Cover 2 Two Rush: 5v5 flag football defense

Cover 2 Two Rush is a 5v5 flag football pressure defense. Both declared rushers come from 7 yards, two safeties split the deep field, and the middle defender takes the center. The quarterback has to get rid of the ball fast, but quick outs to the sideline are open.

5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 LOS LS RS M LR RR
Two High

How to run it

  1. LS lines up 10 yards deep, left of center, and drops to the deep left half, about 12 yards.
  2. RS lines up 10 yards deep, right of center, and drops to the deep right half, about 12 yards.
  3. M lines up 4 yards deep over the center and takes the center and the short middle.
  4. LR lines up 7 yards off the ball on the left with a hand raised and rushes the QB from the left.
  5. RR lines up 7 yards off the ball on the right with a hand raised and rushes the QB from the right.
  6. Center: M.
  7. Run fit: the rushers chase the ball carrier, M attacks, the safeties stay home.
  8. For younger divisions, shorten the deep depths by 2 to 3 yards.

The coverage read

The rushers take separate lanes so the quarterback can't step away from both. M stays with the center. The safeties drive on anything thrown short outside, because nobody else is there.

  1. LR RUSH
  2. RR RUSH
  3. M CENTER

When to call it

  • A high-risk call: the short sideline is open.
  • Use it against a quarterback who holds the ball, or as a surprise on a long down.

Tags and formation

Two Highzonepressureintermediate

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Common questions

How do you line up Cover 2 Two Rush in 5v5 flag football?

Two rushers 7 yards back with hands raised on each side of the center, two safeties 10 yards deep, and the middle defender 4 yards over the center.

What beats Cover 2 Two Rush in 5v5 flag football?

A quick out or hitch to either sideline before the rush arrives, since only the safeties can reach those throws. Good quarterbacks see the two raised hands and throw fast.

Is Cover 2 Two Rush legal in 5v5 NFL FLAG football?

Yes. NFL FLAG allows up to two rushers, and each must raise a hand before the snap and start at least 7 yards from the line of scrimmage. In NFL FLAG regular-season league play for 8U and younger, no one may rush.

Video transcript

Cover 2 Two Rush. Two rushers raise their hands and come from seven yards. The safeties split the deep halves, and M takes the center. Make the quarterback throw fast, and rally to the sideline. Build your plays free on Flag Fifty.

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