What is cover 2?

Cover 2 is a defensive scheme commonly used in American football, particularly in the NFL. In Cover 2, there are two deep safeties responsible for covering the deep half of the field, with five underneath defenders covering the short and intermediate routes. The corners also play a role in covering the outside receivers near the sidelines.

One of the main strengths of the Cover 2 defense is its ability to limit big plays and prevent deep passes, as there are two safeties deep to prevent receivers from getting behind the defense. The underneath coverage also helps to stop short and intermediate passes. However, one drawback of the Cover 2 defense is that it can leave holes in the middle of the field, which can be exploited by offenses with strong tight ends or slot receivers.

Overall, Cover 2 is a versatile defense that can be effective against both the run and the pass. It requires disciplined defenders who can communicate well and maintain their assignments to be successful.