Football Glossary

Quarters coverage and its variations are scattered all across football. Combining the ability for safeties to provide support on the back end, as well as in the run game is a big reason for the heavy usage of the coverage.  Defensive coordinators possess the ability to easily tailor the coverage against a variety of threats an offense can present, allowing the defense to focus on alignment and assignment to play fast throughout the course of a game.  As you may guess, offenses adapt and revolve just as defenses do, with plenty of answers and ideas centered around beating the coverage...

Looking for a downloadable Take A Knee Chart? Get your free copy of the “Take A Knee Chart” below in PDF AND Google Sheets Format. What is a Take a Knee Chart? A take a knee chart in football is used by football coaches to determine when they can have the offense take a knee, an almost risk-free play that is designed to run time off the clock at the end of the game.  This strategy is used when the offense is ahead at the end of a game and wants to preserve their lead until the clock runs out. ...

The cover 3 defense still has a prominent role in creating advantages for defenses looking to put a stop to big plays downfield, while also having a strong presence in stopping the run.  Pass-heavy attacks at both the college and professional levels have seen a rise in 2-high, split-field coverages in response from defenses over recent years. Still, Cover 3 remains a big part of defenses at every level. Reads for offenses in the passing game depend heavily on safety structure, and the use of cover 3 allows defenses to disguise their alignment pre-snap, forcing QBs to remain mentally sharp,...

Cover 2 is one of the most popular defenses at every level of football today, and that's for one big reason: It works. It's become the go-to coverage for defenses facing a limited QB, since defenses can take away quick game throws, while ultimately forcing throws in tight windows downfield with safeties on the prowl.  However, there are still plenty of ways to attack Cover 2 – creating explosive plays with the combination of reactive quarterback play, and wide receivers with awareness for zone voids in the defense.  Continue reading below to see how offenses attack cover 2.  How does Cover 2 Work?...

The reverse play is one of the most exciting high-risk, high-reward plays in football. Do it right, and the fans will cheer for a big play.  Do it wrong, and the offense is in danger of losing a ton of yards and killing their momentum. But how does the reverse work, why is it so effective, and how many different versions are there? Keep reading to learn more. What is the reverse play? The reverse is a play designed to deceive the defense by running the ball in one direction before giving it to another player running in the opposite direction. For...