Cover 2 defense diagram
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Two safeties each take a deep half and five defenders play the short zones. Strong against short passes, weak deep down the middle.
When to call Cover 2 defense
Play it against teams that live on hitches, slants, flats and crossing routes.
Get out of it when the quarterback can throw deep down the middle or to the corner. Two safeties cannot cover four deep routes, and Cover 3 is safer on long-yardage downs.
Cover 2 defense: each defender's job
Left cornerback
Line up over X, about 5 yards off, and cover the left flat. On the diagram you sit on X's hitch.
Right cornerback
Take the right flat. When Z runs a go, run with him for a few steps, pass him to the safety and come back for F.
Outside linebackers
Two players, one on each side between the cornerback and the middle. Drop to 6 or 7 yards and watch for slots breaking in or out.
Middle linebacker
Drop straight back 7 yards over the ball. You have the center's hitch and any route crossing the middle, like Y's in route.
Left safety
Start 12 to 14 yards deep on the left hash and let nothing get behind you. On the diagram, H's corner route is yours.
Right safety
Play the same depth on the right hash. Z's go route is yours once the cornerback lets him go.
What the defense watches
Underneath defenders watch the quarterback's eyes and break on the throw. Cornerbacks stay outside and low, and the three linebackers take away the middle.
Safeties watch the slots, who can split the two halves or break to the corner. If the corner route keeps hitting, widen the safeties two steps. If the deep middle is the problem, drop the middle linebacker deeper or switch to Cover 3.
How to teach Cover 2 defense at practice
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Mark the seven zones with cones and stand each defender in his spot.
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Send one receiver at a time through the zones. Defenders call out when he enters and leaves their area.
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Run a full offense against it, starting with short routes and then adding the corner route and deep middle throws.
Common mistakes
- Safeties creep up to help on short passes and get beat over the top. Their rule is to stay deeper than the deepest receiver.
- Cornerbacks run all the way down the field with the outside receiver, and that leaves the flat empty. They hand him off to the safety at about 10 yards.
- Underneath defenders chase one receiver across the field like man coverage. They pass him to the next zone.
Cover 2 defense FAQ
What beats Cover 2 in 7 on 7 flag football?
The smash concept is the usual answer. A hitch holds the cornerback low and the corner route lands behind him and outside the safety. Four verticals also stresses the two safeties.
Is Cover 2 or Cover 3 better for youth flag?
Cover 2 is better against short passing teams and Cover 3 is better against the deep ball. Many coaches use one as the base and the other as a change-up.
How deep should the safeties play?
Start them 12 to 14 yards off the line, each one on a hash.
Plays on this site drawn against Cover 2 defense: Smash.
More plays: all 7v7 flag football plays, flag football defenses. Draw your own in the flag football play designer.