Summer of Spags: 2-read coverage rules and permutations

Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports After a brief overview of pattern-matching coverages, we’re set up to finally talk about some coverage schemes! We’re not wasting any time up front this week, as we have a lot to get to.

First up on the list — 2-read coverage!

2-read — sometimes called Palms, Cloud, or Nick Saban’s Cover 7 Clamp — is a common split-safety pattern-matching scheme. In it, the defense can account for four vertical routes anywhere on the field and still drive quickly on bubbles and out routes. This ability to take away the dreaded “four verticals” and still be able to close quickly on some underneath routes makes this a very versatile and dependable coverage.

Coverage rules vs. 2x2…