--- title: "Cover 2 Tampa (Tampa 2) Defense Explained" description: "Cover 2 Tampa (Tampa 2) is a two-high Cover 2 zone with the Mike running the deep middle. How it works, how it differs from Cover 3 and how to attack it." url: https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/coverages/cover-2-tampa/ --- coverage # Cover 2 Tampa (Tampa 2) Defense Cover 2 Tampa is a two-high zone with the middle linebacker sprinting down the middle at the snap. The safeties split the deep field in halves, the cloud corners squat in the flats, and the Mike closes the hole between the safeties. That covers the deep middle from a two-high shell. [How to beat Cover 2 Tampa: the concepts that attack it →](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/coverages/cover-2-tampa/beaters/) ![Cover 2 Tampa coverage diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/coverages/cover-2-tampa.webp) ## How Cover 2 Tampa Works The corners are cloud corners, jamming the outside receiver and then sitting in the flat, and the outside linebackers drop to the curl zones around the hashes, reading your drop. The Mike usually opens toward the passing strength (the three-receiver side) and runs down the middle, carrying any seam or post between the safeties. ## Where Cover 2 Tampa Is Weak - The sideline hole between the cloud corner and the half-field safety, around 15 to 20 yards. Corner routes and sails live there. - Snag: the snag route holds the cloud corner low, and the corner route runs over that corner's head. - Sail: three receivers at three depths to one side (short, intermediate and deep) overload a corner and one safety. - Runs and draws, because the middle of the box empties out once the Mike sprints deep. ## How to Recognize It - Before the snap, MFO (two-high): two safeties deep and wide, on or a little outside the hashes, with corners within about 5 yards and outside leverage. - Linebackers slide with motion, and nobody travels across with the receiver. - At the snap the corners jam and sit and the safeties backpedal to their halves. Then watch the Mike: opening toward the passing strength and running down the middle, past normal hook depth, means Cover 2 Tampa. ## Cover 2 vs Cover 3 Tampa 2 is the Cover 2 family’s version with the Mike running the deep middle, so the deep field belongs to two safeties in halves plus the Mike in the hole between them. Cover 3 is a single-high zone: the post safety takes the deep middle third, the corners bail to the outside thirds and four defenders play underneath. Before the snap, Tampa 2 shows two high safeties (MFO) with the corners within about 5 yards; Cover 3 shows one safety in the middle of the field (MFC) with the corners off the ball. The soft spots move with it: against Tampa 2, the sideline hole behind the cloud corner and the area the Mike leaves; against Cover 3, the flats, the curls and the seams the Curl/Flat defenders have to carry. ## How a QB Reads It Attack the sideline hole with a corner or sail route over the cloud corner. Once the Mike runs, the 10 to 12 yard area the Mike left opens behind the outside linebackers for an in route or curl. Against a Mike who gets deep fast, the checkdown or a draw is a fine answer. ## Common Questions ### What beats Cover 2 Tampa? The corner route behind a cloud corner (as in Snag), Sail to one side, intermediate in-breakers behind the linebackers once the Mike has run off, and runs or draws up the middle. ### What is the difference between Cover 2 and Cover 3? Cover 2 splits the deep field between two safeties and Cover 3 splits it into thirds between the corners and one post safety. Tampa 2 keeps the Cover 2 shell and adds the Mike running the deep middle. ## Concepts to Rep Against Cover 2 Tampa Passing concepts Crucible drills against Cover 2 Tampa, most common first. - ![Curl diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/concepts/curl.thumb.webp) Curl Diagonal / Curl - ![Hitch diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/concepts/hitch.thumb.webp) Hitch Seam / Hitch - ![Dig diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/concepts/dig.thumb.webp) Dig HB Option / In - ![Slant diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/concepts/slant.thumb.webp) Slant Diagonal / Slant - ![Option diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/concepts/option.thumb.webp) Option Option / Go - ![Boot diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/concepts/boot.thumb.webp) Boot HB Option / Bow - ![Tosser diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/concepts/tosser.thumb.webp) Tosser Lookie / Slant - ![Snag diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/concepts/snag.thumb.webp) Snag Corner / Snag + 21 more in Crucible ## Plays You Can Practice Against Cover 2 Tampa Every one of these is in Crucible, run against Cover 2 Tampa so you learn where the ball goes before you see it live. - ![Branch Dig diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/plays/branch-dig.thumb.webp) Branch Dig - ![Branch Slope diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/plays/branch-slope.thumb.webp) Branch Slope - ![Cafe Stop diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/plays/cafe-stop.thumb.webp) Cafe Stop - ![Cruise Option diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/plays/cruise-option.thumb.webp) Cruise Option - ![Curl diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/plays/curl.thumb.webp) Curl - ![Curl Hook diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/plays/curl-hook.thumb.webp) Curl Hook - ![Curl Juke diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/plays/curl-juke.thumb.webp) Curl Juke - ![Curl Snag diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/plays/curl-snag.thumb.webp) Curl Snag + 23 more in Crucible ## Related passing concepts - Snag Corner / Snag - ![Sail diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/concepts/sail.thumb.webp) Sail Sail / Option / Pogo - ![Scissors diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/concepts/scissors.thumb.webp) Scissors Diagonal / Sail / Pogo Learn to read Cover 2 Tampa at game speed Crucible is a quarterback simulator: you take the snap, read the coverage and make the throw, then see exactly what you missed. Unlimited reps, on your phone. Start Training