Defensive Positions

4-3 PERSONNEL
N = Nose
T = Tackle
E = Defensive End
E = Defensive End
M = Mike (Middle) LB
S = Sam (Strongside) LB
W = Will (Weakside) LB
SS = Strong Safety
FS = Free Safety
BC = Boundary Corner
FC = Field Corner

3-4 PERSONNEL
N = Nose
E = Defensive End
E = Defensive End
B = Buck LB
M = Mike (Middle) LB
S = Sam (Strongside) LB
W = Will (Weakside) LB
SS = Strong Safety
FS = Free Safety
BC = Boundary Corner
FC = Field Corner

NICKEL PERSONNEL
Teams send either a Defensive Lineman or a Linebacker off
the field and substitute in a 5th Defensive Back called the
Nickel Back.

Gaps
D
WR

C B A
TE

A B C
C

TE
WR

QB

Defensive Line Techniques

9 6
TE

5 4 4i 3 2 1 S 0 S 1 2 3 4i 4 5
T

6
TE

QB

**LB techniques/alignments are the same as D-Line except

you add a zero (0) to the end of the number.
i.e. 00, 10, 20, 30, and 40

FRONTS
EVEN FRONTS

EVEN (N=2, T=2)

OVER (N=Shade, T= 3)

UNDER (N= Shade, T= 3)

G (N=2, T=3)

ODD FRONTS
ODD (N=0, T=4)

EAGLE (N=0, T=4i)

STACK (N=0, T=5)

COVERAGES
2 HIGH SAFETIES
1 HIGH SAFETY
Cover 0 (all man)
Cover 1 (man-free)

Cover 2 (2 deep, 5 under) Cover 3 SKY (3 deep, 4 under)

Cover 2 READ

Cover 3 CLOUD (3 deep, 4 under)

Cover 4 (4 deep, 3 under) Cover 3 FIRE (3 deep, 3 under)

Cover 5 (2 deep, man under) Cover 7/9 (3 deep, 5 under)

Defensive Fronts
4-3 Even
FS

CB

SS

T G C

G T

Y
Z

QB
H

CB

Defensive Fronts
4-3 Over
FS

CB

SS

T G C

G T

Y
Z

QB
H

CB

Defensive Fronts
4-3 Under
FS

CB

SS

CB
S

T G C

G T

QB
H

Defensive Fronts
4-4 Over
FS
CB

CB
W

T G C

G T

Y
Z

QB
H

SS

Defensive Fronts
4-4 Under
FS
CB

CB
W

T G C

G T

Y
Z

QB
H

SS

Defensive Fronts
5-3 Under
FS
CB

CB
M

T G C

G T

QB
H

Defensive Fronts
5-2 Under
FS

CB

SS

T G C

G T

Y
Z

QB
H

CB

Defensive Fronts
5-2 Odd
FS

CB

SS

T G C

G T

Y
Z

QB
H

CB

Defensive Fronts
3-4 (Odd)
FS

SS

CB

CB
S

W
X

T G C

G T

QB
H

Defensive Fronts
3-3 Stack
FS
CB

CB
N

T G C

G T

Y
Z

QB
H

SS

Coverages
Cover 0
SS

FS
W

CB

T G C
H

QB

G T

CB

Y
Z

Iden1fying Cover 0

1) Everybody is playing man coverage.

2) No deep safe1es.
3) Safe1es align directly on the #2 receiver, instead
of on the hash marks.
4) Safe1es have a depth less than 10 yards from the
Line of Scrimmage (LOS).
5) Defensive backs look at their WR, instead of the
QB.

Coverages
Cover 1
FS

CB

T G C

X
H

QB

G T

SS

CB

Y
Z

Iden1fying Cover 1 (One Deep Defender)

1) One safety in the middle of eld (MOF) playing

deep.
2) Everyone else is playing man coverage.
3) Corners look at the WR, instead of the QB.
4) Corners are aligned inside the WR with back
turned to the QB.

Coverages

Cover 2
FS

CB

SS

CB

Flats
X

Flats
T G C

G T

QB

Iden1fying Cover 2 (2 Deep Defenders)

1) Two deep safe1es aligned on the hash marks at a

depth of 10-12 yards.
2) Corners are at a 4-5 yard depth with outside
leverage looking in at the QB. [*This is referred
to as a Cloud corner.]
3) Outside LBs play closer to the box instead of
aligning o the #2 receiver.

Coverages
Cover 20
FS

SS

M
CB

T G C
H

QB
F

G T

CB

Y
Z

Coverages

Cover 3
FS

CB

CB

Flats

T G C

X
H

G T

SS

Flats

QB

Iden1fying Cover 3 (3 Deep Defenders)

1) One deep safety in the middle of eld (MOF)

covering the deep middle zone.
2) Corners playing O coverage responsible for
the zone from the hash marks to the sideline. CB
depth is about 7-8 yards o the WR.
3) Outside LBs aligned on the #2 receiver and are
responsible for covering the ats.

Coverages

Cover

4
FS

SS
CB

CB

Flats

T G C
H

QB

G T

Flats

Y
Z

Iden1fying Cover 4 (Four Deep Defenders)

1) Safe1es are aligned on the hash marks at a 10-12

yard depth playing deep middle quarters.
2) Corners are O at a 7-8 yard depth playing
deep outside quarters.
3) Outside LBs align on the #2 receiver and are
responsible for covering the ats.

Coverages
Cover 6

FS

CB

SS

T G C
H

QB
F

G T

CB

Y
Z