Cover 2 being exploited a lot recently

[Mr. Scot]

In successive weeks, I've watched both the Pats and Eagles use a pretty simple play to exploit a flaw in defenses using Cover 2 schemes. All they've had to do was run their fastest receiver (Moss, Jackson) on inside routes down the middle. The scheme puts them in matchups against safeties, which has meant long (and relatively easy) touchdowns.

Wonder if we'll see this play in coming weeks.

[Guild]

It's been a long standing weakness of the Cover 2 as I understand it. The fast receiver up the seam to create a mismatch against the safety if he catches the ball in stride has been used a few times including against us when we played the Saints. It was Henderson I believe who made the catch for a big play that game.

The Falcons did similar things with Gonzalez in the first game, though that worked because our LBs had trouble covering him more than his blazing speed on a timed route up the seam.

Against the Dolphins we played quite a bit of two deep man under which if we do again has the chance of creating an interception situation if this is tried against us, provided the cornerback can maintain position with the receiver.

[Zod]

Always the weakness in a cover two, even for Dungy in Tampa. Its magnified though when teams who do not have the personnel to play it effectively.

[pstall]

You treat the D like the D in hoops. Find your best mismatch and destroy it until they get help. Then go to the next best mismatch.

[Mr. Scot]

Agreed that middle coverage is a longstanding Cover 2 weak point, but more often in the past it was the tight end that exploited it, and generally for big gains more often than easy TDs. Using a speedy WR in that spot has made it almost deadly.

[Zod]

Agreed that middle coverage is a longstanding Cover 2 weak point, but more often in the past it was the tight end that exploited it, and generally for big gains more often than easy TDs. Using a speedy WR in that spot has made it almost deadly.

Typically if its a speedy WR up the middle its recognized and the FS picks him up. With TE's though its typically a linebacker on the man coverage with safeties spread to help the corners... not so good.

[Guild]

Agreed that middle coverage is a longstanding Cover 2 weak point, but more often in the past it was the tight end that exploited it, and generally for big gains more often than easy TDs. Using a speedy WR in that spot has made it almost deadly.

Maybe we'll start seeing more and more defenses transition away from the Cover 2 into something more like the Steelers run which I think is a Cover 1 with a roaming safety (Polamalu) whose job is to read the play and find the best position to blow it up.

[carolinanimal]

that is why pash rush is at a premium in a cover 2.

[carolinanimal]

Maybe we'll start seeing more and more defenses transition away from the Cover 2 into something more like the Steelers run which I think is a Cover 1 with a roaming safety (Polamalu) whose job is to read the play and find the best position to blow it up.

only problem with that is the same problem with most schemes. personnel. you would need a beast at safety to make that work. he would have to be fast and also he would have to be able to stop the run and with ball hawking skills.

[Mr. Scot]

Maybe we'll start seeing more and more defenses transition away from the Cover 2 into something more like the Steelers run which I think is a Cover 1 with a roaming safety (Polamalu) whose job is to read the play and find the best position to blow it up.

Possible, but it leads to a chicken/egg debate.

Is it the scheme, or is it Polamalu? If the latter, those don`t grow on trees..

[Guild]

Possible, but it leads to a chicken/egg debate.

Is it the scheme, or is it Polamalu? If the latter, those don`t grow on trees..

Easily both, and you're right people with brains and that level of athleticism are truly few and far between.

[panthers55]

The cover 2 can be beaten several ways all which have worked against us. In addition to seam routes where either the safeties or the middle linebacker needs to cover depending on the call you can also run an over under route to the outside where you line up one receiver wide and one in the slot. Both run an out route one about 7 yards out and the other 15 yards up the field. The corner has to pick which to cover and the other is open. If the safety comes over typically the tight end who should be running in the seam is wide open. Now if you want 2 open choices- swing the back out of the backfield to that side and he can run down the field with blockers in front of him. That kind of overload called flooding the zone is run by teams running multiple receiver sets and is very successful against the cover 2.

[Mr. Scot]

The cover 2 can be beaten several ways all which have worked against us. In addition to seam routes where either the safeties or the middle linebacker needs to cover depending on the call you can also run an over under route to the outside where you line up one receiver wide and one in the slot. Both run an out route one about 7 yards out and the other 15 yards up the field. The corner has to pick which to cover and the other is open. If the safety comes over typically the tight end who should be running in the seam is wide open. Now if you want 2 open choices- swing the back out of the backfield to that side and he can run down the field with blockers in front of him. That kind of overload called flooding the zone is run by teams running multiple receiver sets and is very successful against the cover 2.

Pass rush is supposed to negate all of that.

[Carolina Husker]

DeSean Jackson can exploit a lot of defensive schemes.