CoverageBest for: Passing down6U+ · Basic
Cover 1 Robber
Plays man with a free safety deep and a backer robbing the middle.
Concept: Corners lock man while a stacked backer sinks under crossers as the safety plays deep.
Age version
RushBlitzDrop to coverage
12U — Full call: Combine front, pressure, and coverage — and disguise it pre-snap.
Play movement — schematic, not to scale
Grows with your players
Same play, more layers as they age up — teach it once and build on it every season for a consistent program.
- 6UIntroduce: Line up right and own your gap — win with alignment, pad level, and pursuit to the ball.
- 8UAttack blocks: Add get-off and block destruction so the front controls the line of scrimmage.
- 10UAdd coverage: Teach the coverage drops behind the front and read run vs. pass.
- 12UFull call: Combine front, pressure, and coverage — and disguise it pre-snap.
Every position's job
NG
Rush and two-gap the center.
Mike
Man the back or add to the rush.
Sam
Sink under crossers as the robber in the middle.
Will
Man the weak-side eligible or the second back.
Star
Man the strong slot/tight end.
Spur
Man the weak slot.
CB (strong)
Lock man on the strong receiver.
CB (weak)
Lock man on the weak receiver.
FS
Play deep-middle free safety help over the top.
How to teach it
- 1Corners lock man while a stacked backer robs the middle under crossers as the safety plays deep.
- 2The robber reads the QB's eyes and jumps in-breaking routes.
- 3It's man-free with an extra middle-hole defender.
Common mistakes to fix
- !The robber getting too deep and missing the crosser; fix by teaching him to sit in the hole and read.
- !Man defenders getting rubbed off on crossers with no robber help; fix by positioning the robber underneath.
Build this into your call sheet.
Adopt this system in your coach portal, tag plays by situation, and print call sheets and player wristbands.