This document provides an overview of the Cover 2 defense. It describes the basic alignment of the defense, with cornerbacks and linebackers spaced 6 yards apart. It notes the defense is strong against short routes but vulnerable to floods. The document outlines how the defense covers common route combinations to the strong and weak sides, and how it adjusts if a flood is attempted. It emphasizes that the weak side linebacker controls the balance of the defense and communicates with the cornerback and safety.

1. Defense

2. Introduction
 Important things to know about the Cover 2
Defense:
 Most teams in our league use a basic Cover 2
defense.
 Most QBs in the league are well versed in the
weak spots of a Cover 2 defense.
 Very Flexible defense – can be quickly tailored to
adapt to a particular offensive scheme.

3. Base Play
 4-2 Defense
 Strong vs Short Routes and Patterns
 Side Balanced

4. Cover 2 Base Alignment
 CB’s should align approximately 6 yards
from the sideline.
 LB’s should align approximately 6 yards
from the CBs and each other.

5. Cover 2 Proper Alignment
 These alignment shifts should be subtle, and not
create large gaps in the defense.
 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.

6. Bracketing the Strong man
 Regardless of where the Strong side
WR lines up, the defense creates a
bracket on either side of the Strong Side
WR, and the WR they lineup next to.

7. Front Line Depth
 CBs and LBs align 5-7 yards from the line
of scrimmage.
 CBs and LBs can drop up to 15 yards from
the line of scrimmage - more if necessary.

8. The Balance of a Cover 2
 Most of the time, either the Center or a
Strong Side WR will cross to the Weak
side creating a 1:1 ratio.

9. Weak spots of a Cover 2
 3 general weak spots on the field.
 Susceptible to Floods. When the Center
or Strong Side WR don’t cross run to the
Weak Side, there is an uneven balance
on the Strong Side.

10. Strengths of the Cover 2
 It exploits weaknesses in  Short Yardage Situations
QBs  The Cover 2 allows for 4
 Shorter QBs have trouble constant defenders to play
seeing the middle weak in the front 15 yards
spot. maintaining at worst a 2:3
 The deep outside zones defensive ratio, where
requires the QB to have a Robber and Bandit both
really strong arm, or a lot of evolve to a possible worst
time to throw, to exploit. case 1:2 ratio – One
Defender vs. two
Receivers.

11. Common Weak Side Route
Patterns
 It is likely they will try to stretch the CB
back and run a route underneath him, or
they will try to draw the Safety away
from the sideline, and then throw over
the CB on a double move.

12. Coverage for Common Weak
Side Routes
 The Weak side Safety’s #1 priority is always
the deep sideline threat.
 CBs are taught to always stick with a WR that
is trying to catch them with a double move.
 LB always picks up the most inside WR on the
Weak Side.

13. What if it looks like a flood, but
isn’t?
 The Center runs to the Strong side
appearing to cause a flood, but a Strong
side WR goes back to the weak side
evening out the balance of the field.

14. Coverage for Apparent
Floods
 The Weak side LB controls the
balance, and if the Center goes to the
strong side the LB moves inside until
they find and pickup a crossing WR.

15. Common Strong side Route
Patterns
 Assuming the Center goes to the Weak
side and creates a balanced attack, the
Strong side generally is in some form of
a trips alignment.

16. Coverage for Common Strong
side Route Patterns
 Strong side LB always needs to get good depth on his
drop, and look for a slot or Wideout crossing at mid depth.
 Strong side Safety always has the deepest threat.
 Strong side CB always has a WR on a double move, or a
flats attack once they’ve released their WR to the Safety.

17. What if they flood?
Flood Delayed Flood
 Either the Center going to the Strong
side, or a Weak side WR crossing to the
Strong side, causes a flood (greater
than 1:1 ratio).

18. Cover 2 Flood Coverage
Flood Delayed Flood
 Weak side LB moves inside to provide
support.
 Weak side CB moves inside to provide
support.
 Weak Side Safety picks up the uncovered WR
on the back side of the play.

19. Recap
 Maintain 4-2 alignment, with LBs and CBs still
evenly spaced.
 Front line of defenders need to drop up to 15
yards.
 By design there are 3 holes in a Cover 2, and
its susceptible to flooding.
 The Cover 2 is amazingly flexible, and can
form uniquely to various styles of Offense.
 Weak side LB controls the balance of the play.
 Weak side CB and Safety need to key the
Weak LB so they can adjust coverage
accordingly.