Single-high vs two-high
One safety deep in the middle, or two splitting the field: the first read on every play, and what each look tells you.
Before every snap, the first question is how many safeties are deep. One safety in the middle of the field is a single-high look. Two safeties, each deep on his own side of the field, is a two-high look.
That one read splits the coverage playbook in half. A single-high look points to Cover 1 or Cover 3; a two-high look points to Cover 2, Cover 4 or Cover 6.
It also shows how the defense is spending its eleven players. Single-high frees the other safety to come down near the line against the run. Two-high keeps both deep - harder to beat over the top, lighter near the line.
The two diagrams below show what each look gives up.
Two safeties, each 12-15 yards deep and outside the hash marks. Between them, the middle of the field is open - a two-high look.
Read the play step by step
- Before the snap: Two safeties, each 12-15 yards deep and outside the hash marks. Between them, the middle of the field is open - a two-high look.
- The snap: Each safety takes a deep half of the field. Underneath, five defenders spread across the short zones, with the corners sitting low near the sidelines.
- The play develops: Both outside receivers run deep and pull the safeties toward the sidelines, and the slot receiver runs a post into the open middle. The space between two deep safeties is where offenses attack a two-high look.
One safety deep in the middle of the field - a single-high look. The other safety has come down to about eight yards, over the tight end.
Read the play step by step
- Before the snap: One safety deep in the middle of the field - a single-high look. The other safety has come down to about eight yards, over the tight end.
- Count the box: With the strong safety down, eight defenders are in the box against seven blockers (five linemen and two tight ends). That's an eight-man box - what a single-high look buys a defense against the run.
- The play develops: Seven blockers can't account for eight defenders. The running back finds no hole, and the extra man - here the strong safety - fills the gap for a short gain. Against a two-high look, that eighth defender would be 12 yards deep.
How to spot it
- Find the safeties first, 10-15 yards off the ball. On the TV angle they're often at the very top of the screen, or just off it - the wide shot before the snap is when to look.
- Two safeties outside the hash marks, at the same depth: two-high. One in the middle, between the hashes: single-high.
- Watch the safeties at the snap, not just before it. Defenses disguise: a two-high look can rotate to single-high as one safety drops down, and a single-high look can spin back to two.
- Check the second safety's depth. One at 6-8 yards, over the tight end, is usually on his way into the box - a single-high defense loading up against the run.
Strengths
- Single-high: an extra defender near the line, so it's sturdier against the run.
- Single-high: the deep middle of the field is covered, so posts and seams down the middle are harder.
- Two-high: both deep halves are covered, so throws over the top near the sidelines are harder.
- Two-high: several coverages start from the same look, so it's harder to read before the snap.
Weaknesses
- Single-high: one deep safety can't help on both sidelines, so outside receivers often get one-on-one coverage deep.
- Single-high: if the safety down in the box guesses wrong, there's no deep help behind him.
- Two-high: one fewer defender near the line, so the run game has more room.
- Two-high: the deep middle between the safeties can open up, and post and seam routes attack it.
Key terms
Quick quiz
1 / 3Before the snap, two safeties stand about 13 yards deep, each outside the hash marks. What's the look?