Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Cover 6 out of the Nickel Over set is a two-deep, quarter-quarter-half zone shell that splits the field into a quarters look to the trips or field side and a Cover 2 look to the boundary. The diagram shows two deep defenders sitting at the top of the screen while underneath defenders drop into short and intermediate zones, with one route running a shallow drag across the middle and another working a corner breaking route to the boundary. This is a zone coverage call built to defend both run and pass, taking away deep shots on the field side while keeping a hard flat defender ready to squeeze underneath routes to the boundary.
Defensive Reads
Read the receiver splits pre-snap, since Cover 6 is built to defend a boundary side with fewer receivers and a field side with three or more receivers running quarters concepts. Watch for offenses attacking the boundary corner with a two-man route combo, since the Cover 2 half on that side can be vulnerable to a corner and flat combination if the flat defender misreads his zone drop. Key the running back and tight end releases after the snap, since this zone shell depends on underneath defenders sinking to proper depth before reacting to shallow crossers or drags. This coverage struggles against fast motion or shifts that overload the quarters side with four verticals, so be ready to check to Cover 3 Buzz Match or Cover 4 Quarters if you see stacked or bunch alignments before the snap. Look for the deep half defender to stay disciplined against double moves to the boundary, since biting on a hitch or comeback can leave the corner route uncovered behind him.
Usage Tips
Check the pre-snap alignment of both safeties before the snap, since Cover 6 relies on one safety rotating late to the boundary side to create the Cover 2 half while the other stays deep to anchor the quarters shell.
Use this call on early downs or obvious passing situations against offenses that run trips or bunch formations to the field, since the quarters side matches up well against three-level stretch concepts.
Hot route your flat defender to the boundary into a deeper zone drop if you are seeing a lot of corner routes or fade shots, since the natural flat zone can leave that area thin against a good boundary receiver.
Pair Cover 6 with Cover 3 Sky or Cover 4 Quarters in your play-calling sequence so the offense cannot key on safety rotation, since all three shells start from a similar pre-snap look but rotate differently after the snap.
Spy or blitz the middle linebacker sparingly with this coverage since it is designed as a base zone call, and adding pressure can open passing lanes underneath before your zone defenders reach their landmarks.
