Cripes! Get back to fundamentals...: Cover 2

Showing posts with label Cover 2. Show all posts

Monday, October 26, 2015

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

No-Huddle Check-With-Me Defense

With as much wide-open spread and tempo offenses out there, surely there has to be a defensive solution to match this attack. In this post, we’ll attempt to explain and explore the concepts a defense can use to take the wind out the sails of the no-huddle spread.

In today’s game, the true 2-back tight end has become rare. The order of the day has become a standard fare of 2x2 and 3x1 with a variety of 1-back run games and basic route concepts. Huddling has become passé, passing games more prevalent and fast-strike offenses look to jump on sleeping defenses. Again, we can distill the conversation down the basics; with only 5 offensive linemen and 1 back, the need for an 8-man front just isn’t there (you can live in split-safety with a 7 man box). When you couple that arithmetic with no tight end, now you can control the box with just 6 defenders (necessitating a nickel look) and control the receiving threats with 5 dedicated defensive backs.

The numbers really never change up front. You can game and align how you like, but you’re going to account for those 6 offensive gaps with your linemen and linebackers. This leads us to what you are going to do against the only other formations you will see with 1-back; 2x2 and 3x1 (and its lovechild, 3x2). We’ve dealt with this before (twins coverage variations), but we’re going to attempt to take it a step further, going beyond old-school defensive adaptations and TCU’s swimming-in-vocabulary-system, to look at the practicality of using a ‘self-correcting’ nickel.

This is something more than just looking for a blanket 'defense' solution (“ah, well we’ll just run Cover 2!”), but using a system with built-in answers for coverage/run support that adjusts on the fly. It requires much more player indoctrination and processing up front, but once you’ve laid the framework, it can be anything you want it to be and essentially “run by itself”. The simplicity is tied to the communication between the safety, corner and overhang player. They communicate every snap so there leaves little room for ‘blown coverage’ (players not understanding what each other is responsible for). Much like match-up zone basketball, it can be reduced down to multiple 3-on-2 banjo to each side of the offensive formation.

A brief outline of the benefits of moving towards this defensive system would be:

2 high all the time
as many coverages as you want
complete carry over for all defensive backs
consistent with quarters / 2 read basics
adjusts to all formations and splits without needing to alter alignment
adapts per game plan
no more zone 3 deep 3 under wait and react....jump everything aggressive like banjo

Coverage is premised on playing man (after distribution), but with a quarters feel; each side independent of the other. The Strong Safety and Nickel travel to the passing strength / field, while the Sam and Free Safety align away / boundary. All routes are intended to be aggressively matched with a banjo principle and as such, there is no spot-dropping. This plays into how pressures will be run. The traditional 3 deep / 3 under fire zones, with underneath defenders dropping to areas without aggressively jumping receiver distribution only creates more opportunities for the offense to find the voids. Whereas in the late 90’s and early part of 2000s, defenses could just provide a +4 to a side pressure and overwhelm protection. The area drops sufficed at that time. In today’s game, offenses have more protection alternatives available, more streamlined concepts with built-in rush routes, and quarterbacks are becoming better suited to handle the blitz. This is why aggressively matching (it looks like true man coverage when executed) is where more and more defenses are headed to.

By packaging your defense into fronts and coverage, there is no need to huddle. Your personnel can just line up for the next play based on the ball spot. The front / game can be signaled from the sideline if necessary. Coverage can be signaled but most times it is decided by each safety once the offense sets the formation. The check-with-me is controlled by each safety, who will coordinate with his corner and nickel/backer on how to handle the receiver split they face. Each side will act independently of the other. The secondary aligns in the same 2-high look for every snap, with corners inside #1, cocked inside facing the ball. This position allows them to easily get a hand-gesture-signal by his safety, acknowledge it, and be ready for the play. The no-huddle check-with-me allows the players more time to receive more information from the sideline (personnel) and anticipate what the offense will likely do in this down and distance once the formation is set. You can establish some basic principles and work the exceptions based on game plan.
Now, let’s take a look at various ways the check-with-me coverage works against formations…...

2x2 – So How Do You Handle Twins?
That depends – there are host of possibilities available, but the best way to look at this is how the offensive threat changes based on known variables. This deductive method for packaging the coverage helps indoctrinate players to how they need to understand/process offenses. As a footnote, I’ll mention that much has been explained about Rip/Liz from a 1-high coverage as a way of adjusting to spread. However, this was created as a necessary adaptation for the time. Despite leading the innovation for a decade, Saban rarely uses it. In numerous seasons worth of film dating back to 2002, I was only able to locate a handful where Saban actually used true Rip/Liz against 2x2. Why? Because he (like most defenses of today) remain 2-high every snap.

The illustrations here will display scheme with zones, simply to represent the banjo concept of denoting the route the defender will attack. We will use basic terminology (it doesn't matter how you call the adjustment, just make sure there is a way to communicate the idea) as much as we can to explain each situation. I'll say that NONE OF THIS is all that revolutionary (its been done since the 80s when teams were double calling their coverage based on pro/slot), but it does set a framework to begin building the concept of a no-huddle defense that can call its own plays. As a preface to this discussion, please reference this post on coverages ( basic coverages ).

Field / Boundary

Facing 2 quicks to the field creates some horizontal spacing issues. With really only 3 defenders to cover a 35 yard swath, you will need some creativity and flexibility to put numbers in your favor. To the wide side of the field, you could drop the safety to cover this horizontal stretch, with a modified version of the old Robber coverage. Here the safety will be force on run-action to him and jump the first threat outside. The Nic will have help outside and maintain inside leverage on #2 and fit the alley in run support. Since the Nic will be used in outside blitzes frequently, offenses can never really be sure what his alignment represents. The Strong Safety will drop on 8-10 yard curl and cut outside breaks of #1 or #2.

With limited space into the boundary, the horizontal stretch of the coverage just isn't there. You may see more leveled routes (China/Smash). To the short side of the field, the preferred call is “Sink” or what amounts to 2 read (we called this 'monster' at my last stop). The corner will carry a vertical of #1 and retreat to the deep flat if #2 appears (out). The Strong Safety is in position to match #2 vertical. The backer (Sam) will wall #2 on the receiver's stem. On run action, safety is primary run force with corner over the top. 2 Read / Sink can be played on either side, but is particularly effective against flat/curl types of throws.

Back To / Away

Having a coverage preference based on field position is logical because you want to protect against getting leveraged. You can also incorporate how you would like to adjust based on where the single back sets to account for likely route/run pairings.

Back away: stretch/power, back flare
Back to: speed option

Naturally, with a back offset to the twins side, you end up with a potential threat of three receivers. With passing strength set toward the back, in addition to running Robber explained above, you could opt to cloud (corner force) that side to include an immediate perimeter defender, expecting quick 3-man game.

With the back away from the passing strength you won't be threatened with being outnumbered immediately on the perimeter (still have a 3-on-2 advantage). An efficient way of using personnel would be to declare 'buzz', allowing the Nic to be the force defender (buzz = backer force) with the safety dropping in late to the curl/alley. This also is a solid alternative into the boundary.

At any point, if the split is wide enough between #1 and #2 where the safety doesn't feel he can provide deep over-the-top help on #1, he has the ability to make a "swim" call that denotes that he will take #2 man-to-man. This leaves the corner with no deep help and will be man on #1 for anything other than an immediate inside route. This prevents being out-leveraged by #1 and #2 (works like MEG in Cover 7) but also provides a confusing change-up because the the safety exclusively matches #2 everywhere.

Another change-up that remains consistent with the relationship split-field personnel is dropping a safety into the middle of the field hole as a box player. This is particularly effective against 2-back sets when the linebackers will be bubbled in 50 techniques (versus a single-split the corner will likely be in man coverage, anyway). With a pro formation you'd be fine dropping both safeties outside (ala Sky) or try something else. Here we call this "Zebra", but you can name it as you like. The point is without a need for 3-on-2 outside based on formation, the deep safety may be better suited added to the box for run-support gap integrity.

3x1 – You’re Only Left With One Coverage To Play Against Trips
The standard quarters answer to 3x1 was always to man the single-split and zone combo the 3-man side. Here, we'll provide some more alternatives to this with zone matchups that will play into the field area packaging.

Another way to play 3x1 is with “Stump” where the the corner mans #1 completely and #2 and #3 receivers are banjoed by the inside defenders (Nic, Strong Safety, and Mike). This is particularly useful when #1 is considerably detached from the other receivers (much like "swim" outlined above).

"Stick" is the alternative to Stump, where #3 is manned up and there remains a 3-on-2 with #1 and #2. This is particularly effective against quick game out of trips and bubbles by #3. The Mike provides support to cut the 1st crosser of #1 or #2.

Another way to handle automatic coverage against 3x1 is with pressure. This is best introduced from empty...

3x2 – The Rules Hold True
After already establishing how you want to play 3x1 and 2x2, these ground rules help establish a base look to stay sound against empty. When facing a quarters defense, you can expect to see coverage rolled to the passing strength. The standard answer against trips is to solo the backside single-receiver and end up with some type of banjo concept to the 3 receiver side. For many defenses this is really the only solution and when faced with 3x2 empty, conventional wisdom zones everything to play it safe or go-for-broke and bring man-free pressure.

To deviate from these basic standards you would want to be able to break from conventional expectations (offenses going to trips for the purpose of getting single coverage on a receiver), but also be flexible to adjust against motion and/or passing strength changes. Previously, we discussed how the fire zone would handle trips and empty, for a more aggressive method we can flip these rules on their head.

Man Side Becomes Zone Side
The trick with no-huddle defense is always giving a static pre-snap look so an offense never really knows what it is dealing with. Even when safeties drop, you still won’t be sure what coverage it is until the receivers are into their break. The same holds true here for empty.

With "MASH" (Mike and Sam blitz), the 3-man side will man-free each receiver (Corner, Nic, Strong Safety). To the 2-man side, they will banjo zone the split (often times this is going to be to the boundary) between the Corner, Mike, and Free Safety. Corner takes first to the flat, Mike takes second out. It all boils down to a read on #2 as to how the receiver distribution will play out (again, consistent with quarters/2 read principles). Meanwhile, the backer away from the zone side will be a part of the 5-man pressure up front.

Empty to 3x1

This pressure also works against 3x1 or the likely shift of the the weak slot to the backfield. If 3x2 becomes 3x1, you still have the 3-man side manned up, but if there is no immediate inside vertical threat weak, then the Mike is now included in the pressure and the Free Safety drops to replace his ‘zone’. The Free Safety will cut the first crosser with no deep help. Nothing really changes here, the Mike just gets replaced by the safety.

With a back in the backfield, the End away from the Free Safety will peel if the back cross releases (to the 3-man side) in an effort to help coverage.

Empty to 2x2

In the event that 3x2 becomes 2x2, likely from one of the trips side receivers shifts to the backfield, you end up with a push. With a back in the backfield, you have a trigger to engage the Mike in the pressure (both linebackers are blitzing). Now the only thing to figure is where the back offsets to. The side the back sets to weighs the twins to his side as the 3-man side. In the ‘flipped’ example below, the back sets to the former weak passing strength. The former passing strength (to the Nic side) has shifted away, therefore the 2-man side to the Nic is now the zone-side. The Free Safety’s side is now the passing strength with the back added to his side. This now becomes the man-side. The corner and Free Safety man #1 and #2 and the remaining back will be fiddled between the same-side Mike (if back releases to the Free) and the away-side DE (if back cross releases to the Nic).

An additional change up against empty is to use a Tampa 2 coverage with the Nic retreating to the deep-middle of the field. This has the exact same look as the coverages above, but becomes completely different. Now, instead of expecting man-coverage to trips, you’d be getting a true 3-deep 4-under zone defense. Using nickel and setting the Nic to the field, you can feign him on a blitz (will be used quite a bit in pressures, anyway) bringing him closer to the box giving him less distance to travel to get to the middle of the field.

This has been a basic overview of using a no-huddle defense against the spread with coverage alternatives. I believe this is truly where defenses are headed in the future (many are already there now) and the need to be creative and thoroughly prepare your players to think for themselves should force us coaches to live on the bleeding edge of the game's innovations.

Good luck this season.....

now presented without comment, a game with two full-time no-huddle nickel defenses...

Monday, August 1, 2011

Slot Coverage Variations

After covering front matching previously, we can now explore options available to handle slot sets that are separated from the box. Typically, this is best understood from a 2-back look with a single receiver on the other side of the slot (allowing a variety of bracket looks and the linebackers matching back flow). The passing strength is immediately identified (slot) and the safety, corner, and overhang player can communicate how they would handle the 2-man routes out of this. These methods can also be applied independently to each side (split-field) when facing 1-back, as well.

With two receivers split from the formation (slot) you end up with a 3-on-2 advantage for the defense. As we covered before, there is a variety of ways to handle this. In attempt to tackle two things at once, we’ll cover these concepts using Saban-speak (out of Nick Saban’s playbooks). It should be noted that Saban’s “system” is extremely concise, flexible, and modular (in its application). What comes with those benefits is a dictionary full of terminology to communicate every conceivable action and response on the field. We’ll use his method as a way to keep a central thematic framework, but these concepts are relative to what everyone else does (so don’t get hung up on the verbiage).
FIST

The first is basic Cover 3 Sky (“Fist”) with what amounts to be the old “country cover 3”. Fist brings the overhang player down outside of #2 receiver serving as primary force. This defender will drop into the seam and not carry any route by #2 deeper than 12 yards and jump the first receiver to the flat. The corner would play all of #1 receiver vertical (or #2) out and up. The free safety would play middle of the field to the #2 receiver. Because these two receivers are handled by these three players, additional receivers (releasing back) would be immediately jumped by the next linebacker inside (Will) unless #1 or #2 released inside.

Examples of matching in Fist

Exceptions

Vs 1 back – the FS will check to Rip/Liz rules (match left/right away side) and man #1 and #2.
Vs Wide slot split (horizontal stretch) – with a great deal of space underneath to cover, a “TOKYO” (smash rule) call can be made to have the corner take all short routes and have the overhang defender carry a vertical stem.

Sky (Fist) remains an all-purpose coverage solution to slot, but can face limitations with quick 2-man games against the overhang player.

COVER R - ROBBER

We’ve covered robber coverage before and this version would be just like Virginia Tech plays it. This is best against a tight #2 with the FS dropping into the seam and the overhang player immediately expanding to the curl. This isn’t much different than TCU’s ‘2 Read’ (covered before). The FS acts as the robber, reading #2-to-#1, playing the front hook with a #2-to-QB-to-Alley fit progression.

The corner immediately drops to the deep third with the overhang defender jumping first receiver to the flat. With the corner committing to the deep half, any vertical route by #2 will be bracketed inside-out by the FS and corner.
examples of matching in robber

Robber coverage remains arguably one of the best run down solutions, especially to the field. 1-back looks can be handled by robber, but do not provide the leverage security that 2-back does.

COVER 2 - CORA

This is traditional cover 2 cloud with the FS over the top in deep half coverage and defenders in the curl and flat. The overhang player will align inside #2 and the corner outside of #1. With two outside underneath zone defenders on top of two split receivers, you have the ability to aggressively attack the quick game. With any slot coverage, you are only as good as your answer to the smash route. With true ‘Cora’, the force corner will sink in the flat (playing “TOKYO”) and the overhang will carry #2 vertical.

examples of matching in Cover 2

Cover 2 is great against quick game and perimeter run game. How a defense matches vertical routes in Cover 2 will typically be its weak spot.

One adjustment to this Cover 2 look is known as “Leach”. It is exactly the same with the exception of the overhang defender is man-to-man #2 (slot/curl). This would afford the (usually exceptional) slot receiver to be double-covered underneath or deep with the surrounding zone defenders.

COVER 4 - THUMBS

Thumbs is a 3-on-2 quarters principle that can morph itself into swipe bracket when only one receiver is vertical. The FS will double #1 or #2 from inside out with the corner playing deep third outside. The overhang player is the sole underneath defender and will take first shallow out / in receiver between #1 & #2.
examples of matching in thumbs

Quarters is great against vertical game and play-action, but the lack of underneath support can cause perimeter leverage issues the offense can exploit.

COVER 5 – COUGAR / IOWA
Adding this as a final thought, Cover 5 is the man-under with deep half help. The FS will rob everything inside with the ability to double either receiver deep. I didn’t provide any illustrations as it is pretty self-explanatory and is the ideal passing coverage. The FS will rob everything from the inside. Because the corner (your best cover guy) will be man-to-man on #1 outside wide “on an island”, you will typically have a 2-on-1 cone/bracket on #2 between the deep safety and the overhang player.

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Get Back To Fundamentals: Coverages

Here for your reference archives – basic examples of the types of coverages everyone runs; 1-high to 2-high. For more information, click on the hyperlinks/tags of each coverage type for previous entries for more in-depth explanations of what you’re seeing.

COVER 1

COVER 2

COVER 3

Backer force

Safety support

Corner support

COVER 4

COVER 5 (2 Man Under)

Unrelated to everything.... Just passing along an interesting development in artistry.....something interesting is afoot with one of our time's most creative storytelling voice, David Simon (and company). Simon, of "The Wire" fame (and brilliant treatment of "The Corner" and "Generation Kill"), is deep in his current passion; the unique Americana invention of New Orleans music told through its principle actors (the musicians). The visual-novel of "Treme" nearing the end of its second season has become an acquired taste for many. Those missing out on the brilliance in its subtleties (it isn't meant to be swallowed whole, but savored by digesting each scene) of scenes and dialogue are losing sight of what the series (and Simon's craft) is about. I felt it was worth noting as the appreciation of performance art (and original storytelling) is becoming a dying craft. Perhaps best summarized here by actor Clarke Peters.

My point in offering these thoughts is to pass along an observation of the use of technology as the social apparatus of our time. The series (like any other event) is being chronicled online in various blogs. One of which, Back of Town , has become a way of appreciating the episodes with many people responsible for telling this story. With regular, affable interaction with (the real) Davis Rogan, Tom Piazza, David Simon, and Eric Overmyer and from the perspective of a 1-to-1 relationship (and not that of a lecturer or host), giving participants the organic feeling of being involved in the actual process. This type of discourse wouldn't have been possible even five years ago - its exciting to watch this process develop, especially in the environment that this series has found itself in; a humble and artistic community of writers with a production geared for the exact opposite [commercial] appeal of its on-air counterparts. I'm not sure what will come of it, nor am I star-struck that the production team would interact with consumers, but how it shapes the course of artist-audience relationship is something to watch.

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Cover 2 DB Drills: Raheem Morris

Some cornerback drills care of Raheem Morris during the dominant years of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense featuring one of the most physical corners in recent memory, Ronde Barber.

There are some great stimulus-response drills to handle #1 receiver stems (inside, outside, vertical) and run-support leverage. This starts with individual work handling stems/breaks, then moves to leveraging specific routes (out of C2). With group work, these same recognition work is carried over and speeds up the “looking for work” process when #1 clears. The film concludes with team practice clips against Gruden’s offense (against Cover 2).

forgive the audio……jazz fest is coming up

Be sure to check out past Cover 2 entries for more in-depth writing.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

TCU "2 Read": Adaptation To The Spread (3x1)

The robber rules of “2 Read” are rather simple and the biggest part understanding TCU defensive scheme is just coming to grips and accepting the split-formation concept they utilize.

Using the same “2 Read” technique rules we already covered, we plainly go over adding another receiver (3) to the read side.

To the trips side, the free safety and corner will be playing straight drop back and essentially end up in a split field ¼ match. The primary adjustment becomes the strong safety. He will be outside of the #2 receiver. He is going to play standard “blue” coverage rules, staying on #2 to prevent three verticals. He will still “Swing deep to 3” but he is not looking to jump the flats as he was versus 2 receivers.

In the worst case scenario, “all verticals”, the corner will zone turn to bail and split the difference of #1 and #2 receivers. The free safety will backpedal weave leverage of the vertical #3 receiver. This is the ‘jailbreak’ option versus this coverage, if three verticals aren’t run to the trips side, the pattern distribution can easily be accounted for in the rules.

So if #2 receiver or #3 receiver is not vertical, now we're back to the manageable 2 receiver threat. If #3 runs a shallow out (for example) the free safety is no longer threatened in the middle of the field, so he will settle and look to rob any route by #2. The corner will have the post by #1 all day, so the free safety is free to look of #1.

Versus a standard trips flood (#3 shallow out, #2 sail, #1 is in), the corner would stick with his communication rules, call the “IN” by #1 and gain depth over the receivers. With the “IN” call, the strong safety will hang (on the curl) and break late on the out of #2.

This was just an overview of the split-formation coverage of TCU out of their robber package. Feel free to check out the RUNCODHIT articles on their usual 2x2 coverage (Blue/ Cover 5) that we’ll see a lot of in their push for National prominence this season.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Pattern Read: Hi Low

The last example that we'll show is the only other concept not threatening Cover 2 with a vertical concept. The high-low ("China" or "Smash") concept merely looks to create a vertical stretch on an underneath defender, putting him in a 2-on-1 conflict. As noted in the previous posts, watch the linebacker expand to the hook (underneath) with the safety (over the top) . This concept is evidenced with a shallow #1 and a vertical #2 or a vertical #1 and a shallow #2.

Pattern Read: Sail

Continuing on the same theme as Verticals, the "Sail" ("drop out" or "Ohio") concept relies on the same principles, but providing a deep high-low of the outside defender. This can be a difficult throw, but even more difficult to successfully defend. As detailed earlier, be sure to watch the linebacker wall and expand #2 as he vertically stems then drops out to the sideline.

Pattern Read: Verticals

As outlined in previous posts, the (all) verticals concept likely puts a 2-high defense at a disadvantage when 4 receivers go deep. Pay special attention to how the linebackers wall and carry #2 vertically into the seam, as well as how the corner sink and carry #1 vertical. Also, note how 3x1 formations cause a 2-high defense stress with #3 stemming into the deep middle hole.

Pattern Read: Safety Response

The last step in this Cover 2 discussion ends with the ½ field safety. Obviously their job is to put the roof over the defense and allow all other defenders to play underneath. To do this job effectively and consistently, they must know how they relate to the pattern distribution. This will reveal how they will compensate for coverage liabilities and better support the coverage shell.

Their first response is to key and recognize the #1 receiver to their side. The position of the #1 receiver will determine the immediate threat to ‘break’ the defense by an outside and vertical throw. The safety should know who the #2 vertical threat is on any given down based on formation (2x2 or (3x1).

At the snap, the safety will key the EMOL for run/pass key. After a pass key recognition, the safety reads #1 receiver – to quarterback – to #2 receiver.

#1 Vertical - #2 To The Flat

The safety should overplay the vertical threat and keep inside leverage on #1. He is anticipating the curl-flat concept.

#1 Hitch - #2 Vertical

With #2 vertical and #1 remaining shallow, the safety should expect the smash or seam concept. He will peddle back and inside read #2 as he presses into the seam. The safety should be defending the seam-to-post-corner route with inside-out leverage.

Double slant

With #2 and #1 breaking shallow inside, there isn’t much help a deep half safety can provide. He should be anticipating the slant-and-go (“sluggo”) and remain over the top of #1, leveraging inside-out.

#1 Vertical - #2 inside or hitch

Since #2 remains shallow, he is no threat to the deep half, so the safety should look to overplay the vertical by #1. With #2 shallow, he should keep inside leverage on #1and anticipate a deep, inside breaking route (dig) from #1.

Pattern Read: Linebacker Response

After reviewing corner responses, we'll work our way outside-in, addressing the outside and inside linebacker responses to pattern distribution in Cover 2.

Outside Linebacker (weak)
The weak side linebacker who responds to the displaced #2 receiver should be playing a "vertical hook technique". This simply means he is controlling the vertical stem of #2 into the hook zone and will treat this area as a priority. He should be thinking vertical-in-the-seam by #2 on pass key, and defend this throw first. On pass, he must relate to #2 receiver. He will peek to #1 receiver to identify the route concept he should play. As the front will vary depending on formation, we'll focus on just the pass coverage of Cover 2 for the displaced outside linebacker.

#2 Vertical - #1 Outside Vertical

If #2 presses vertically, the WLB will wall and carry #2 into the seam, peeking to see that #1 is vertical (and outside). With #1 gaining depth outside, the WLB can expect the "all vertical" and / or anticipate a deep drop out / Sail from #2 (and rob from low-shoulder leverage.

#2 Vertical - #1 Inside Vertical

As with the above situation, the WLB walls and carries #2 vertically into the seam, expecting "all verticals". With an inside/vertical stem of #1, the WLB may anticipate a deep, inside breaking route (dig).

#2 Vertical and Outside - #1 Hitch

With a vertical press by #2, and #1 remaining shallow (hitch), the WLB should anticipate the "smash" concept and push to the flat. Knowing his corner should be sinking to take the "corner" route, he should be robbing the hitch from inside-and-underneath leverage.

#2 Flat

Maybe the easiest throw to respond to for the WLB in Cover 2, once the #2 receiver quickly "shoots" to the flat, the WLB should recognize the flat-curl concept. He should expand and wall to the #1 receiver, looking to rob the inside-breaking curl.

Cover 2 Inside Linebackers

In Cover 2, the inside linebackers, both strong and weak, will be keying for run as their primary responsibility. Their gap assignment and key will vary depending on the formation and defensive front they are in. They are reading run-to-pass, and respond accordingly. For the sake of discussion, we will just concentrate on their response after getting a high-hat pass read.

The inside linebackers will match their respective threat based on alignment. This will typically put the SLB or MLB TO or AWAY from the callside based on the strength of formation. An example would be;

2x2 set

The MLB will relate to the back (#3) strong or weak, based on back flow.
The SLB/Buck become relates to #2 strong and becomes the vertical seam player him.

3x1 set

Here the defensive front would be adjusted to accommodate the passing (number) threats. The MLB now relates to #3 receiver and the SLB/Buck will relate to the back.

This is a rather simple accommodation as I hesitate to call it an "adjustment". The inside (run) linebackers are simply going to cover down their immediate passing threat. An example of matching the backs with the linebackers is shown below;

Cripes! Get back to fundamentals...