarters which allows for more aggressive play in the secondary. The playside safety can play the run more aggressively knowing that the backside safety is still deep in case of emergency. Also, Cover 4 allows for double coverage on outside receivers in a typical Pro-Set. Finally, the Corners can once again play aggressively on any quick routes as the help is available over the top.
Weaknesses for Cover 4 lie in flat coverage. With four deep defenders, the three linebackers are responsible for a large amount of the field underneath. Also, since the safeties are playing the run aggressively, the playaction pass can cause major problems if the safety is caught out of position and multiple vertical routes are called. Finally, the double coverage scheme can be nullified by having the #2 receiver, TE or Slot, attack the coverage of the safety. This will isolate a corner into man to man coverage.
Cover 5
Cover 5's strengths and weaknesses are identical to Cover 1's except that there is help over the top from the Free Safety. This allows the corners to play more aggressively on the edges and also to nullify the quick out routes. However, since it is still essentially a man coverage, this scheme is still susceptible to crossing/pick routes and play action.