All22 Analysis - Coverages & Concepts

Busting Zone Coverages in the Passing Game
A Horizontal Stretch is used to defeat zone coverage by stretching defender(s) along the width of the football field. This is done by placing multiple WRs at the same depth across the width of the field, creating a situation where the zone defender is outnumbered trying to cover two routes in his zone.

If the horizontally stretched defender moves to his left, then the WR to the right is open, and vice versa. Horizontal stretches are either In-Out (middle of field to sideline) or Out-In (sideline to middle of field) reads.

A Vertical Stretch is used to bust zone coverage by stretching defender(s) along the length of the football field. This is done by aligning multiple WRs at various depths up the field. If the defender comes forward to cover the shallow WR, then the deeper WR is open, and vice versa. Vertical stretches are either High-Low (deep to shallow) or Low-High (shallow to deep) reads.

A Triangle Stretch combines a Vertical stretch and a Horizontal stretch. A staple concept in Bill Walsh's West Coast Offense, it provides a half field read for the QB using a three route combination.

O = WR, X = defender


Busting Man Coverage in the Passing Game
Pick/Rub route concepts are used to cause interference as two WRs cross one another's path. The goal is to get the defenders to run into another player or alter their path in order to avoid running into another player. Bunch/stacked formations are also used to combat man coverage. A bunch formation of WRs will force the CB to give a cushion

Double moves within routes can be used to get man coverage defenders leaning the wrong way, creating separation. Option routes are used to defeat the leverage of a defender. A WR will break his route in the opposite direction of the leverage that the defender is playing with.

Multiple passing concepts can be combined to bust both man and zone in the same play.

Curl-Flat concept
- Horizontal Stretch on the Curl/Flat defender (key defender); Curl can win if man coverage is playing with over-the-top leverage
- Effective against: Cover 3, Cover 1
- Progression: Curl - Flat; 5 step timing


The curl/flat zone defender follows the Flat route. The correct throw is to the Curl.
If the stretched defender was at the red dot playing the passing lane to the Curl, then the correct throw is to the Flat.

vs Cover 3

The Curl must sell itself as a Go route to get the CB's hips to turn upfield. Versus Cover 1, a CB playing with a slight cushion can lose to a well executed Curl.

Slant-Flat concept
- Horizontal Stretch on the Curl/Flat defender; Slant route is a good man coverage beater
- Effective against: Cover 3, Cover 2 Man
- Progression: Slant - Flat; 3 or 5 step timing

Blue is the curl/flat zone defender (key defender)


The curl/flat defender follows the Flat route. The correct throw is to the Slant.
If the curl/flat defender was at the red dot playing the passing lane to the Slant, then the correct throw is to the Flat.

vs Fire Zone Blitz

All Curls concept
- Horizontal stretch at the linebacker level (underneath zones)
- Effective against: Tampa 2, Cover 3
- Progression: usually Inside-Out; 3/5 step timing

All the Curl routes look to get similar depth across the LB level (underneath zones). QB will key on one of the underneath defenders in the middle of the field to get the first read, then progress outwards.


With both the Hook defenders shaded towards one side of the field, read away from the defenders.


vs Cover 3

Not all the routes being ran must be a Curl route to utilize this concept. An offense can send two Curls at a targeted underneath zone defender to get the horizontal stretch on a specific zone defender.

Double Slants concept
- Horizontal stretch on targeted underneath zone defender; Slant route is good against man coverage
- Effective against: Cover 3, Cover 2 Man, Cover 1
- Progression: Inside Slant - Outside Slant; 3 step timing


The hook/curl defender does not run with the inside slant. The correct throw is to the inside slant.
If the hook/curl defender ran with the inside Slant (red dot), then the correct throw is to the outside Slant.

vs Cover 4 shell, with 4 underneath

The inside slant is usually run at a slightly deeper depth to help clear the area for the outside slant. The inside slant is to run a 'skinny' slant if there is a zone defender in the path of a normal slant.

Spacing concept
- Horizontal stretch to two underneath zone defenders.
- Effective against: Tampa 2, Cover 3
- Progression: Snag - Curl -Flat (inside-out)


The Flat route takes the curl/flat defender.The Snag and the Curl work together to stretch the hook defender.

vs Cover 3

Stick concept
- Horizontal stretch on the curl/flat defender; 'Stick' route (yellow Curl) can turn into a Pivot route versus man coverage
- Effective against: Cover 3, Tampa 2, Cover 1, Cover 2
- Progression: Stick - Quick Out (Inside-Out); 3 step timing

The Go route is an 'alert' route (if there is a favorable mismatch), but is mainly a clearing route. The 'Stick' route can be run as an option Curl, Pivot, or quick Out, based on the coverage read of the WR, to run away from the leverage of the defenders in the area.


The stretched defender shades towards the quick Out. The correct throw is to the Stick, which has optioned to Curl.
If the stretched defender is at the red dot, then the correct throw would be to the quick Out route.

vs Cover 3

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Double Posts concept
- Horizontal Stretch at the safety level (deep zones)
- Effective against: Cover 2 Zone, Cover 2 Man, Cover 1, Quarters
- Progression: Inside Post - Outside Post; 7 step timing


The cover1 safety follows the inside Post. Correct throw is to the outside Post.
If the safety was at the red dot, the correct throw would be to the inside Post.

4 Verticals concept
- Horizontal stretch at the safety level (deep zones); Go routes up the sidelines can beat a Cover1 safety
- Effective against: Cover 2 Zone, Tampa2, Cover 3, Cover 1
- Progression: Inside-Out; 5+ step timing


The spacing between each route has to be enough that one safety cannot cover two routes. With the safety shading towards the inside vertical, the correct throw is to the outside vertical.
If the safety was at the red dot, then the correct throw would be to the inside vertical.

vs Tampa 2


Not all the routes need to be Go routes to use this concept. An offense can send two verticals at one safety to get the horizontal stretch on the specific defender. 5 step with a hitch to give the QB the ability to step into the throw.

Trail concept
- Horizontal stretch at either LB level or safety level
- Effective against: Cover 3, Tampa 2, Cover 2 Zone
- Progression: 1st crossing route - 2nd crossing route (Trail).

The In route works to clear the area while the 'Trail' route (red) follows behind looking for a passing lane and a quiet area between zones.


In route draws the attention of the middle deep zone defender. If the stretched defender was at the red dot, then the Trail route is not available.

vs Cover 3 (backside man to man)

The pair of routes can be ran at a depth in front of the LB level to stretch an underneath zone defender, or behind the LBs to stretch a deep zone defender. In this play, it is run behind the underneath zone defenders to stretch a safety.

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