Coverages: The Difference Between Cover 2 and Tampa 2

Cover 2 is a very simple, basic and effective coverage for defenses to use in a variety of situations.  However,  like most other things in football,  there are variations and it can sometimes get confusing.

Cover 2 came to prominence in the 80’s when the Miami Hurricanes became prime users of it.  They ran the coverage in conjunction with a 4-3 defense and dominated a decade of college football opponents.  By the time,  I arrived at the University of Miami in 1992,  Cover 2 was the staple coverage we ran and did so to perfection.  With the aid of a strong defensive front,  Cover 2 allowed us to take away big pass plays while remaining tough against the run.

Over the years,  Cover 2 was adopted by other teams including the NFL.  The Tampa Bay Buccaneers famously used it to slow down the Greatest Show on Turf Rams team to get themselves into the Super Bowl.  The Bucs version featured a few tweaks that were unique to their personnel.  The tweaks became so unique that a new coverage emerged called “Tampa 2”.

In the video I have below,  I show you the differences between the traditional Cover 2 and the Tampa 2.  Some defenses nowadays run Tampa 2 and just call it Cover 2.  Watching this video will help you understand the differences between the two and how it changes the individual responsibilities for each defender.

If you have any questions,  feel free to send me a message via email to: 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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