JIM CANTAFIO Director of Susquehanna Valley Sports 717-468-7185 SVSSPORTS.COM Game Plan vs. Cover 0-1-2-3 vs. Cover – 0 Cover – 1 Cover – 2 Cover – 3 Keep it Simple! COVERAGES • One of the most important things a good passing quarterback needs to know is how to read coverage's. But it is also one of the most under taught parts of high school football. • The first thing you have to learn is the different types of coverage's. 5 Basic Coverages 0 – Man – Man by all defensive backs No FS 1 – Free Man - Man by both corners and SS but the FS is playing zone 2 – Two Deep Zone –Safety’s on the hash and corners are 5 to 10 yards deep in zone 5 Basic Coverages 2 Man – Two deep zone by the safeties and man on the corners 3 – Three Deep Zone – Both corners and free safety are deep. BOX D.E.L. • • • • Men in box Depth of corners Eyes of the defensive backs Leverage of defensive backs The box is Tackle to Tackle from 10 yds. Past the LOS and back. The box can shift right or left depending on the middle of the field or the hashes. BOX 10 yds 10 yds QB READ THE BOX • If there is a safety in the box the defense is either 3-Deep or Man Free. • If there is no safety in the box the defense is either Two Deep or Man. DEPTH OF CORNERS • Check the depth of the corners • If the corners are 8 or more yards deep there coverage is most likely a type of zone, but if they are up tight it is most likely that they are in a type of man coverage. EYES OF DEF. BACKS • If the defensive backs have their eyes on the receiver then you know they are in some type of man coverage. • If their eyes are on the quarterback you know it is a type of zone. LEVERAGE OF DEF. BACKS • An outside leverage by the defensive backs on a receiver points to zone coverage. • An inside or head-up leverage points to man. Cover 3 - Zone COVER 3 – THREE DEEP FS C C STRENGTHS: •3-Deep Secondary SS B •Run Support WEAKNESS: •Curl Flat Area •Flood Routs •Four Verticals •Middle of the Field Short Game QB Routes vs. Cover – 3 Can be called in huddle or on the L.O.S. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 3 Step Passing Game Bubble Screen Verticals Curl – Flat Combination Sprint out Game 3 Step – Create 2 on 1 vs. Cover - 3 FS C C 5 yds 5 yds H B D QB •Quick out- Hitch Combo •You have a 2 on 1 strong and weak R vs. Cover - 3 FS C C 5 yds H B D QB All Hitch Combo •You have A 2 on 1 Strong R 5 yds vs. Cover - 3 FS C C H B D QB Bubble Screen •Read R or H •Crack on Base R vs. Cover - 3 FS C C H verticals •Read FS •2 on 1 vs. FS •Use multiple formations •Automatic call when ball is in the middle of field B D QB R vs. Cover - 3 FS 12 yds C C 8 yds H B QB Curl – Flat Combo •Read Strong or weak for 2 on 1 D R 5 yds vs. Cover - 3 FS C 12 C 10 10 yds R 5yds H D B QB Sprint out, Comeback – Flag Combo Read R. for Comeback or Flag sit down COVER 2 – TWO DEEP FS SS C C STRENGTHS: •Five underneath coverage playing zone B •Ability to disrupt release of outside rec. •Flat Coverage WEAKNESS: •Deep coverage vs Fade & Deep Middle •Run support vs. Run 5 in the box. •Back Coverage QB Cover 2 - Zone Cover 2 - Man vs. Cover - 2 FS C H D B QB Fade •Read Safety on the hash R C vs. Cover - 2 22 yds FS C 10 yds H 5 yds D Smash •With RB up the seam or without •Read safety on the hash B QB R C vs. Cover - 2 FS C 15 yds 15 yds D H B QB HI- LO •Read rolled up CB for Flat or Deep out •vs. man – look to RB R C vs. Cover - 2 FS C B H D QB Zig-Zag with motion •Read rolled up CB for Zig-Zag or flair • vs. man – RB is a good choice R C vs. Cover - 2 FS C Rub B H D QB Cross - Wheel •Read under to Dig •Catch FS Jumping Dig – you got wheel R C COVER 1 – FREE MAN FS SS STRENGTHS: •Help in middle of field •Tight Coverage •Pass Rush WEAKNESS: •No Underneath Help •Crossing Routes •Pick Routes •Breaking Routes •Play Action Pass B C C QB Cover 1 – Man Free vs. Cover 1 - Man Free FS C H D B QB 1. 3 Step Game 2. Verticals 3. Crossing Routes 4. Sprint-out Comeback - Flag R C 0 COVERAGE - MAN STRENGTHS: SS •Pass Rush - Pressure Defense •Can Rush 6 – Blitz Package •Tight Coverage C FS B C WEAKNESS: •No Underneath Help •Crossing Routes •Pick Routes •Breaking Routes •No one in middle of field – Deep Post QB 0 - Man Cover 0 – Man Full Blitz inside or outside 0 – Man Outside Pressure 1. 3 Step game 2. Quick Running Game 0 – Man Inside Pressure 1. Sprint – Out Game 2. 3 Step Game – Protect A-Gap out Start from a base package on how to read and attack coverages……. And You Will Be Successful! THE END JIM CANTAFIO Director of Susquehanna Valley Sports 717-468-7185 SVSSPORTS.COM