Zone coverage
Defenders guard areas, not players
Each defender drops to a zone and reacts to throws into it, keeping eyes on the quarterback. Spot-drop or pattern-match.
When it applies
When you want to keep everything in front and rally to the ball.
+ StrengthsFewer busted big plays; defenders see the quarterback and break on throws.
− Trade-offsSoft spots between zones; good quarterbacks pick it apart with patience.
Filed under: Coverage shells