Rip / Liz Coverage Explained

If you’ve been paying attention to defensive football, you’ve probably heard Rip/Liz coverage mentioned. However, what exactly is Rip/Liz coverage? In the video below, I give an explanation.

I remember being at a coaches clinic over a decade ago, and Nick Saban was the speaker. I sat down and diligently took notes. About 30 minutes had passed during his talk on one particular coverage. As I paused in my notes to summarize all that had been said to this point, I realized that for 30 minutes he had been talking about cover 3.

He would go on for about another 15 to 20 minutes before taking questions. All told, it was an hour-long discussion on one coverage, which is one of the most basic coverages in football, and again, it is cover 3.

The reason that Nick Saban had so much success as a defensive coach and as a coach in general was because of his attention to detail. The Cover 3 he was explaining that day was Rip/Liz, which I have explained for you in the video below. My video is not an hour long like Nick’s talk. However, it is 30 minutes long, and that is necessary for me, even in the most basic ways, to break down coverages for you in this area, for you to understand how it works.

Rip/Liz coverage, in a nutshell, is a way to play cover 3 and guard yourself against the dreaded seam routes that can destroy it. It involves safety rotation and varying responsibilities depending on that rotation.

I will leave the rest of the explanation for the video. If you have any questions regarding the video, feel free to reach out to me via email: 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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