Running Cloud / Moon Coverage vs Trips

We’d all love to be able to stay in the same coverage, no matter what formation the offense trots out. However, there comes a time when we must shift coverage to a better option versus a formation that puts the original coverage at a disadvantage.

I’ve been asked several times about running Cover 2 against trips formations. While there are some ways to do it, and I have documented it in this members area, the truth is, sometimes there’s just a better coverage. That’s where cloud and moon coverage come in.

In the video below, I explained how to run both of these coverages versus an offensive trips formation. In a nutshell, cloud allows us to rotate the safeties toward the strong side of the field and limit the effectiveness of route combinations from trips. It allows us to place a defender in the flat while protecting ourselves over the top with safety rotation.

Moon coverage provides the same look pre-snap but offers a rotation to the weak side of the formation (i.e., the single receiver side) when the offense wants to isolate a matchup into the boundary.

I also included Moon coverage in this video. It’s a variation of Cover 2, which can be found in my book, The Ultimate 7-on-7 Defensive Playbook. If you do not have a copy of this, I highly recommend that you pick one up. As a member, you get 20% off the price. Whether you are a player or a coach, it is a great book to have in your collection. It offers simple and detailed explanations of common coverages, plus it features a couple of unique coverages that you may want to consider adding to your own playbook.

As always, if you have any questions about this video, feel free to contact me via email at cwilson@alleyesdbcamp.com. Thank you for being a member.

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alleyesdbcamp

Owner at All Eyes DB Camp

Chad Wilson is the founder of All Eyes DB Camp and a former standout defensive back for the Miami Hurricanes. After an elite collegiate career, Wilson spent a season with the Seattle Seahawks before transitioning into coaching. A 3-time Florida state champion defensive coordinator, he has spent over 20 years developing the "All Eyes" blueprint that has produced NFL All-Pros and stars like Xavien Howard, Patrick Surtain II, Tyson Campbell, Minkah Fitzpatrick and more. His coaching system is proven at the highest levels—his own sons, Quincy and Marco Wilson, both excelled as starters in the SEC before being drafted into the NFL.

Chad is the author of "101 DB Tips"—The Ultimate DB Reference Guide. You can find more information on the manual and how to order your copy in the sidebar and footer of this page.

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