Cover 2 Zone is one of the most common coverages you’ll see in flag football because it allows the defense to protect deep while keeping defenders underneath to take away quick throws. The key to beating Cover 2 is understanding where the open grass is and using passing concepts that stretch the flat defender, stress the deep half safety, and attack the soft spots between zones. Below you will learn how to beat cover 2 zone in flag football.
How to Beat Cover 2 Zone in Flag Football
To beat Cover 2 Zone you have to flood the zones, high-low the flat defender, sit in the holes in the underneath zones, and attack the middle area between the safeties.
Cover 2 Strengths
Cover 2 Zone is a strong coverage in flag football because it protects against deep throws while allowing the underneath defenders to sit on quick routes and rally to the ball. With two deep safeties splitting the field, the defense can limit big plays and force the offense to be patient. Cover 2 is a great coverage to take away all the underneath routes.
Cover 2 Weaknesses
Cover 2 does have weaknesses. The flats can be stressed by quick out-breaking routes, the hole between the corner and safety can be attacked, and the middle of the field can open up if the underneath defenders widen too much. The key for the offense is to stretch the zone defenders, create high-low reads, and attack the open grass before the defense can close.
Plays that Beat Cover 2 Zone
Curl-Flat Concept
Curl-Flat is a great concept against cover 2 because it high-lows the flat defender.
X: Slant route- 3 yard stem.
C: Corner route- 8 yard stem.
Z: Speed out.
Y: Curl route- 7 yard stem.
QB: Read Z to Y to C.
Switch Scissors
The Scissors Concept puts the deep safety in conflict- by send two receiving threats. One defender can’t cover 2 receivers.
3: Post route- 7 yard stem.
4: Corner route- inside release, restack for 8 yards, break to the corner.
2: Out route- 4 yard stem.
1: Slant route- 3 yard stem.
QB: Read the concept side safety. Safety plays the post, throw the corner. Safety plays the corner, throw the post.
Switch Flood Concept
The Flood Concept is great against any zone coverage. It floods one side of the field with three receivers- the defense can only cover two receivers.
1: Corner post double move. 7 yard stem, break to the corner, 3 steps, break to the post.
C: Speed out / flat route.
3: Corner route- 8 yard stem.
2: Out route- inside release, restack 7 yards, break to the out.
QB: Read: 3 to 2 to C. Most of the time the 2 will be open.
3-Verticals
The Verticals Concept is great against cover 2 because you are sending three deep defenders- defense only has two deep defenders.
1: Outside release, get vertical- pull the safety.
2: Seam vertical- split the safeties.
4: Seam vertical.
3: Outside release, get vertical- pull the safety.
QB: Reading the throwing arm side safety. Safety plays seam vertical, throw the outside vertical. Safety plays the outside vertical, throw the seam vertical.
These are core concepts featured in my Attack System Playbooks. I offer Attack System Playbooks for 5v5, 6v6, and 7v7. Click the image above to visit my playbook shop.
All of these passing concepts are core concepts featured in my attack system playbooks.
Cover 2 Zone can be tough to attack if your quarterback does not understand where the weak spots are, but once you know how to stretch the flat defender, stress the deep half safety, and attack the open grass, it becomes much easier to move the football.
The key is giving your offense simple concepts with clear reads, so the QB can make fast decisions and get the ball out on time.