stupid question on D

[trapezeus]

What's the difference between the Tampa 2 and a prevent defense? I ask only partially joking.

[pats-were-right]

The "Tampa 2" is a basic defense in which the defensive players "stay home" and there is little blitzing or crossing. Each safety guards 1/2 of the field (the "cover 2" part of the description)

I always understood a "prevent" to mean that the players go beyond staying home in their normal positions - rather, they actually retreat, so you have defensive linemen and linebackers taking a step back to guard against the big play and allow the 10-yarders.

In a cover two, the defense MAY allow large chucks of yards in front of them. In a prevent they WILL.

[Philagape]

In a prevent defense there are usually more DBs. It's when you know the other team needs to pass.

The Tampa 2 includes the base defense of the normal 4 DL, 3 LBs and 4 DBs, and is regardless of what play the other team runs.

[Mitchy moo]

The Tampa 2 includes the base defense of the normal 4 DL, 3 LBs and 4 DBs, and is regardless of what play the other team runs.

Commonly referred to as a 4-3-4.