Near the Goal line

Introduction

Important things to know about the Cover 2

defense when near the goal line.

Very similar to Goal line – Man Zone Defense

○ Main Difference: There is no man coverage,

everything is zone.

Susceptible to the Weak Side Fade

Provides good defensive equilibrium while

maintaining in-play flexibility.

Base Play Call

4-2 Defense

Strong vs Short Routes and Patterns

Balanced

Cover 2 with Proper Alignment

LBs and CBs evenly spaced between WRs.

Strong side WRs are bracketed by LB and CB.

Weak Side Safety is aligned inside of the slot WR.

Strong Side Safety is aligned over the top of the slot WR.

Cover 2 Goal line Alignment

Weak Side Safety aligns directly over the center, but slightly behind the LBs as to not congest the middle.

Weak Side LB and CB align inside of their WRs.

Cover 2 Goal Line

Coverage

The Weak Safety controls the balance of

the defense by watching the Center’s

direction and WRs for far-crossing

routes.

Keeping the Balance

If the Safety lines up over the Center

and never lets anyone, including the

Center, outside of them, the defense will

be balanced: 1:1 Defenders to WR ratio.

What if there is a cross in the

middle?

The Weak Side Safety reads the balance, and moves accordingly. If there is a cross, it’s the same as the Center going to the Weak side, and the HB staying on the Strong Side. As long as 1:1 ratio is maintained the defense will be in position to make plays.

What happens if multiple WRs

cross from the Strong Side?

Both Safeties shift.

The Weak side drops back to the weak side, and the Strong side crosses to the middle with the Strong side WR causing the flood.

Recap

Maintain 4-2 alignment, with LBs and CBs still evenly spaced.

Weak Side Safety aligns over the Center.

Weak side Safety controls the balance of the play.

When a Center goes to the Strong side, and another WR crosses to the Weak side, the Weak side Safety’s responsibility is to shift with the crossing WR and maintain a 1:1 defensive ratio.

When multiple WRs cross from the Strong Side, the Safeties shift, and the Weak side Safety covers the Weak side, and the Strong side Safety covers the middle.