Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 13 playbooks
Breakdown
Cover 2 Sink is a zone coverage shell out of the Dime 2-3-6 Will set with Big Dime 2-3-6 personnel on the field. The two deep safeties sink into their traditional deep halves while the four underneath defenders drop into short zones (two hook/curl zones flanked by two outside flat/cushion zones), and the rusher (green icon) drops as a spy or shallow zone dropper rather than blitzing off the edge. This is a zone beater designed to protect against deep vertical shots while funneling underneath throws into the flat defenders, so your primary read progression starts by identifying which underneath zone widens or leaves a soft spot, then working from the deep half safety leverage down to the flat defenders before checking any late-arriving vertical shot up top.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, look at the cornerback depth: if they are playing off with outside leverage, that confirms the deep half responsibility and tells you the sideline should be safe from double moves. Watch the underneath defenders for a spy or zone drop instead of a blitz; if the offense is expecting pressure and gets a coverage look instead, they may throw into a defender sitting in the route. This shell is vulnerable to the deep middle seam and to any route that settles right at the boundary between the two deep safeties, so user the safety over the top of any vertical crosser threatening that gap. Man beater concepts with combo routes stacking receivers can stress the flat defenders since they carry limited depth; if you see stacked or bunch formations, get ready to widen your flat drop early. Cover 2 Sink loses value against hard play-action rollouts that pull the underneath defenders out of position, so key the offensive line for run-blocking action before committing your linebackers to their zone drops.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, check for two deep safeties aligned at depth to confirm Cover 2 is actually showing and not disguising into man or a single-high shell.
Use this on early downs or second-and-medium when you expect a mix of run and short passing, since the underneath zones squeeze the middle of the field and discourage quick game.
Hot route one of your flat defenders into a deeper zone if you are worried about a corner route or deep out attacking the sideline behind the shallow flat coverage.
Pair this call with Cover 2 Hard Flat or Tampa 2 in the same set to keep opposing quarterbacks guessing between hard flat pressure and true deep half sink technique.
Since the rusher is often dropping instead of rushing, use this on third-and-short to bait check-down throws into a zone that is actually manned by an extra defender.
