Defending the Run and Pass with Quarters Coverage

Mike Kuchar

Immaculata High School

www.xandolabs.com

Creating a defensive culture

• Coach effort- “The 4 to 6 principle”

• Speak in the same language

• Leverage the football

• Teach in concepts

• Build your defense from the back end first

• Fundamentals come first

• Takeaways and tackling daily

Benefits of Quarter’s Coverage

• Ability to put nine defenders in the box

• Provides a symmetrical adjustment to any offensive formation

• Perfect for combating the four vertical passing game

• Complement to the cover two family; element of disguise

• Let your athletes cover and your hitters hit

Weakness of Quarters Coverage

• Safeties need to be great tacklers

• Play-action passing game with two vertical threats can be an issue

• LB’s must buzz to the flat

• Fork/wheel route combinations

• Quick out/slant by number one

• Possible mismatch with safeties playing slot receivers

Corner’s Pre-snap mentality

• “Gilligan” thought process- stay inside and on top of EVERYTHING. On an island.

• 2X7 inside number one- “Ink” technique. Assume no deep safety help.

• Off technique- Eyes on EMLOS for low hat (run) high hat (pass) read. Triangle read

• Press technique- Burn eyes on bottom numbers of number one.

CB Post-Snap Mentality (Off tech.)

• Low hat- break glass, get in on the dance, know where your help is.

• High hat- eyes on QB, clear three step, control pedal, snap eyes to number one

• Stay inside and on top of number one unless he’s in right now (shallow)

• Close on the slant, play through up field shoulder

• Stay out of trail position!

Press Technique (Pre-snap)

• Can be used in any situation, but best in short yardage.• Good protection against the quick game- hitches, slants,

outs, any other three step.• Stance- balanced stance, weight on balls of feet, numbers

over knees, hands at the ready.• Cushion – 1.5-2 yards off receiver, not line of scrimmage.• Leverage- Frame (split the crotch) or ink technique,

depending on spot of ball.• Pre-snap eyes- bottom of numbers of receiver, tunnel

vision.• Post-snap eyes- leveraged hip and thigh of receiver.

“Chew the inside hip”

Press Technique (Post-snap)• Tunnel vision- eyes on bottom of numbers, not involved

in run game.• “He’s square, I’m square”- if the receiver’s shoulders are

squared, I’m squared. Make him pick a side to declare. Do not open the gate. Be patient

• Make the receiver release wide around you.• When he declares- work opposite hand, opposite hip

technique.• Maintain in phase position, chew the hip• When he throttles, I throttle• Break on the upfield shoulder by securing tackle. ONLY

come underneath receiver if you can make a play on the ball with BOTH hands.

• “Lean and locate” against deep routes.

Safety Pre-Snap Mentality

• Eyes on EMLOS for low hat (run) or high hat (pass) read.

• Single Width/nub= 2x8 off EMLOS

• Double width= “frame” technique, 2x12 off inside half of number two receiver.

• Triple width= “solo” backside safety aligns over the weak guard. Must be responsible for number three vertical.

Safety Post-Snap Mentality

• Flat footed read- buzz feet on snap • Low hat- get downhill, front side force (outside pec)

backside cut back (track back hip)• Low hat- front-up ball carrier• High hat- buzz feet eyes on number two:Two vertical- lock number twoTwo in- radar to number oneTwo out- radar to number one• Vertical simply means clearing LB depth

OLB Responsibility vs. Pass

• Get out of the “no-cover zone”- 8 yds, communicate crossers and drags.

• Apex alignment vs. double width- split the difference between number two receiver and o-tackle.

• Play flat and wheel, run with anything that crosses your face. Mainly be number two.

• Vs. Trips- Apex number two and three. Only carry number three to flat/wheel.

Quarters Run Fits

• All force players pre-snap must identify themselves every play by tapping their helmet.

• “Sky”- safety force, used in single width alignments.

• “Bronco”- backer force, used in double width alignments.

• “Cloud”- corner force, used in nub alignments.

Single Width Formations (Sky Force)

C Y Z

Pro Formation (tight end)

C X

Pro Formation (split end)

C

S

X

Pro/Slot (S is tight to EMLOS)

Double/Triple Width Formations (Bronco Force)

C X

STwins

C Y

Z

S

Trips

C Z

SHTrips

No Width Formations (Cloud Force)

C Y

Nub

C G Y

Backside of Tover (Tackle Over)

C G T

HBackside of Heavy

Quarters Coverage vs. Pro Formation/Single Width

C Y

Q

C

S

ETNR

F

MWC

B

“Sky”“Sky”

1

1

2

10 Strong 70 Strong50 Weak

“Dice” check vs. double width

• Resembles a soft cover two zone. • Corner and safety play a combo coverage on

number one and two their side.• Allows you to keep 7 men in the box.• CB’s eyes on #2, will make “out” call if #2 is out

right now. Play flat/wheel route.• Safety will jump #1 if #2 is out right now.• OLB will apex and make Ram call if more than

five yards from DE. Force call adjustment is “bronco.” Will handle hook/curl zone

Quarters vs. Double Width Formation

C

B

C

F

ETNR

SMW

“Bronco”“Bronco”

“Dice” “Dice”

N

C T

1

2

1

23

“Solo” check vs. trips

• Solid adjustment vs. 3x1 sets.• Allows Bandit safety to play number three

vertical.• Force adjustment is “bronco” to trips side,

and “sky” to single receiver side.• CB backside must play auto “ink” tech on

number one. He has him man to man.• Apex LB will carry number three to the

flat.

“Solo” Coverage vs. Trips

C

Q

CSETNR

CM

W

FB

“Solo”

“Bronco”

“Sky”

1 1

232

Backside safety reads #3 vertical if pass

“Stress” check vs. trips

• Used against teams that have a dominant “X,” or single receiver backside of trips.

• Strong or field side corner locks on number one man to man.

• Sam (Nickel) and trips safety play dice to trips side.• Backside corner will press number one with Bandit

safety help.• Bandit safety WILL NOT be involved in trips side, he

helps corner with number one.• Force adjustment is “bronco” to trips side, and “sky” to

single receiver side.

“Stress” Coverage vs. Trips

C

Q

CS/NETNR

CM

W

FB

“Bronco”

“Sky”

1 1

232

Boundary Corner has help on number 1

Field corner locks on #1

“Cloud” check to nub side

• Involves the corner and safety to the TE/unbalanced side.

• CB will assume a 2x2 alignment to the nub making a “cloud” force call.

• If pass develops, CB will play first thing to the flat while safety plays first thing vertical.

• Bandit Safety will “drop” to 2x6 vs. pro/slot to provide extra run support weak side

Quarters Coverage vs. Nub

C Y

2

Q

ETNR

C SW M

C

B

F

“Cloud”

“Bronco”

F

T

1

1

Quarters Coverage vs. Empty

• Question #1- can the Q be an effective runner? Must have answers, try to keep six in the box and play man.

• Where is the ball thrown? Usually ball is thrown to number two receiver weak or number three receiver strong.

• Where does the center turn in protection? Is it a full slide?

• Protect against screens- bubble and jailbreak.

Quarters Coverage vs. Empty (lock call)

• Strength will be declared to three-man side or field strength (Florida).

• Corner to the three man side will “lock on” number one receiver playing him man to man with ink technique.

• The Free safety and Sam (or Nickel) play a quarter concept with number two and three.

• To the two-man side, the Bandit safety and Will play the same quarters technique.

• As always, the Mike opens up to number three.

Quarters Coverage vs. Empty

C

CCF

NW

BM

1

2

Q

1

23