Ever since I began writing for AZSPORTSUNDERGROUND.com, I have taken an interest in expanding my knowledge of the game. I just finished reading the book The Pass Coverage Glossary by Cameron Soren. I highly recommend this for any type of knowledge of basic coverage calls and checks.
I want to update the language and terminology I will be using in order for people to follow along with what I’m trying to illustrate in a coverage call.
The play above is just a basic example of positions in which they usually line up. We know the defenders in the box are usually off ball, the third-level defenders are safeties and the outer most defenders are corners. Obviously, the defenders on the line of scrimmage are down linemen either DT’s or DE’s/OLB’s, these terms don’t affect what they do because most of the time they usually aren’t part of the coverage calls or checks, they do drop into coverage during certain calls, usually on all out blitz calls (Blitz zero).
Today’s modern NFL is quickly becoming more athletic on both offense and defense. Obviously, the linebackers have gone through a huge transition to being more versatile, and I’m not referring to Isaiah when I’m referencing this.
This is the modern NFL today and there is so much nuance when defenders are dealing with coverage assignments that are closer to the QB. That is why when viewing a digram from coaches that teach modern-day coverages, they look like this.
This is a coverage call from Nick Saban’s playbook, and you notice right away that the positions are labeled differently. Notice you see two C’s two A’s and two H’s. This is a single high structure, again this play call is just an example. So the C’s are considered just basic Corners, they will always be labeled as the outermost defenders of the play call.
Note: this does not mean they are strictly played by Cornerbacks, this is just the label for the simplicity of the play call. Again the assignments are designated for the position on the field, therefore the different labels.
The A’s are the APEX defenders, they are always the defenders next to and inside of the Corners. This is where I believe the change in the labels is necessary due to the fact that in the modern NFL the Apex can be a Corner (slot), a Safety, or a Linebacker. It’s all depending on the defensive structure and what the teams philosophy is.
For example: The Cardinals have a player labeled LB/S but he can also cover from the slot position, so when placed in said position he is then the APEX. There is a caveat, there are always 2 Apex’s on the field in all coverage calls because of the next position.
The H’s are the Hook defenders, this is the position relegated to always being in the box closest to the middle of the formation inside of the Apex defender. Depending on whether it’s a 1 high safety or 2 high safety structure there will be 1 or 2 hook defenders on a certain play call. In 1 high there will be 2 Hook’s, in 2 high there will be 1.
Again that’s not saying that in 2 high structures where there will be 1 hook defender that it means there will be 1 Inside/Middle Linebacker on the field, it could mean that one of the linebackers will be the APEX, or both Apex’s could be defensive backs.
Whether it’s 2 high or single high, defensive calls can be structured where it’s half-field responsibilities mostly due to what formation the offense is in. Example: responsibilities can be changed between 2 by 2 and 3 by 1 formations. Having the running backfield and motioning can affect responsibilities completely as does a WR in motion.
The last thing to mention is the division of the two sides of the field, but in general, the left side of a play call is usually the strong side while the right side is considered the weak side. The proper way to identify on film is the bigger side is considered the strong side and the smaller side is the weak side. Other notable references are the side with more eligible receivers and the attached TE is usually the strong side.
Other names for each side include as follows:
- The strong side can be called the play side and the Field side.
- The weak side can be called the backside and the Boundary.
Ok, lets get started on responsibilities, which I’m only gonna cover the basics in a split safety and single high safety call.
The first play call will be MEG, in Saban terms, and cover 4. This is the same coverage call, and this coverage call involves both sides playing to mirror each other in techniques, both corners, apex and safeties have the same responsibilities.
So like the play call, Meg simply means Man Everywhere he Goes which simply means man coverage. Now, this doesn’t mean the corner travels with the receiver because this is still a Match-Zone coverage, but whoever is the number 1 receiver (outermost) the corner is tasked with covering.
Next is the Apex defender, once again this is not solely a corner, it can be a safety and linebacker as well. Now the Apex will be tasked with the number 2 receiver which is normally a Slot WR or a Tight End, on rare occasions it can be a Running Back. The Apex will play man coverage except if the number 2 goes verticle, in that case the Apex will play a Wall Technique, which means the Apex will wall off the number 2 in order to reroute the receiver to the top of his route, then he passes off the number 2 to the safety and plays man on man on anyone who enters the flat. If no one enters the flat, then the number 2 will zone off and read the QB’s intentions.
The Apex will also have to listen for something called a PUSH call from the Hook (MLB) which I will explain further when I cover the Hook responsibilites, but what it means for the Apex is the number 3 receiver is fast to the flat, and the Hook is tasking the Apex to cover him. In that circumstance, the Apex ignores everything and takes the #3 to the flat.
Next is the Hook defender, which is usually the Middle Linebacker or Mike in 3-4 base defense. The Hook is usually tasked with taking the #3 receiver whether that’s an attached Tight End or a Running Back out of the backfield. The PUSH call I referred to earlier is a check that’s done usually within the first seconds of the snap, if you read my last article “5th Year Conundrum” you will remember the play call against the Chargers where Ben Neimann had the RB in coverage and made the PUSH call to Isaiah. Here it is again.
This check is done only when the Hook can’t get to the #3 to the flat, after the check is made the Hook defender takes on the Apex responsibities which is Wall off the number #2 to the top of his route, pass him off to the Safety if he’s verticle. If the Hook can get to the number 3, he is responsible for covering him. If the number #3 does not run a route, the Hook is to defend the “Hook” area (I know confusing right), I’ve referred to this as the “underneath zone”. Basically, he’s to read the QB and defend any routes like digs and shallows routes that enter his zone.
Last, but very important, are the safeties and it is very straight forward and the same for both safeties (Strong and Weak side). They have their #2 receiver vertical BUT only if the #2 to goes vertical. In any other case, the 2 isn’t verticle then they are tasked to rob the #1 receiver to their side if they go verticle, so priority is 2 over 1, this is called playing robber 2 to 1. Here’s the play visualized:
This a picture straight from the book I referenced earlier. As far as coverage rules it’s straight forward, the checks are to the Apex defender with Smash and Push being the 2 to listen to. The deeper I read into the book, the more I realized how important communication and experience are.
I have been majorly critical of how we have developed rookies in our defense, they need live reps in order to develop those relationships to each other. Vance may have thought athleticism doesn’t matter if they can’t hit their correct landmarks, but choosing to do so only took crucial snaps away to develop the chemistry they sorely needed. That being said the veterans on our team were not mistake free, I noticed blown coverages in 2020 and 2021.
I have confidence that with the system that Jonathon Gannon and Nick Rallis will employ, our Hook and Apex defenders will have the athleticism to be able to execute their coverage assignments, especially at the Hook positions. I will be doing single high safety on my next article, I hope this helped out and moving forward I will be using these positions and terminology.
Thanks for the time you spent reading my article, I greatly appreciate the time spent and will be thankful to Kyler and Joseph for giving me the opportunity to learn with you guys.
