Coaching Defense Clinic: Playing Cover 2 with Your Star as a Deep 1/2 player.
This article looks at playing cover 2 with your nickel star as a deep 1/2 player in your 4-2-5 defense. The coverage we are looking at is cover 2 concept. The great aspect of this coverage is it starts as a man free look but both the Sam and Free safety are your deep 1/2 players. The anchor who is aligned in the middle of the field will be your deep 1/2 player.
The CB are playing flat technique and reading 2 to 1. If 2 doesn’t show to the flat keep sinking. Play normal cover 2 technique.
vs 2 x 2
It looks like cover 1 pre snap. The defense is aligned like it’s man with the star over the #2 WR strong. The Free safety is making it look like cover 1 while aligning on #2 weak. On the snap they rotate.
On the snap,
the CB play flat outside shoulder , funneling everything inside. The free safety and anchor become deep 1/2 players. The Mike and Will are curl players.
vs 3x1
Again they make it look like man free pre snap and rotate on the snap. They show cover 1 with the Star over #2 and the Mike over #3. They are in the load front this time, as you can play any front you want with the coverage being the same on the backend.
They motion the RB back in so the LB comes back inside the box. Again, they are presenting it as cover 1. On the snap, they rotate to cover 2. The Star gets to the deep half with the middle safety playing carry, match deliver on #3 WR.
Film Clips with audio below:
I hope you enjoyed these clips and this article on playing cover 2 from a cover 1 pre snap look with your star as a deep 1/2 defender.