Playbooks

Cover 1 Hole

Dime·2-3-6·Big Dime 4-1-6
Cover 1Cover 1 HoleMan Coverage
Play diagram for Cover 1 Hole from Dime 2-3-6 in Madden 27

Quick Reference

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Breakdown

Cover 1 Hole is a man coverage shell out of the Dime 2-3-6 Big Dime 4-1-6 personnel that puts a single high safety over the top while the rest of the defense locks up in man coverage underneath. The diagram shows the deep safety (blue) breaking on an angle to rob the middle of the field, with the underneath defender (green/olive) sitting in the hole as a robber to cut off crossing routes and dig concepts. Four down linemen rush off the snap, giving you a four man pressure look while everyone else plays man match with a spy/robber underneath to take away the primary man beaters that attack the middle of the field.

Defensive Reads

Watch the quarterback's eyes immediately after the snap, since the underneath robber is designed to jump any in cut, drag, or dig route that tries to work through the middle third. If the offense trips a receiver to one side or runs mesh concepts, key on your linebackers staying disciplined in their man assignments so pick routes do not spring a free release. Track the single high safety's depth pre-snap, if he is shaded to a specific hash it can tip off which vertical shot play the defense expects and let the offense audible into a mismatch. Post-snap, if you see the robber bite too hard on a play action fake, that opens a throwing lane over the middle, so user control that defender only when you are confident in the run fit. This shell is vulnerable to well timed rub routes and pick plays near the line of scrimmage, so if the offense is running switch or bracket concepts be ready to communicate man coverage assignments quickly.

Usage Tips

Use this call on third and medium to third and long when you expect the offense to attack the middle of the field with drag or dig concepts, since the underneath robber is designed to sit right in that window.

Pre-snap, identify if the offense is running a heavy trips or bunch look, because the extra man in the hole helps you survive natural rub route combinations that usually give lockdown man trouble.

Hot route your outside corners into slightly more aggressive press alignment if you see a lot of quick game in the tendencies, since the single high safety and the robber give you support against big plays over the top.

Pair this call with Cover 1 Robber Show 2 and Cover 1 QB Contain in the same drive to disguise your shell, since all three start from a similar single high look but rotate the robber and safety responsibilities differently.

Avoid calling this against heavy four vertical stacks unless you are confident in your press corners, because if the deep safety gets indecisive on his rob angle you can get exposed on double moves outside.

Other Plays in 2-3-6