One of the first defensive things which is taught to youth players is cover 1 defense. Players are assigned for covering specific players from the other team. In the game, there are also some players who are not assigned to specific players and roam freely across the field to provide extra support to the team. Cover 1 defense is flexible and there are potential options and provides great coverage and pressure. It has long-lasting power as an effective defensive technique no matter what age you are at and what level of experience the coach may be dealing with.
Who can use Cover 1 Defense?
This type of defensive technique can be used by any team, no matter what level the players are and their specific skills and experience on the team because the Cover 1 is a very simple defensive alignment with a man-to-man style.
Using cover 1 defense doesn’t require any special skills like stronger or faster players. Every football team should definitely have some form of a Cover 1 defensive alignment.
Strengths of Cover 1 Defense
Simple Alignment:- This technique is very easy to teach. It can be learned and executed at any level of play. It can be easily understood by everyone.
It is a universal defensive technique:- This defense is very popular because it can be used by any team, no matter the physical attributes and skills of the players on a specific team.
Cover 1 defense is Good Against the Run or Pass:- It is good because it’s a good match-up defense, the Cover 1 techniques can be used against during running plays as well as passing plays. There are rarely any inherent weaknesses of the alignment during the run or the pass.
It’s flexible:- Cover 1 defense can be used by all players and put in all over the field. Because pressure can come from both ways linebackers and players in the secondary. You can use this Cover 1 defense to not only apply pressure, but also make sure every opposition player on the field is accounted for.
It is a deceptive technique:- Because of the presence of so many wrinkles which can be added to the Cover 1 defense that makes it deceptive. The thing is that pressure doesn’t always come from the same players with the same levels of defense and it doesn’t come from the same side of the field.
Weaknesses of Cover 1 Defense
- Cover 1 defense is susceptible to Spread Formations. It works best against an offense which has two receivers, one on a tight end, and other two on running backs on the field. Players can take advantage by altering their personnel offense and bringing wide receivers onto the field.
- It is an easy scheme against the receiver. There are many teams who run a Cover 1 defense, it’s the most familiar look for offenses. It indicates that they don’t have to prepare much for a defensive scheme which is completely new to their team.
- Linebackers need to Cover – To have a successful Cover 1 defenSe is that linebackers who are not only able to cover a receiver but also are able to identify when they can go out in coverage and fill the holes against the run.
