Jay Harbaugh | Special Teams Coach, Seattle Seahawks
Presented by Lauren’s First and Goal Foundation
Coaching Coverage from the Inside Out
For Jay Harbaugh, now the Special Teams Coach for the Seattle Seahawks, effective coverage begins where few coaches start — with the specialists.
“It’s not really a question of how you like to cover first,” Harbaugh said. “It’s what can your kicker and punter do — and how do you tailor your coverage to that?”
That principle drives how Harbaugh builds his coverage units. The hang time, direction, consistency, and placement ability of the specialists define how the other ten players are coached. A unit tied to field landmarks or ball landmarks must operate within the limits of its kicker or punter’s consistency.
“If your guy can’t consistently put it in one place,” Harbaugh added, “having your players tied to field landmarks can be dangerous.”
The Foundation: Know What Your Specialists Can Do
The first phase of coverage planning is understanding what your specialists do well — not in
theory, but in measurable traits.
- Hang time and distance: Set the rhythm and spacing of your coverage lanes to establish a consistent approach.
- Direction and consistency: Dictate whether you can play landmark-based or ball-based coverage.
- Preferences: Even within ability, kickers and punters have styles they’re more confident executing.
Harbaugh emphasizes that performance isn’t just physical — it’s also psychological. Specialists, like any player, perform best when their preferences align with the plan.
The Next Layer: Know What Your Cover Guys Can Do
Once the specialists’ capabilities are clear, Harbaugh moves to the coverage unit. Who are they — and what do they do best?
- Speed vs. Power: Are they explosive, fast players who win with quickness, or heavier-footed players who rely on strength and leverage?
- Mindset: Are they “hair-on-fire” players who thrive in chaos, or processors who need clear reads and keys?
- Match Quality: The Seahawks utilize the concept of match quality — how well a player’s skill set aligns with the role they’re asked to play.
“We move guys around a lot,” Harbaugh explained. “But we’re always aware of where we’re putting them and what we’re asking them to do. We want the best match between ability and assignment.”
Managing Mental Load
Harbaugh uses a vivid analogy to describe how he manages the mental workload of players: the size of their plate.
Veteran special teams players have “dinner plates” — they can handle more responsibility and complexity.
Younger players often have “saucers” — smaller plates, smaller loads. It’s the coach’s job to know the difference.
“You can’t overload a young guy who’s still learning, and you can’t under-challenge your vets,” Harbaugh said. “You have to make sure every player can succeed in the role you give them.”
The Main Course or the Dessert
Not every player sees special teams the same way.
Some players, particularly backups and specialists, view special teams as the main course — their primary role.
Others, especially offensive or defensive starters, view it as the dessert — essential but secondary.
Harbaugh doesn’t fight that reality; he coaches to it.
“You have to be aware of how much dessert you’re asking that guy to have,” he joked. “For some, it’s their main job. For others, it’s a compliment. The point is to meet them where they are and still set them up for success.”
Know What You’re Defending — and What You’re Inviting
Great coverage teams know both what they’re stopping and what they’re inviting.
- What are you defending? Vertical returns? Perimeter returns? Counter or reverse returns?
- What are you inviting? Every scheme leaves a space. Aggressive cross-face units might invite counter or field returns. Passive edge units might invite bounce or cutback lanes.
Harbaugh believes coaches should communicate these tradeoffs directly with players — not just staff.
“It’s no different than telling a defensive back the stress points of Cover 3,” he said. “Your coverage unit should know exactly what you’re giving up so they can play faster.”
Key Takeaway
Effective coverage doesn’t start with a diagram — it begins with an understanding of people.
By aligning specialist ability, player skill sets, and opponent tendencies, Jay Harbaugh builds coverage units that play with clarity, purpose, and adaptability.
“Be intentional about what you’re defending, and honest about what you’re inviting.”
— Jay Harbaugh
Related:
Rushing the Passer- Craig Roh, Pass Rush Specialist
Teach Tapes with Steve Hauser (Week 2): Take Care of Technique
More on Coach Jay Harbaugh
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