Cover 9 Explained

Many of you may not know that a Cover 9 exists but it does.  Perhaps your team calls it something else or maybe it’s something you’ve just never seen before.  Whatever the case may be,  in the video below,  I explain how it works.  You may run into it one day and it would be great for you to be familiar with the basics of how it works.

If you are a coach and run into some of the problems that Cover 9 may solve,  then you’re welcome (*lol*).  Sometimes, in trips formation,  defenses struggle to cover three verticals from the trips side especially when teams put speed at the #3 receiver.  Enter Cover 9 to save the day.  It’s a great way to eliminate a mismatch on your backer and put the clamps on this tactic by pesky offenses.

You may also see a way to tweak the tweaks of Cover 9 which in it’s purest form is Cover 3 with a weak side rotation.  It was brought into widespread consciousness by Vic Fangio who is currently the defensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles after serving in the same role for the Dolphins in 2023.

If you have any questions regarding the coverage or any comments,  feel free to reach out to 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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