How to Coach Cover 1 Defense in Your Football Team's Defensive Playbook
The best defensive coverage that most coaches are either scared to run, or coaching completely wrong.
Cover 1 Alignment in the 4-2-5 Defense against a Pro Twins Formation. The Overhang Safeties maintain force responsibility by playing off and outside of the #2 receiver. Corners can press or play off-man coverage.
OCTOBER 30, 2025
Written by Joe Daniel
Joe Daniel Football
Cover 1 Defense became a true favorite for my defensive playbook over a decade ago. Before that, I wanted nothing to do with it.
My amazing football mentor Bill Mountjoy convinced us to start running the coverage. We were installing the 4-2-5 Defense System that year. I had become obsessed with Gary Patterson's defensive playbook.
We did not think we were ready for the Split Field Quarters concepts yet. The team was young and struggled to execute pattern match in our Miami 4-3 Defense the season before.
Coach Mountjoy suggested we run Cover 1 defense exclusively during 7 on 7 that off-season. Play nothing else. No Cover 3, no 2-high concepts.
Our Defensive Backs coach did a great job teaching Press Technique for the Corners. Our corners learned to lock down even more talented receivers. During the off-season we won 22 straight 7 on 7 games before taking our first loss in a summer tournament.
Now is the time to point out that I hate 7 on 7. It is very much an offensive drill, not a true competition. Giving Quarterbacks four seconds to throw the ball is unrealistic for most high school teams.
But we were locking teams down. Our defense handled themselves beautifully. That summer squashed the belief in my head that you could not run man coverage unless you were more athletic. When the regular season started, we were a Cover 1 team.
It is not the only coverage you should run. It may not be the best coverage for your football team. My goal for this article is to bust some of the myths of Cover 1 defense.
Then I'll give you a picture of what Cover 1 coverage looks like for your team. And why you should at least consider this for your playbook.
Let's get started with...
What is Cover 1 Defensive Coverage?
Cover 1 coverage is also called Man-Free Coverage. Cover 1 has five defenders playing man-to-man coverage. Unlike Cover 0 though, you also have one defender playing deep help in the middle of the field.
That extra defender is a huge difference. Cover 1 defense is a true base coverage for your defense. Cover 0, with no safety help, is a blitz coverage. That Cover 1 safety in the middle of the field is a game changer.
Our 4-2-5 Defense in a Press Cover 1 defense against a Doubles Formation. One major advantage of press alignment is disrupting the timing for Quarterbacks and Receivers used to practicing routes-on-air or playing against off-coverage.
Cover 1 defense uses either press coverage or off coverage for the cornerbacks on the #1 Receiver. For clarity, we count receivers from the sidelines in to the ball, with the receiver closest to the sideline being the #1 Receiver.
In our Cover 1 coverage, the Overhang Safeties in our 4-2-5 Defense or 33 Stack Defense (call them what you want) never press. They are playing off coverage, and are still the force defenders in the run fits. That is a big difference in what we do, and what I see a lot of other coaches doing in Cover 1.
Speaking of those defensive playbooks...
What Fronts Do You Run Cover 1 Defense With?
Cover 1 coverage is a single-high safety defensive coverage. Like most coverage packages, you can run it with any defensive front. But you have to make the right adjustments, and there will be sacrifices.
Because it is a single-high safety coverage, Cover 1 defense fits best with 8-man fronts. The 4-2-5 Defense or 4-4 Defense, and the 3-3-5 Defense or 3-5-3 Defense fit best.
Cover 1 coverage also works great with the 3-4 Defense. It is more complex than running with 8-man fronts because you have to rotate your safeties. There's more moving parts to the 3-4 Defense, but it is very flexible.
Like Cover 3 defense, I do not like Cover 1 coverage as a base coverage in our 4-3 Defense System. It's not a good fit. The 4-3 Defense System (at least the Miami 4-3 Defense the way I teach it) fits best with 2-high safety coverages. That's Split Field Quarters packages or Cover 2 defense.
Why Should You Run Cover 1 Coverage?
That off-season running our Cover 1 defensive playbook in 7 on 7 changed my outlook. It changed my view of man coverage, period.
It was when the season started that it changed my understanding of football. The way our Cover 1 defense fit with TCU's Umbrella Run Fits Principle was awesome.
You should run Cover 1 defense if you want superior pass coverage to spot-drop Cover 3 coverage. But you don't want to sacrifice the simplicity or the great run fits.
Not what most coaches expect to hear. The strengths of Cover 1 defense are some true myth-busters for most coaches...
Cover 1 Defense Strength #1: It's simple to install. This is such a playground defense. I got him, you got him. That's it. If everyone's got a “him”, you have no coverage breakdowns.
No holes in the zone like Cover 3 defense. No breakdowns passing off receivers like Pattern Match coverages. Plus the deep help from your Free Safety that you don't get in Cover 0 calls. Oh, and a low hole defender to help with crossers, in your base defense.
Just pure, simple man coverage defense. With the added benefit of...
Cover 1 Defense Strength #2: Easy Umbrella fits for a strong run defense. My biggest concern was that our run defense would be weaker if we were in man coverage. Coach Mountjoy convinced me that was not true.
The play on the field showed me that wasn't true. In some seasons, we are actually better at fitting the run in Cover 1 than in our Cover 3 defense. I can't explain why on that one, but it happens.
The key to using Cover 1 Defense as a base coverage in your playbook is keeping proper run fits. Our Umbrella Run Fits System is a perfect fit with Cover 1, especially in the 4-2-5 Defense or 33 Stack Defensive Systems.
Having the Free Safety in the middle of the field lets your overhang safeties play outside leverage. They must play off man coverage from outside leverage to fit the run. Our base alignment is 7 yards off the #2 receiver, three yards outside of him.
Lots of reasons for that. I explain the thought process and teaching technique in-depth in JDFB Premium Coaching Systems. The most common question in our private Chalk Talk Q&A calls during the off-season is about this.
All I can tell you is that it works. When coaches finally decide to commit to this, it always shocks them. It shocks them how well they can fit the run. It shocks them WHO can actually play man coverage - guys they never thought could do it.
Most coaches start by using Cover 1 defense as a change-up first, because...
Cover 1 Defense Strength #3: Cover 1 coverage is a perfect compliment to Cover 3 defense. Both are single-high coverages. The Free Safety's job is the exact same. It does not affect the front in your base calls at all. The Umbrella Run Fits do not change from Cover 1 to Cover 3 coverage.
You can disguise Cover 3 as an off-man Cover 1 defense since alignments are very similar. Or you can run a press-bail Cover 3 that looks like Cover 1 man coverage to the Quarterback.
For High School teams playing a run-heavy schedule, a spot-drop Cover 3 coverage is great. But if you have one or two spread passing teams, you need another answer. Plus, you're going to play a few 7 on 7 tournaments in the off-season. "Country" Cover 3 can get torched in those.
Cover 1 defense is the perfect answer for these teams. Run it during off-season 7 on 7 so you get great at the technique. Then install your base Cover 3 package in August camp so that you're ready to defend the run.
I love the run fits and believe we can play great run defense in Cover 1 defense. But using it as a change-up to Cover 3 coverage is still the gateway drug for many of our JDFB coaches.
Now, here is my warning on Cover 1 defense as a change-up. Your players need to learn great technique, which is where most coaches go wrong.
Cover 1 Defense Principles You Must Teach
This is where it all falls apart. I have seen it with coaches who were not members of JDFB. They listened to me gush over Cover 1 on The Football Coaching Podcast.
Then instead of joining JDFB Premium Coaching Systems and learning the technique, they wing it. They go out and install Cover 1 defense like they are on a playground.
Over-aggressive press technique emphasizing the wrong things. Bad alignment by the overhang safeties. Either putting them in a position they can't force the run, or in a bad coverage position.
They play the Free Safety as a DEEP safety, so deep he's not even in the camera shot for game film. They give him zero run fits responsibility and play him like a baseball Center Fielder.
Wrong. All wrong. There is so much technique and so much nuance to this coverage. Like Cover 3 defense, if you just throw the guys out there like so many coaches do, your coverage will suck.
So these coaches hear me talk about WHY Cover 1 defense is great. They do not listen to HOW to run Cover 1 defense. Then the coverage sucks, and they think I'm a liar. Or that I have superstar athletes.
I can't teach you every technique, drill and coaching point in this article. We have alignment, stance, and key reads for all this in our JDFB Premium Coaching Systems. Plus all the drills you need are included in the Defensive Drill System.
I can tell you where coaches go wrong, though. There are certain principles that you must emphasize like...
Cover 1 Defense Principle #1: Your base run fits still apply to Cover 1 coverage. That's the Umbrella Run Fits System for our defenses. Your overhang safeties are still the force defenders (in 8-man fronts). The Free Safety is still playing the alley.
Too many coaches try to run Cover 1 with a 6 man box and 5 defenders out of the run fits. Huge mistake.
Your Overhang Safeties aligned on the #2 receiver play 7 yards off so they have room to read. They read the Quarterback for a run-pass key as they slow pedal and stay over top.
This takes a lot of work. It's one reason you run Cover 1 as your base coverage during the off-season.
They are also outside leverage so that if they get a run read, they can rip outside and force the run. This is harder than Cover 3 force for defenders that are glorified linebackers. If your team is smaller but has more speed, some defenses find it easier.
The Free Safety plays at 9-12 yards off and is still an aggressive run defender in the alley. Since the cornerbacks are in man coverage, they can't give as much help on a play action read as they do in Cover 3. Once again, you need a lot of work on key reads if you plan to base in Cover 1 defense.
Cover 1 Defense Principle #2: Your Linebackers play a 2-on-1 coverage on the running back in Cover 1 defense. If the back releases to his side, the inside linebacker locks on him. The other linebacker drops off to play Low Hole coverage.
Why is this so important? Why can't you just blitz the extra linebacker and get a 5-man pressure?
You can do that, if it is a once-in-a-while blitz coverage. Risk vs reward thing. For a base coverage? No way.
Because the Overhang Safeties play from outside leverage, they need inside help on crossing routes underneath. The Linebackers in the 4-2-5 Defense play a 2-on-1 technique where one Linebacker takes the back to his side, and the away backer plays the Low Hole.
Remember that the overhang safeties are playing outside leverage. You need that low hole defender to collision crossers and help them out.
One last principle, even though it scares a lot of coaches...
Cover 1 Defense Principle #3: Press Man Coverage is about footwork in Cover 1 defense. Not the hands. Not striking the receiver and knocking the pee out of him. Big mistake.
Lunging at receivers gets you in trouble. Press Man Coverage Cornerbacks play a lot more like Offensive Linemen than anyone realizes.
Our corners play inside leverage. The sideline is their help, not the Free Safety. They need to prevent an inside release above all else.
Our drill work is all emphasis on the eyes and the feet. Watch the inside hip, not the head or the feet. Shuffle with him and force him to re-route. Press defenders usually only have slants and fade routes to defend, so you can lock in on those two routes.
I teach all my drills for press corners in the Defensive Drill System. It is included as part of JDFB Premium Coaching Systems Gold. Too much technique to teach here.
But if you use those drills, you do not need superior athletes to run Press Man Coverage in your Cover 1 Defense. Even the most average corner can be great in press man with the right technique.
Weaknesses of Cover 1 Defense
It's not all sunshine and roses with Cover 1 coverage in your defensive playbook. There are weaknesses, like any other coverage.
Not the ones most coaches think, though. By this point, you know that you can play Cover 1 defense with average athletes. You do not need studs all over the field. If your team is completely outmanned, you should still base out of Cover 3 defense though.
You can not only force the run in Cover 1 defense, you can have great run fits. Our Umbrella Run Fits System is a great fit and we work on this every day using the Umbrella Drill.
But you can't be lazy. One weakness of Cover 1 Defense is...
Cover 1 Defense Weakness #1: It takes time to teach the right techniques for Cover 1 defense. You need to invest time learning how to coach the right techniques. You need to invest plenty of practice time teaching those techniques.
I recommend against teams ever running any pattern match coverage as your change-up. Too much time, too many breaking points. Mistakes are wide open receivers for touchdowns.
But Cover 1 takes its share of teaching too. Bad alignments and poor technique get you beat. They don't leave the receiver uncovered, but if he can get open much too fast for a four man pass rush to get home.
The corners need plenty of work on press man technique. You can play off-man, but press has big advantages. For one, most Quarterbacks and Receivers work a lot of routes on air. You ruin their timing when you press.
The Safeties need a lot of work on their key reads while playing off-man coverage. Bad reads can lead to open receivers.
The Inside Linebackers need to drill the 2-on-1 pass coverage. They also need to learn to find receivers and re-route in the low hole.
To keep great run fits you need plenty of work on key reads, but you also have to remember that...
Cover 1 Weakness #2: You do not play Cover 1 defense against Trips Formations. Every season coaches fight me on this. It is a mistake to do this, plain and simple.
If you bump an Inside Linebacker out to the #3 receiver, you weaken the box. Sacrifice run defense strength inside. If you run the Weak Safety over to play on the #3 receiver, you have no force defender weak. Huge mistake.
Don't do it. Make the check call to "Check Roll," TCU's term for Quarter-Quarter-Half coverage. You can still play press man on the single receiver (Check Solo), too. Or you can press both #1
Receivers (Check Special) but I rarely do that. Or you can blitz and play Cover 0.
Trying to force Cover 1 coverage against Trips Formations is a mistake. Check your coverage to a Quarter-Quarter-Half or a Solo check with man coverage on the single receiver. We teach the “Hang” technique in our System to handle 4 Verticals from 3-by-1 formations.
You have options. Moral of the story, do not fit square pegs in round holes. Check the play call against Trips formations.
One last weakness is...
Cover 1 Weakness #3: The Overhang Safeties are vulnerable in Cover 1 defense. Because this is a base coverage call, they must be in position to force the run. That leaves two potential weaknesses.
I said our guys play 7 yards off, 3 yards outside of the #2 receiver. That is the base alignment because you put your best defender at Free Safety. He can cover some ground.
From 3 yards outside, teams will try to throw quick passes to a Tight End or slot receiver. If they use a play action flash fake, it holds the Linebackers. If the Free Safety can't read the throw fast enough, teams pick up yardage.
You use change-up calls and disguise to bait this throw. You can't sit in Cover 1 every snap against good passing teams.
You can tighten the alignment of the overhang safety to help. He can play 1 yard outside and break the pass up easier. But that alignment makes less athletic safeties (i.e. "Glorified Linebackers") vulnerable to outside breaking routes. Out routes and corner routes start coming wide open.
I am forever thankful to the coach that lit our Cover 1 defense up in the very first scrimmage we ever ran it. We used a Freshman Strong Safety who would one day be a great Inside Linebacker. He was not big enough yet, though. So he was in the "Glorified Linebacker" position.
This team ran a Smash Concept, with the hitch doing nothing but holding the press corner down low. We were playing 1 yard outside leverage on the #2 receiver and he kept getting wide open on our young safety.
The fix was an alignment lever. We widened him out, and told the Free Safety to give him a little more help for seam routes. Problem solved.
Who Should Run Cover 1 Defense
Are you considering Cover 1 coverage for your defensive playbook? Did this breakdown at least make you curious? Did you believe some of those Cover 1 Myths - and now you're not so sure?
If you coach Youth Football or Middle School Football in a league where everyone runs the football, skip this. Don't run Cover 1. Get great at your Cover 3 Defense and let the kids have fun.
If you coach Middle School or High School Football in a league where most teams run the ball, but one or two can sling it... you need a change-up coverage. Base out of Cover 3 defense and install Cover 1 as your change-up call. Welcome to the gateway drug.
What if you have a schedule with several teams that can throw it? If almost everyone at least as a good Play Action passing game? You need a more sophisticated pass coverage package.
You might think Split Field Quarters is the best answer. Do you have enough coaches? Do you have enough time? Pattern Match takes a big investment or you'll have a lot of busted coverages. Plus you need some special players at the safety positions.
Small numbers, limited coaches, and a schedule where you need more than a 'Country' Cover 3? Ding, Ding Ding! You are the coach who needs to invest some time in studying Cover 1 defense. Not just as a change-up, coach. This could be your new base coverage.
Where To Go Next for Cover 1 Defense?
Ready to learn more about Cover 1 coverage packages for your defensive playbook? JDFB Premium Coaching Systems is the place to learn all techniques and strategies. No one puts the amount of detail into defensive coaching systems like I've done it.
Not ready to make that plunge? Still doing your research? Start with my Complete Guide to Building Your Ultimate Defensive Football Coaching System. It is free, and gives you the foundation you need before plugging any coverages into the playbook.
Then check out these Football Coaching Podcast episodes to learn more:
Listen to “Fundamentals of Cover 1 Coverage” from Season 13, Episode 16 of The Football Coaching Podcast.
Listen to “Coaching Cover 1 Coverage (Man/Free)” from Season 2, Episode 06 of The Football Coaching Podcast.
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GET THE FREE DIGITAL GUIDE FOR BUILDING THE ULTIMATE FOOTBALL DEFENSE THAT WINS GAMES
Shut Down Any Opponent When Your Team Misses Fewer Tackles, Allows Fewer Big Plays, and Gives Up Fewer Points. Enter your best email address below, and I'll send you a FREE copy of our latest Football Coaching Guide titled "What You Need To Know To Build The Ultimate Defensive Football Coaching System"!
Your information is safe with us and will not be shared
Coaching Cover 1 Defense FAQ
Q: What is Cover 1 Defense?
Cover 1, also called Man-Free coverage, is a defensive scheme where five defenders play man-to-man coverage while one safety provides deep help in the middle of the field. It combines the simplicity of man coverage with the added protection of a single high safety. This makes it a base coverage option that offers balance between aggressive pass defense and solid run support.
Q: Why should you include Cover 1 in your defensive playbook?
Cover 1 defense gives your team a simple, aggressive coverage that eliminates confusion and tightens pass defense without sacrificing run fits. It’s easy to install and pairs perfectly with single-high coverages like Cover 3, allowing you to disguise calls and keep the offense guessing. For teams that want to play faster and reduce mental errors, Cover 1 offers a straightforward way to improve both confidence and performance.
Q: What are the main strengths of Cover 1 Defense?
The biggest strengths of Cover 1 are its simplicity, flexibility, and strong run fits. Each defender has a clear man-to-man responsibility, which cuts down on coverage busts. The Free Safety plays the middle of the field in coverage but is also a key part of the run fits, attacking the alley to help stop the run. With your overhang safeties playing force outside and linebackers working inside, Cover 1 gives you a complete run defense that also tightens up your pass coverage.
Q: Can you defend the run in Cover 1 Defense?
Yes. When coached correctly, Cover 1 is an excellent run defense. The Free Safety plays aggressively in the alley, while the overhang safeties keep their force responsibility outside. This keeps the same Umbrella Run Fits we teach for Cover 3 and Split Field Quarters coverages, giving you 9 defenders in the run fits with sound leverage across the field. Many coaches are surprised to find their run defense actually improves when they commit to Cover 1 because every defender still has a clear fit in the run game.
Q: What are the biggest weaknesses or limitations of Cover 1 coverage?
The main limitation of Cover 1 is that it takes time to teach the correct techniques. Corners must master press coverage footwork, the safeties have to be disciplined with key reads, and linebackers must understand their 2-on-1 coverage rules. It’s also not the right call against Trips formations, since moving a safety or linebacker out of the box weakens your run defense. Cover 1 is best when your players are well coached in their technique and understand how their coverage ties into the run fits.
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