Double-Calling Coverages Lets You Control The Pace Of The Game

HOW MANY TIMES have you or your defensive coordinator allowed the opposing offense to dictate — either by motion or formation — the coverage that you run in a particular situation?

Our team has developed a system that allows us to dictate to the offense what coverage or adjustments we want in a particular tactical situation. We do this by double-calling the coverage in the huddle. In a double-call, the first number denotes the coverage you want vs. a 2-back set. The second numeral is the coverage for a 1-back set.
For example, a Cover 80 call places you in a Cover 8 (quarters coverage) against a 2-back set and the “0” symbolizes a man-free scheme vs. a 1-back set.

Cover 80 Vs. 2-Back Set.

PLAYER ASSIGNMENTS:
Cornerbacks (C): One-quarter coverage responsibility.
Strong Safety ($): One-quarter coverage responsibility.
Free Safety (FS): One-quarter coverage responsibility.
“Buck” Linebacker (B): Width and depth over No. 2.
“Sam” LB (S): Deep middle over No. 3 on the strong side.
“Will” LB (W): Width and depth over No. 2 on the weak side.

Cover 80 Vs. 1-Back Set.

PLAYER ASSIGNMENTS:
Cornerbacks (C): Man-to-man on the No. 1.
Strong Safety ($): Man-to-man on the No. 2 on the weak side.
Free Safety (FS): Hole and deep-middle coverage.
“Buck” LB (B): Man-to-man on the tight end.
“Sam” and “Will” LBs: If the back steps toward the LB, he takes him man-to-man. If the back steps away, the LB will “rathole.” A rathole involves dropping back 10 to 12 yards over the ball, while reading the quarterback’s eyes the entire time.

Cover 88 Double-Call Package
If the defensive coordinator prefers quarters coverage regardless of the formation, he can simply call a Cover 8. The double-call would be Cover 88. In this coverage, the outside LBs adjust to any 1-back set and the secondary stays in quarters coverage.

Cover 88 Vs. 2-Back Sets.

PLAYER ASSIGNMENTS:
Cornerbacks (C): One-quarter coverage responsibility.
Strong Safety ($): One-quarter coverage responsibility.
Free Safety (FS): One-quarter coverage responsibility.
“Buck” LB (B): Width and depth over the No. 2.
“Sam” LB (S): Deep middle over the No. 3.
“Will” LB (W): Width and depth over the No. 2 on the weak side.

Cover 88 Vs. 1-Back Set (Trey).

PLAYER ASSIGNMENTS:
Cornerbacks (C): One-quarter coverage responsibility.
Strong Safety ($): One-quarter coverage responsibility.
Free Safety (FS): One-quarter coverage responsibility.
“Buck” LB (B): Width and depth over the No. 2.
“Sam” LB (S): Deep middle over the No. 3 on the strong side.
“Will” LB (W): Width and depth over the No. 2 on the weak side.

Cover 88 Vs. 1-Back Set (Spread).

PLAYER ASSIGNMENTS:
Cornerbacks (C): One-quarter coverage responsibility.
Strong Safety ($): One-quarter coverage responsibility.
Free Safety (FS): One-quarter coverage responsibility.
“Buck” LB (B): Width and depth over the No. 2.
“Sam” LB (S): Deep middle over the No. 3.
“Will” LB (W): Width and depth over the No. 2.


Double-Calling Vs. Twins Set

Built into our scheme is an automatic check to a twins set. Whether the call was Cover 80 or 88, we’d check into a Cover 5 vs. a twins set.

Understand, however, that this is a check when we are in the Cover 8 or Cover 0 family. If we have another coverage package called, our reaction would be different.

PLAYER ASSIGNMENTS:
Outside Corner: Defends the flat, forces.
Inside Corner: Defends the curl, torpedo vs. run.
Strong Safety ($): Deep half on the weak side.
Free Safety (FS): Deep half on the strong side.
“Buck” LB (B): Defends flat.
“Sam” LB (S): Defends strong-side hook.
“Will” LB (W): Defends weak-side hook.

Flexible System

Double-calling the coverage allows you to be flexible and places your defense in the coverage you want, regardless of the situation. By tailoring this system with other coverages, you can dictate to the offense instead of them dictating to you.

If the defensive coordinator, for example, wants to keep seven defenders in the box, he should double-call a Cover 80. In a passing situation, a double-call of Cover 88 would allow you to load up the coverage vs. a 1-back set. A Cover 88 call can be a tailor-made substitution defense with the Buck or Will LB positions being filled with extra defensive backs.

In our scheme, we sub a DB in our “5-cents” package. If we sub a DB for both the Buck and Will, we’re in our “10-cents” package. The “25-cents” package would involve inserting a DB for the Sam LB.