Josh Herring Colbert Heights Wildcat Football Tuscumbia, Alabama QB Coverage Recognition
Basic Principles Things to look for: Number of safeties Depth of cornerbacks Alignment of corners and safeties Eyes of the cornerbacks
Basic Principles Number of safeties: If there is  one  deep safety, it is most likely Cover One or Cover Three If there are  two  deep safeties, the coverage is most likely Cover Two or Cover Four. If there are  no  deep safeties the coverage is most likely Cover Zero.
Basic Principles Depth of cornerbacks: If the corners are 7 or more yards deep, it is most likely  zone coverage. If the corners are less than 7 yards deep, it is most likely man coverage.
Basic Principles Alignment of cornerbacks: If the corners are outside the receiver, it is most likely zone coverage. If the corners are head up or inside the receiver, it is most likely man coverage.
Basic Principles Eyes of the cornerbacks: If the corner’s eyes are looking at you, it is most likely zone coverage. If the corners eyes are on the receiver, it is most likely man coverage.
Cover Three Both corners and the free safety are deep with zone underneath Weaknesses: Seams Flats Curl zone free safety can’t cover two men (97) Attack with: quick game Four Verticals (97) 94, 95, 96, out tag off 92
Cover 3 X H F Y Z Q C FS M $ W C B
Cover Two Both corners low and usually outside playing the flats.  Two wide safeties covering the deep halves.  Zone underneath. Weaknesses: Deep outside  Deep middle Attack with: 91 (especially COP tags),  92 (corner tag) 95 X Post, 95 Z post routes that attack Mike
Cover 2 X H F Y Z Q C C S S M $ W
Cover Four Two safeties who might be fairly shallow.  Corners off but not very deep.  Each DB has a ¼ of the field to cover. Weaknesses: Short passing game Digs and routes that attack the Mike hurt it Play-action Attack with: Sticks Double Slants 92 (Post), 93, 94, 97 Digs, Pyramids
Cover 4 X H F Y Z Q C C S S M $ W
Cover One One deep safety.  Corners are usually at less than 7 yards with inside or head up alignment.  Expect blitz.  Weaknesses: Picks and rubs matchups double moves (COP) Attack with: 90 and 92 ( All Meshes and Shallows) deep routes (91,97s, Dig tags) squeezed routes with twists and rubs
Cover 1 X H F Y Z Q C C FS S M $ W
Cover Zero No deep Safety.  Man on all receivers.  Definite blitz situation.  Get rid of the ball quick.  Expect a touchdown.  Weaknesses: Picks and rubs matchups double moves (COP) Attack with: 90 and 92 ( All Meshes and Shallows) deep routes (91,97s, Post tags) Posts
Cover Zero X H F Y Z Q C C FS S M $ W

Coverage Recognition 1

  • 1.
    Josh Herring ColbertHeights Wildcat Football Tuscumbia, Alabama QB Coverage Recognition
  • 2.
    Basic Principles Thingsto look for: Number of safeties Depth of cornerbacks Alignment of corners and safeties Eyes of the cornerbacks
  • 3.
    Basic Principles Numberof safeties: If there is one deep safety, it is most likely Cover One or Cover Three If there are two deep safeties, the coverage is most likely Cover Two or Cover Four. If there are no deep safeties the coverage is most likely Cover Zero.
  • 4.
    Basic Principles Depthof cornerbacks: If the corners are 7 or more yards deep, it is most likely zone coverage. If the corners are less than 7 yards deep, it is most likely man coverage.
  • 5.
    Basic Principles Alignmentof cornerbacks: If the corners are outside the receiver, it is most likely zone coverage. If the corners are head up or inside the receiver, it is most likely man coverage.
  • 6.
    Basic Principles Eyesof the cornerbacks: If the corner’s eyes are looking at you, it is most likely zone coverage. If the corners eyes are on the receiver, it is most likely man coverage.
  • 7.
    Cover Three Bothcorners and the free safety are deep with zone underneath Weaknesses: Seams Flats Curl zone free safety can’t cover two men (97) Attack with: quick game Four Verticals (97) 94, 95, 96, out tag off 92
  • 8.
    Cover 3 XH F Y Z Q C FS M $ W C B
  • 9.
    Cover Two Bothcorners low and usually outside playing the flats. Two wide safeties covering the deep halves. Zone underneath. Weaknesses: Deep outside Deep middle Attack with: 91 (especially COP tags), 92 (corner tag) 95 X Post, 95 Z post routes that attack Mike
  • 10.
    Cover 2 XH F Y Z Q C C S S M $ W
  • 11.
    Cover Four Twosafeties who might be fairly shallow. Corners off but not very deep. Each DB has a ¼ of the field to cover. Weaknesses: Short passing game Digs and routes that attack the Mike hurt it Play-action Attack with: Sticks Double Slants 92 (Post), 93, 94, 97 Digs, Pyramids
  • 12.
    Cover 4 XH F Y Z Q C C S S M $ W
  • 13.
    Cover One Onedeep safety. Corners are usually at less than 7 yards with inside or head up alignment. Expect blitz. Weaknesses: Picks and rubs matchups double moves (COP) Attack with: 90 and 92 ( All Meshes and Shallows) deep routes (91,97s, Dig tags) squeezed routes with twists and rubs
  • 14.
    Cover 1 XH F Y Z Q C C FS S M $ W
  • 15.
    Cover Zero Nodeep Safety. Man on all receivers. Definite blitz situation. Get rid of the ball quick. Expect a touchdown. Weaknesses: Picks and rubs matchups double moves (COP) Attack with: 90 and 92 ( All Meshes and Shallows) deep routes (91,97s, Post tags) Posts
  • 16.
    Cover Zero XH F Y Z Q C C FS S M $ W