How to Play Zone Defense & When to Use Cover 2, Cover 3, or Cover 4 | NFL Film Sessions

Former Giants defensive coordinator and Rams Head Coach Steve Spagnuolo breaks down how to play zone defense and when to use cover 2, cover 3, and cover 4.
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[@kimlamberthmatic6720]

Watching this after this man won back to back Superbowls as Defensive Coordinator.

[@justinjackson5899]

🔥🔥🔥💯

[@Andrew_M_Ward]

He was unemployed when he made this video if you can imagine that - No NFL team thought they needed him (seriously) ridiculous

[@lotleo987]

This video could be 10 hours longer. Id watch the whole thing.

[@alphabarre9096]

Facts son 👍

[@PontFX]

FACTS. I want MORE of THIS

[@Lucy-tf1cw]

@NatarisX I live in the UK and Football(soccer) has always been my number 1 sport but only recently got into into NFL and I'm really enjoying it and you are right it definitely feels like I'm watching Chess with all the intricacies and complexities of schemes etc. There's definitely a lot I'm still learning but I have utmost respect for this game.

[@Legendkilla05]

@@Lucy-tf1cw Thank You

[@58thatdude]

Likewise

[@ono3869]

What's the conversion from Yahds to Yards?

[@insertclevername4123]

I think it's something like 25:1, based on the fact that in most of the country it's at least 2500 yards between Dunkin' stores, while in Massachusetts it's no more than 100 yahds.

[@carbonclaw7280]

Lmfao i love this

[@MattEldridgeFilm]

LMAO

[@KobeFootball]

@@insertclevername4123 LMFAOOOOO

[@derickisler7816]

Same conversion as unicorns to leprechauns

[@17fromla]

This helps in madden

[@Philossapiens]

Dany Simon but more in the real life, in the football field... 🏈

[@theRobler]

it really doesn't

[@verbfrombonsai8852]

Just run the ball outside with a 95+ speed rb. Lol 😂😂😂

[@dang5217]

@@theRobler then you don't understand offensive scheme lol you have to understand offensive scheme to understand what exactly these defensive schemes mean. If you onow both it'll help a little in madden lol

[@theRobler]

@@dang5217 I understand this just fine. what I'm saying is because Madden doesn't really require the right scheme to counter another. in earlier maddens, quarter could be the best run defense, and 46 could barely stop a nose bleed.

[@DeeModavis]

Back after Spags defense just led us to back to back championships. My guys spags really the 🐐🐐🐐🐐

[@themaddendynasty5099]

You’re on the team? 🤡

[@vindigga6]

This is the kind of stuff espn should be showing, instead of 2 grown men yelling at each other over non sense.

[@piggy8761]

Yelling at each other over who’s “more clutch” and “who’s more motivated” is easier to do requires low brain energy than analyzing coverages, plays, and technique etc Easier for the guy who sits at home

[@vindigga6]

@@piggy8761 i understand that and agree, but not 24hrs of it. At least have some segments to break it up.

[@piggy8761]

@@vindigga6 yeah I’d rather see X and O analysis all day

[@bearsamos]

Me trying to form a defensive scheme in Madden

[@jpm029]

Not much to scheme from basic coverages unless your doing zone blitzing

[@jpm029]

@Wayne Ford evidence??

[@depressedravensfansince2014]

These are great analysis, now I can study these to get ready for my games.

[@corwinbrown2643]

And it helps when playing Madden.

[@benniebaldwin9179]

Same

[@depressedravensfansince2014]

I don't know lmao.

[@DPMixing]

If you don’t know already know basic zone defense, you’re not playing in any games lol.

[@billyfay3545]

Basically

[@CoreyAMoore]

I could listen to Coach Spags talk Defense all day and I'd love to sit there and watch tape with him just to see what he sees and why/how he's been so successful over the years

[@danielsgro5294]

I hate they don't show all the players on the field, they only follow the ball and then you see a CB getting burnt. I would like to see what happened and how things played about. Then you can really appreciate and understand the game.

[@alanwalters8006]

I'd love to be able to purchase a feed that shows the All52 or the wire cam. Can you imagine having the screen broken into quads with 4 different feeds running synced? It'd be so cool.@@danielsgro5294

[@timothymcalinden]

Thank you nfl. I have been on offense for 8 years and this year I’m switching it up. This was very informative to me!

[@RGELITE]

How tf is that even possible

[@lhart99]

I have so much respect for Steve Spagnuolo. The work he did with the Giants as their defensive coordinator was off the chain! In my humble opinion, Steve is the best defensive coordinator in the game right now.

[@nickyoung3008]

yeah.. didn’t age too well, bengals made his defense look like straight dookie

[@erikgonzalez1306]

​@@nickyoung3008 What is old is new again

[@mannix1969]

Interesting stuff. I love Spags. He was DC when my Giants beat the undefeated Pats. He was successful because he had an incredible D line. Strahan, Umenyiora, Tuck, Kiwanuka. You can scheme all day. You still need the talent.

[@NYG5]

And those were just the ends

[@alphabarre9096]

That's exactly what he did for the second time when he came back scheming all day with no good result because there was no good talent anymore lol,I will miss him though

[@NYG5]

@@alphabarre9096 I mean, it worked well in 2015 when they actually had some players

[@alphabarre9096]

@@NYG5 you mean in 2016

[@NYG5]

@@alphabarre9096 oh yeah, my bad. 2015 was Coughlin's last year, right? When the traitors in the front office ran him out of town chasing the Packers hype train

[@CoffeeSuccubus]

It's like watching war games. This is my favorite part of American football.

[@suuuperjamaru]

From a military standpoint I’m with you on this 🤞🏾 Live strategies & real offense vs defense tests ⚡️it’s too dope

[@j.peaceo1031]

American Football . . . more than just the ball. It's battlefield strategizing.

[@Tevyn843]

That guy won us a super bowl this year 👍🏽

[@twizack]

We have 2 with him now. :)

[@Tevyn843]

@@twizack hopefully 3 in 3 weeks

[@twizack]

@@Tevyn843 I would absolutely love that. I will definitely get championship merch and go to the parade this year.

[@ggsnubs]

I love these kinds of videos!! Keep them coming

[@carbonclaw7280]

Much like Peyton Manning doing breakdowns of plays. I miss those. He's very good at explaining, and throws jokes in there like, talking about how SSs can get across the field faster then you think and Troy and Ed still give him nightmares 😂

[@relaxedindividual7447]

As a defensive backs coach, this video was very beneficial for me. Thanks for sharing this.

[@The__Nation]

Thank you 🙏. for this content

[@zmon-ql5tg]

Falcon Nation How did you get the NFL to like your comment?

[@davejoe1385]

Falcon Nation, hopefully your team watches this and don't blow anther Super Bowl

[@The__Nation]

Dave Joe think you got the wrong channel or comment bro Faster pussycat was an local artist in the 80’s this is the NFL

[@daddyskaddy94]

Falcon Nation Rise up baby

[@j_ackboy]

Use big nickel on madden, sky 3 zone or 3 zone match. Replace your lbs with dBs. Replace one of your ends with your fastest lb Place that lb in a zone or qb sky. You’re welcome

[@jpm029]

cover 3 is the most balanced compared to the cover 2 or 4 since first of all a cover 3 is a good run defense with 8 in the box and cover 3 dosent have a major hole like a cover 2 would(middle of field) or cover 4 ( underneath field) and the 8th guy in the box can be used as a blitzer or a spy and adds versatility to a defense unlike the others which are predictable. Have to make sure your top 2 CB'S have good enough speed to cover deep routes but your nickel and dime CB'S can be more physical than fast since there playing underneath zones in a cover 3.

[@jpm029]

@Omega8kilo not against cover 3 as much as cover 2 but using all speed defenders is a lose lose

[@Javzthagod813]

This ain't ultimate team 🤧🤧🤧🤧

[@Javzthagod813]

I just rushed for over 150 with leveon and he was in cover 3 all game 🤧🤧🤧🤧🤧🤧

[@j_ackboy]

Javier Rodriguez your 8 months too late

[@coolioflame]

Still can't believe my Giants fired this guy. Dude was phenomenal in our Superbowl victories and last year's defense was hardly his fault.

[@ricksanchez9232]

In the end, it does not matter, if you don't have the personnel.

[@christophercolasurdo919]

Michael Enriquez victory* he wasn’t there in 2011

[@Ty_N_KC]

We appreciated you guys doing so :) He's a fantastic coach man

[@profusionlifetv7183]

In Spags We Trust

[@WilsonS965]

His finger gets me every time! 1:57

[@EpiicDutchman]

More videos like this please!! Love understanding and being able to disect strategies!!

[@open2626]

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE what Spags said at the very end......"the coverage never works, if you don't do that" (referring to "redirect" or "reroutes". This is 1000% true. I'd argue that in every zone scheme, you need reroutes to keep receivers from just running free and to disrupt timing! Cover 2 is one of the strongest coverages you can run when you have the proper rules in place. Rerouting is one of those. Another, is having your corners stay square to the LOS and if there is an outside release by their receivers; 1) they try and drive the receiver OOBs to make them ineligible and 2) as soon as the receiver gets an outside release the corner stays on the inside hip (it becomes man to man cov. at that point). This keeps teams from simply releasing 3-4 receivers deep to overwhelm your two safeties! Now there's more to the technique but that is a basic start to running C2 and being strong against run, short passing game and deep passing game!

[@aaroncampos4654]

And normal people think football is this simple game of run, catch and tackle, nope....its literally like a violent chess match and thats why i love this game

[@ericdunn9001]

Let me point out that this guy is a disciple of Eagles legend Jim Johnson.

[@Ty_N_KC]

Thanks for the Superbowl ring Coach!!

[@haroldconcannon917]

I love a thorough breakdown and intake into defenses. Thank you!

[@getofab721]

as a person who's never played organized football, i learned more about Defense in this 6 minutes than i have in 20+ years of being a fan

[@jasonhamilton2509]

Best summary of Cover 2/3/4 I’ve seen.

[@chrismcdermott7954]

Same. I love the tactics and intricacies of the defense and coach Spagnulo breaks it down so its easy to understand.

[@HarbingerOfBattle]

A wise man once said “If you can’t explain it simply you don’t know it well enough.”

[@Eidenhoek]

I have watched this unintentionally at least three times. I've watched it on purpose about five. Wonderful.

[@gloriosatierra]

GOD, i love football 🥹

[@taylortottanner691]

This is amazing content this will help me a lot in my game

[@thunter992]

Thank you for this type of video

[@BondsSin]

I learned more about football from this video than my whole life of watching football

[@carlosmatos9848]

He did a great job of explaining the different schemes and the defensive philosophy in general. Football is definitely more fun when you understand what's going on out on the field.

[@alex7633]

I love this, keep it up NFL.

[@dre_withwithout]

I wish Monte Kiffin would do a video on Tampa 2...

[@donnacochran3335]

And this is why Steve is the best ❤! Watched him make some of the best defense in the NFL. 2023 Defense has pretty much carried the Chiefs... defense win's championship's.

[@Chairman7w]

Great stuff here. So many factors influence which of these to use, and part of being a great coach is knowing which to go to, and when. What down is it? What's the field position? What's the game time? (1st quarter? 4th?) What are the strengths of your Defensive team personnel-wise? What are the strengths of your opponent team personnel-wise? God, I love football.

[@BIGNOSEPOPPA]

Break down some scenarios on when you would personally use each coverage.

[@okrajoe]

Great summary. Now I understand it.

[@brandonchan956]

I really enjoyed this video. I simplified the game so that I can really enjoy it!

[@QueensStandUp]

One of the best defensive minds in the game

[@StaticShock26]

Preciate the video, has no idea how to run zone in Madden, definitely helpful.

[@OpinionMan100]

Spags came into my work and was sitting at the bar just glued to college football lol.

[@forgetqble3372]

This is really helpful and will help me understand how to play zone and coverage

[@LowkAlexander]

Jeez this guy can coach

[@jessewilliams8655]

Who in here is a chiefs fan spying on our new guy

[@and8302]

Me

[@Iamhermanmurill0]

All day this guy Steve seems bright!! I like his energy man... and I’m all for blitzing

[@TheMattaconda11]

He seems legit. 🤷🏻‍♂️ I'm excite!!

[@JessaniesAdventures]

Me lol

[@autodidacticprofessor869]

Yep. ;)

[@rubinturner8233]

Great insight from coach.

[@j.peaceo1031]

Like a battlefield. Love football.

[@MrMicronano]

And the key to it all was never mentioned, pressure with 4. Big tall men in the QBs vision dramatically shrinking his sight lines and throwing windows

[@l.o.r410]

Technique is the key 🙏🏼 Football is just football but there’s special players out there man that can just do it so much better.

[@yuyufool117]

as a giants fan I have nothing but respect for this man.

[@mroverdose14]

Depends on the focus of your cover. I coach and teach a flat footed route adjusted cover 4. Safeties in cover 4 become alley contain/Fill replace players players in run. 3-4 base alignment. In pass situations its easy as you play quarters and protect the hashes and don't allow anything pass you while not giving too large of a cushion (so you can still close , 5-7 yards in my key but differs for different player skill levels and levels on the field). For instance I was able to stay close as I could nearly recover with any WR in High school and college. Low 4.4 guy and usual hovered around 3 yards from a players. Cover 4 in High School is usually used to stop outside runs and deep passes, forces Low level QBs to throw intermediate passes (hardest passes for high School QBs) which require them to read the field and and be accurate. Understand why you run a coverage and what situations you run it for. kinda already gives you an idea of what the offense wants to do. Half the battle is knowing

[@TexasWreckShop]

U made my brain hurt

[@johnjperricone7856]

This is awesome. Want more of this.

[@richiec.2042]

Preach Spags... PREACH!!!

[@poster242]

Thanks for this!!!

[@Youngtwan673]

One my favorite defense plays.

[@petenojd]

More of this type of video please!

[@supersparrow7925]

I love these soo much 👍👍

[@imago_deon]

More of this please , NFL

[@cabie58]

More please 🙏

[@maxswietelsky8792]

MORE PLEASE!

[@dre_withwithout]

Thank you steve

[@shawngreene1225]

Very informative

[@raider2071]

Great insight

[@anthonymckenzie8522]

Best of the best👏

[@AG-vk5or]

More of this please

[@KenjiMapes]

Love Spags and everything he did for the NY Football Giants. He ran a masterful defense in the Superbowl vs the Pats. On his second stint with the Giants, I was ecstatic he came back and was hopeful he’d take over after the McAdoo fiasco. Unfortunately he didn’t get the job and was saddened to see him leave again. A lot in life is timing. Had he stayed in NY and not left for the Rams, his first Head Coaching gig probably wouldve been the Giants after Coughlin was gone. After Shurmur was hired, I was hoping he stayed on, but am happy with our new DC James Bettcher who is very similar-only difference is Spags is a 4-3 guys vs Bettchers 3-4 base. Chiefs fans, you should be happy. Spags is loved by his guys and he isn’t one of those quiet coaches. He’s animated on the sidelines, pumps up his guys and you’ll see him cheer for the defense. I think a personable D coordinator is much better than one of those insular up-in-the-booth type coaches who doesn’t do face to face much with his players on Sunday. His defense is aggressive and fast and holds guys accountable. And he makes in game adjustments instead of the deer in the headlight look some defense coordinators have when they’re out coached and outclassed. You should be ecstatic he is your new coordinator.

[@beardgangman]

Spags is great

[@MrWetrek]

More of this!

[@plumtiger1]

bruh, this was so interesting. I wish they would go into more detail . this makes so much sense now!

[@MrC-55]

Thank you that was great

[@armandomacias8403]

Love this

[@formula1555]

I’m going to take this knowledge to Madden

[@bb3283]

Need more!!

[@PR_311]

where can i find the full episode? maybe i'm just blind but i didin't saw a nfl film session under the category of NFL films on gamepass and i got no clue how to search there xD

[@392BJ]

this helped a lot

[@58thatdude]

Good stuff I love it

[@manny75586]

Awesome video

[@donaldanderson6408]

This is why I love football

[@zStickyTreeFrog]

More of this pls

[@pyrog.c.c89]

Awesome 🇺🇲

[@Joeygraz4]

Thanks

[@growthmindset2039]

Spags is a genius… his scheme and play calling week in and week out won the chiefs the bowl this year. Dude should’ve been a head coach years ago, one of the best to ever do it no doubt

[@kencheng2929]

good to see spags doing his thing!

[@user-mj3hl7xe3i]

He just won his 4th Super Bowl crazy he has to be the greatest DC…

[@Danny-ul3xz]

Into quarantine got me watching all these videos... Need at least an hours wortha video 🤣

[@johnryal]

This should get some love today

[@Obiwannabe]

Love you spags.

[@jessevu4585]

Thank god, I’m a brand new safety for my high school and we play cover 4 as our base and I don’t know what’s going on 😂

[@MikeBNumba6]

jesse vu when I played in high school our coaches did such a shitty job explaining what cover 4 was. It came down to basically playing man coverage except you don't follow the wr across the field as a corner if he ran a slant pattern. Wasn't until I played in college that I understood what cover 4 really was

[@hectorrodriquez8785]

jesse vu Cov4 is a zone pass coverage with man principles. Think of it as a hybrid coverage commonly used against 2x2 formations. If you play either free or strong safety you will line up over or near the inside receiver (#2) anywhere from 8 -12 yards off depending on down, distance or situation. When the ball is snapped use a s-l-o-w back peddle and read qb to #2 receiver for run/pass read. If #2 receiver clears past the linebacker on your side and continues upfield, speed up your peddle cause you have him man to man - Don't get beat deep!!! Now, If #2 runs a short route (slant, drag, hitch, speed out) let the backers play it and find the #1 receiver while gaining depth in your back peddle as #1 may be going deep or running a route near you (Post, dig, in or curl). Your coaches may have calls and rules but this is the basic way Cov4 is played. Hope this helps - Goodluck!!!

[@32broward]

If it’s 2x2 you read number 2, if 2 goes out the corner jumps it and you get over the top of 1. If two goes in you let the lbs get him and keep backpedaling but look at 1 for a post. If 2 goes vertical he’s yours

[@fprosk]

Do you go to OU

[@paxotium7971]

I played HS saftey in 1983. My advice, dont worry so much about understanding, you just consentrate on hitting m fers. Watch some Ronnie Lott, Steve Atwater, John Lynch vids, youll get the idea.

[@ajitkirpekar4251]

I would be fascinated to see what scheme you would select based on which positions on defense you were strongest at. Ie, do you play a cover 2 scheme if you really have a great mike lb but weak safeties? Or is cover 3 better with three good corners?

[@ryanclark9386]

I'm trying to learn this stuff but it seems so hard atm

[@danielstony70]

Man i wish KZbin was in 2001 playing high school freshmen junior varsity football theses vids would of made me go pro Fyi im the teddy bruschi type

[@BoKnows1978]

Love me some cover 2

[@angusbeef9718]

Love this video. Teaching you football too #footballfan

[@okeycokey2000]

Yep good vid

[@cesarrivera4843]

Spags is a great DC. As a giant fan, didn't want him gone but understood that we wanted to clean house. Anyone looking for a DC. He is your man

[@aaronjackson3756]

Can we get a part two

[@mrmichael972]

Turn down the music when he's talking. So distracting!

[@michaeludeze8470]

I don't know why most KZbin videos have distracting Music. If we wanted to hear music, we'd watch a music video.