Cover 1 Rat
Man-Free + Underneath Rat Zone
- Deep
- Hook / curl
- Man
- Rush
Cover 1 Rat modifies standard Cover 1 by designating a linebacker, usually the WILL or SAM, as a 'rat' defender who sits in the underneath zone at 8-10 yards, reading the QB's eyes and jumping any intermediate throw. Instead of blitzing or taking a man, the rat plays a robber-style zone in the middle of the field. The FS stays deep as the single-high safety, four defenders play man, and a fifth defender (typically a LB or DB) blitzes. The rat is the wrinkle, offenses expect man coverage with pressure, but the rat takes away the easy crosser or in-cut that would normally beat man coverage.
Responsibilities
7 IN COVERAGENumbers match the keys on the field. Tap a defender to see his rules.
- Front · 4-man rush2 ends and 2 tackles rush the passer
Weak spots
4- Outside fade routes (rat is interior only)High
- Deep shots away from the FSHigh
- Flat routes with no flat defenderMedium
- Bunch/pick concepts vs manMedium
Best attacks
Outside fades and back-shoulder throws that the rat cannot help on, flat routes with no underneath zone defender, deep sideline shots away from the FS, and bunch formations that create rub routes vs man.
What beats Cover 1 Rat
7 CONCEPTS- StickBeats it
Stick is a textbook man-beater — the stop route at 6 yards in space vs a LB who can't match the sudden change of direction.Show reasoning
Conflict defender. MIKE linebacker in man coverage
Why the offense wins. Stick is a textbook man-beater — the stop route at 6 yards in space vs a LB who can't match the sudden change of direction. The flat from the back gives the QB a checkdown that beats the blitz.
Key adjustment. Reroute the stick runner at the line and carry with inside leverage.
- Y-CrossBeats it
Deep crossing route exploits a slow linebacker matched on the tight end; the cross gains separation through traffic.Show reasoning
Conflict defender. MIKE linebacker in man coverage
Why the offense wins. Deep crossing route exploits a slow linebacker matched on the tight end; the cross gains separation through traffic.
Key adjustment. Match the Y with a safety and bracket over the top.
- Post-WheelBeats it
The wheel is THE Cover 1 beater: the linebacker or nickel on the slot trails inside on the wheel runner and gets beat to the boundary.Show reasoning
Conflict defender. Man-coverage defender on the wheel runner (SAM/nickel)
Why the offense wins. The wheel is THE Cover 1 beater: the linebacker or nickel on the slot trails inside on the wheel runner and gets beat to the boundary. The post from the outside receiver occupies the FS, removing deep help.
Key adjustment. Switch the wheel responsibility to the CB at the snap, or play robber to take away the post and free the FS to help on the wheel.
- YankeeBeats it
Same MOFC vulnerability as Cover 3 plus PA pulls the LBs up, the post stretches the FS off his landmark and the deep over runs into the vacated middle with no underneath help.Show reasoning
Conflict defender. Free safety (deep middle)
Why the offense wins. Same MOFC vulnerability as Cover 3 plus PA pulls the LBs up, the post stretches the FS off his landmark and the deep over runs into the vacated middle with no underneath help. Cover 1 is the textbook Yankee target.
Key adjustment. Drop the FS pre-snap to a robber spin or check to a 2-deep look to take away the void in the middle.
- Stick-NodBeats it
The nod is purpose-built for this look, the rat bites on the initial stick, then gets beaten vertically up the seam.Show reasoning
Conflict defender. Rat / hole defender
Why the offense wins. The nod is purpose-built for this look, the rat bites on the initial stick, then gets beaten vertically up the seam.
Key adjustment. Late-break the rat instead of jumping the stick, wait for the receiver to commit before reacting.
- DaggerEdge
The clear-out gos lift both corners and the single-high safety stays glued to the deep middle, leaving the dig one-on-one against a trailing man defender with no inside help — the dig is one of the hardest routes to match without a rat in the hole.Show reasoning
Conflict defender. Man defender trailing the dig
Why the offense wins. The clear-out gos lift both corners and the single-high safety stays glued to the deep middle, leaving the dig one-on-one against a trailing man defender with no inside help — the dig is one of the hardest routes to match without a rat in the hole.
Key adjustment. Drop the MIKE into the hole as a rat/robber to wall the dig at its break point.
- HossEdge
The slot option (seam when nobody is over the top, hitch when a safety is) turns into a seam against single-high, and a linebacker cannot match a slot receiver vertically.Show reasoning
Conflict defender. MIKE linebacker in man coverage
Why the offense wins. The slot option (seam when nobody is over the top, hitch when a safety is) turns into a seam against single-high, and a linebacker cannot match a slot receiver vertically.
Key adjustment. Bracket the slot with the safety and LB playing inside-out.