Playbooks
Cover 6 is a quarters and sky combo shell that splits the field into two coverage halves, playing quarters technique to the closed side (strong side) and Cover 3 sky to the open side (weak side) out of the 2-4-5 Big Nickel personnel. The strong side corner and safety play a two man match concept on the boundary while the weak side corner and safety roll into a three deep, four under look with the flat defender reading the number two receiver. This is a zone beater against man heavy route concepts and a solid answer to trips and 2x2 sets because it gives you split field integrity, and your primary post snap read is identifying which side the offense is attacking so you can trust your zone landmarks and let the coverage rules dictate assignments.
Pre snap, check safety depth and corner alignment, if both safeties are deep and corners are off you are likely getting quarters to sky, confirm your side assignments before the snap. Post snap, key the number two receiver to the weak side, if he releases vertically the flat defender should widen and the safety on that side rotates deep, if he sits underneath expect a hitch or curl read. Watch for lurk threats from your user controlled linebacker in the intermediate middle zone, this coverage is vulnerable to seam routes and deep crossers if the linebacker drops too shallow. This shell struggles against trips bunch formations and mesh concepts that overload one side, so identify 3x1 sets pre snap and consider a bracket or man match check instead. Cover 6 shuts down most curl flat and out and up combos to the quarters side, but stay alert for rub routes and pick concepts designed to free up the sky side corner in man to man situations.
Use this call on early downs or second and medium when you expect balanced route concepts rather than pure vertical shots.
Check the offensive formation pre snap, against 2x2 sets this shell holds up cleanly, but against 3x1 trips you may want to check to Cover 6 with a trips adjustment or bracket call if available.
User the strong side safety and stay disciplined on your quarters key, do not bite on double moves or you will open up the deep half.
Pair this call with Cover 4 Quarters and Cover 3 Sky in your play calling sequence so quarterbacks cannot key on a single deep shell based on your formation and personnel.
On third and long, mix in Cover 3 Sim Pressure or Sam Blitz 3 after showing Cover 6 pre snap to disguise your intentions and bait the quarterback into a bad read.