The coverages in this quiz
Every coverage answers one question first: how many defenders are playing deep, and what are the rest doing? Count the deep players, then check whether the defenders underneath are running to a spot on the field or following a receiver.
Cover 0
Nobody deep. The corners and both safeties are in man on the receivers, with the safeties playing off over the #2 receivers. The Will, Mike and Sam are in the box, and the defense sends extra rushers. The ball has to come out fast.
Cover 1
One high safety in the middle of the field. Everyone else in coverage is in man on a receiver.
Cover 2
Both safeties get a deep half. The corners take the flats, two defenders take the curls, and the Mike runs the deep middle.
Cover 3
The free safety and both corners each get a deep third. Underneath, the nickel and the strong safety play curl-flat, and the Will and Mike play hook-curl.
New to this? Start with What is a gap in football?
How to read the whiteboards
The offense is at the bottom. Guards and tackles are circles, the center is the box with an X, and everyone else is a letter. On defense, C is a corner, FS and SS are the free and strong safety, W, M and S are the Will, Mike and Sam linebackers, N is the nickel, and E and T are the defensive line. Arrows show where each defender goes after the snap. A dotted line means a defender is in man coverage on that receiver.