Defense - Coverages

Question 1

Cover 0

Answer 1

Zero deep defenders; entirely man-to-man coverage shell involving heavy pass rush; also known as “zero blitz”

Question 2

Cover 1

Answer 2

Man-to-man with one free safety in a deep zone in middle of field; corners and underneath defenders play man

Question 3

Cover 2

Answer 3

Zone defense with two deep safeties each occupying one deep half of the field; with a four-man pass rush, that leaves 5 defenders, typically CB’s & LB’s to divide underneath area into zones

Question 4

Cover 2 Man

Answer 4

Also known as “Cover 5”, 2 safeties split the deep part of the field (as in Cover 2), but the 5 underneath defenders (CB’s & LB’s) match up in man coverage

Question 5

Cover 3

Answer 5

Zone defense where 3 DB’s - typically 2 outside CB’s & free safety - divide deep portion of the field into thirds with four defenders underneath

Question 6

Cover 4

Answer 6

Coverage shell with four deep defenders; CB’s cover the outside deep zones while the safeties handle the deep zones in the middle; CB’s effectively play man concepts

Question 7

Quarter-Quarter Half

Answer 7

Three-deep zone defense where coverage areas are not symmetrically divided; 1 DB (usually safety) patrols half the field deep, as in Cover 2, while 2 more DB’s split the other half of the field as in Cover 4

Question 8

Banjo Coverage

Answer 8

Switch technique used by defenses to counter situations that are difficult for one player to defend; used when defending stacked or bunch formations; used when avoiding getting “picked” on crossing routes

Question 9

Boundary Corner

Answer 9

CB who routinely lines up on the boundary, or shorter side of the field; more significant at NCAA level with wider hash marks

Question 10

Tampa 2

Answer 10

Variant of Cover 2 asking MLB to cover deep middle area of field