Josh Herring

1
QB Coverage Recognition
Josh Herring Colbert Heights Wildcat
Football Tuscumbia, Alabama
2
Basic Principles

• Things to look for
• Number of safeties
• Depth of cornerbacks
• Alignment of corners and safeties
• Eyes of the cornerbacks

3
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.
4
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.
5
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.
6
Basic Principles
Eyes of the cornerbacks If the corners 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

• Both corners and the free safety are deep with
  zone underneath
• Weaknesses
• Seams
• Flats
• Curl zone
• free safety cant cover two men (97)
• Attack with
• quick game
• Four Verticals (97)
• 94, 95, 96, out tag off 92

8
Cover 3
FS
C
C
M
B

W
Y
X
Z
H
F
Q
9
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

10
Cover 2
S
S
M
W

C
C
Y
X
Z
H
F
Q
11
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

12
Cover 4
S
S
C
C
M

W
Y
X
Z
H
F
Q
13
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

14
Cover 1
FS
C
M

S
W
C
Y
X
Z
H
F
Q
15
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

16
Cover Zero
M

S
W
C
FS
C
Y
X
H
Z
F
Q