CoverageBest for: Base down6U+ · Basic
4-3 Cover 2
Four-man front with two safeties splitting the deep halves.
Concept: Safeties defend the deep halves while corners sink to the flats and the Mike carries the deep middle hole.
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
1-technique, rush the weak A-gap.
DT (strong)
3-technique, rush the strong B-gap.
Mike
Carry the deep middle hole between the safeties, wall inside verticals.
SS
Cover the strong deep half over the top.
FS
Cover the weak deep half over the top.
CB (strong)
Jam the strong receiver, sink to the flat and funnel inside.
Coach it with
How to teach it
- 1Safeties split the deep field into halves; corners jam then sink to the flats.
- 2The Mike carries the deep middle hole between the two safeties to close the seam.
- 3Corners re-route number one to funnel verticals to the safeties.
Common mistakes to fix
- !Corners bailing instead of jamming and giving a free release; fix by re-routing number one first.
- !Mike not getting depth in the hole and giving up the seam; fix by dropping to the deep middle between the safeties.
Build this into your call sheet.
Adopt this system in your coach portal, tag plays by situation, and print call sheets and player wristbands.