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 Quarters 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
LBs must buzz to the flat
Fork/wheel route combinations
Quick out/slant by number one
Possible mismatch with safeties playing
slot receivers

Corners 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 hes 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.
Hes square, Im square- if the receivers shoulders are
squared, Im 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 two
Two in- radar to number one
Two 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)
Pro Formation (tight end)
C

Pro Formation (split end)

C

Pro/Slot (S is tight to EMLOS)

S
C

Double/Triple Width Formations

(Bronco Force)
Twins

S
Trips
Z
C
Trips
C

Y
H

S
Z

No Width Formations (Cloud

Force)
Nub
C

Backside of Tover (Tackle Over)

C

Backside of Heavy
C

Quarters Coverage vs. Pro

Formation/Single Width
1
R

E
C

W
C

50 Weak

B
Sky

M
10 Strong

S
70 Strong

F
Sky

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.
CBs 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

2
1

1
R

Bronco
W

Bronco
C

M
B

F
Dice

Dice

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

2

1
R

C
W

B
Backside safety reads #3 vertical if pass

Sky

T
M

C
Bronco
F
Solo

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

2

1
R

C
Boundary Corner has help on number 1

B
Sky

T
M

S/N

Field corner locks on #1

Bronco
F

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

T
F
2
1

Q
C

R
C

N
M

Cloud

Bronco
B
F

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

Q
2

1
W
C
B

N
M