How To Play Cover 0 | Coverages Explained

Cover 0 is the topic in this post.  Up until now,  the only two real man coverages I have discussed have been Cover 1 and 2 man.  Both of those have the reputation of being safe but that’s not the case with Cover 0.

Cover 0 tends to scare players and coaches.  Why?  Because zero means no one will align deep.  The mere thought of that is like a man on a high wire without a safety net.  That is a scary thought indeed.  You know who’s scared the least when a man is on a high wire without a net beneath him?  The guy that is actually on the high wire.  Why?  Because he has trained over and over for the act.

The same should be the case for the players and coaches that want to run this coverage.  In this video,  I explain the logic behind running Cover 0 and where the help comes from in Cover 0 since there is no safety standing back deep.  When taught adequately,  Cover 0 can either be a great change up coverage to surprise the offense with or,  depending on the skill level in your secondary and linebacking corps,  can be a coverage you run a majority of the time to wreak havoc on offenses that rely on a lot of timing.

In a nutshell,  by not having a safety back deep to help in coverage,  the defense can now devote an extra man to blitz the quarterback and cause the offense to make some mistakes.

Enjoy the video and as always,  feel free to ask questions or send feedback 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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