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Cover 2 Shell

By Coach Kip | October 23, 2007

I heard a commentator use this term this weekend and it struck me that not everyone who was watching would know what this means.

A Cover 2 Shell is a defensive coverage using maximum coverage underneath, or for the shorter routs, with two safeties helping on the deep halves of the field.

A Cover 2 Shell is typically run with a nickel or dime defense. The defense will try to match skill players with skill players. The cornerbacks will take the wide receivers man to man. If there is a slot receiver or inside receiver this is where the extra defensive backs come in to play. The extra DB’s will take the inside players man to man. The linebackers will take the running backs man to man. There will then be two safeties who will help with coverage for the deep pass patterns.

If your linebackers are fast enough, and if you are able to get the right personnel on the field then it can be a very good defense. With the remaining players who are not locked up in man coverage they are free to put pressure on the quarterback. With this pressure the quarterback should not have enough time to throw the ball down field. If the quarterback does try this the safeties should have a good opportunity to make a play on the ball.

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