SECONDARY TECHNIQUES FOR MULTIPLE COVER 2 ADJUSTMENTS

Michael Harrison
Defensive Backs Coach
McKendree University

McKendree University has had success being primarily a Cover 2 team defensively. However, nowadays
quarterbacks at all levels can read defenses and know where to deliver the ball when they recognize a
standard Cover 2 zone. Therefore we use variations and adjustments to stay in our Cover 2 type zone
scheme.

As a coordinator it is necessary to establish a philosophy then build the base defense around that
philosophy. McKendree’s philosophy is to put our athletes in the position to play fast and to make plays.
In our Cover 2 package, the “Base” technique is taught with the goal of getting our players in the correct
position to make a play in any situation.

In our Cover 2 packages our OLB are hook to curl players. They are heavy run players and are not
expected to carry the #2 receiver vertically. Their primary pass responsibility is to wall the # 2 receiver
outside to the hook area, then level with any receiver that crosses his face to the flat (DIAGRAM 1).
Depending on the down and distance, our LBs understand how involved they must be with our zone
coverages.

DIAGRAM 1: OLB Wall Hook & Level

In our “Base” Cover 2 adjustment the corners align 7-9 yards deep with outside leverage on the #1
receiver and the safeties align 12 – 14 yards deep and 2-3 yards near or on the hash marks. On the snap
of the ball, the corners and safeties initially have to give ground to get their reads. Both the corners and
safeties read the #2 receiver to their side. This is the most important concept for our defensive backs to
understand and they must master this concept before we can install our other adjustments.

As a safety, if the #2 receiver runs any type of vertical route (post, seam, corner, etc.) the safety must
take him. If the #2 receiver does not go vertical the safety gets off the hash marks and finds the #1
receiver. The corner has similar reads to the safety. If the #2 receiver goes vertical the corner must get
a jam on the #1 receiver forcing him inside then trail the #1 receiver with inside leverage to take away
the throwing lane of the QB to the #1 receiver (DIAGRAM 2). If the #2 receiver does not go vertical, the
corner jams the #1 receiver forcing him inside then plays the first threat to his flat. If the #2 receiver is
releasing to the flat it is easy for the corner to take him. If the #2 receiver goes away the corner must
squeeze the flat area down to shorten the flat area for a receiver crossing the field or a back releasing
from the backfield (DIAGRAM 2).

DIAGRAM 2: Verts and Under vs. Base Technique

We call this technique our “Base” technique. It is essential that the corner and safety get the same read
from the #2 receiver and are on the same page. If not, you may have a receiver running down the
middle of the field wide open. The way we prevent this is by asking the safety to communicate the
route of the #2 receiver and the corner to communicate the route of the #1 receiver. There are 5 reads
that our entire defense uses to communicate the area of the field the receivers are running to: 1. Out –
any route to the flats area; 2. Up – any vertical route up the field; 3. In – any route to the middle of the
field safeties(post, seam); 4. Under – any route under the Linebackers; 5. Crosser – any route behind the
Linebackers. Each of our defenders uses these calls to communicate his read to the rest of the defense
and each defender is taught how to react when they hear each call. The corner knows if he hears an
“Up” call from the safety describing the route of the #2 receiver then the safety will stay with the #2
receiver and the corner must trail the #1 receiver vertical. If he hears any other call from the safety he
can be more physical with his jam on the #1 receiver inside and then let him go.

If we are having an issue with vertical routes or really want to prevent the deep pass we will play our
“Loose” Cover 2 package. In our “Loose” package there are two adjustments in the defensive
secondary. First, our safeties deepen to 15-17 yards from the line of scrimmage and are flat footed on
the snap of the ball. They are not expected to help on the run much when this adjustment is called. The
second adjustment is the most important. The adjustment is the difference in technique by the corner
against the double vertical route combination. In our “Loose” package the corner gives ground to stay
on top of the #1 receiver vertically. If the corner hears and “Up” call from the safety reading the #2
receiver, he continues in his backpedal or shuffle staying on top of the #1 receiver until either of the
receivers breaks off their route (DIAGRAM 3). This coverage is very effective versus the 4 vertical route
combination because it turns into a 4 deep coverage forcing the quarterback to hold the ball and forcing
the offense to throw to the short underneath receivers. Against any route combination other than
double verticals, the corner plays his “Base” Cover 2 technique.
DIAGRAM 3: 4 Verticals vs. Loose Technique

The third adjustment that we use as a mix up is the more traditional version of Cover 2. We call this
adjustment “Hard” and we use it to take away the quick game and short throws by the offense. When
we go to our “Hard” adjustment our safeties have to get 1-2 yards wider than their normal alignment.
Our corners become heavy flat players and do not give ground. They are responsible for getting a
physical jam on the # 1 receiver and taking away all vertical releases by the # 1 receiver. The safety can
read the #2 receiver longer than he normally does realizing the corner will not release the # 1 receiver
vertically. The corner listens for the route of the #2 receiver from the safety. Similar to his technique in
our other adjustments, if the #2 receiver releases vertical the safety takes him and the corner is
responsible for the #1 receiver. We tell the corner he must do whatever he has to do to not let the #1
receiver vertical. If the #1 receiver gets off the jam of the corner and attempts to go vertical, the corner
will get in an inside trail position to cut off the throwing lane of the quarterback similar to his technique
in our “Base” adjustment. Versus either an inside or outside release from the #2 receiver the corner is
only responsible for getting a hand on the #1 receiver to slow him down before jumping the route to the
flat. We call this adjustment “Hard” because the corner is more physical with his technique against the
#1 receiver and more aggressive against any quick route to the flats. Because this coverage is less
effective against vertical threats we will only use it as a variation when we want to be aggressive versus
short underneath routes.

DIAGRAM 4: 4 Verticals vs. Hard Technique

To perfect all of our Cover 2 adjustments against all of the various route combinations an offense could
run we use a Deep ½ Drill going through all of the adjustments. To run this drill we have two receivers
run several different route combinations while we give the two defensive backs the down and distance
 and they call the correct Cover 2 adjustment. A few different combinations we make sure the defensive
backs see on a daily basis are the double vertical route (DIAGRAM 5), the smash route (DIAGRAM 6), and
the curl-out combination route (DIAGRAM 7). We make sure the defensive backs practice all of the
Cover 2 adjustments versus these route combinations.

DIAGRAM 5: Double Verts vs. Base DIAGRAM 6: Smash Route vs. Base DIAGRAM 7: Curl – Out Combo vs. Base