1. Defending the Run and Pass with Quarters Coverage
Mike Kuchar
Immaculata High School

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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!

7. 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 – 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”

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. Single Width Formations (Sky Force)
Pro Formation (tight end) C Y Z
Pro Formation (split end) C X
Pro/Slot (S is tight to EMLOS) S C X

14. Double/Triple Width Formations (Bronco Force)
Twins S C X S
Trips Z C Y
Trips H S Z C

15. No Width Formations (Cloud Force)
Nub C Y
Backside of Tover (Tackle Over) C G Y
Backside of Heavy H C G T

16. Quarters Coverage vs. Pro Formation/Single Width2 1 1 C Y R N T E C W M S C
10 Strong
70 Strong
50 Weak F B
“Sky”
“Sky”

17. “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

18. Quarters vs. Double Width FormationC T 3 2 2 1 1 R E N N T
“Bronco”
“Bronco” C C S W M B F
“Dice”
“Dice”

19. “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.

20. “Solo” Coverage vs. Trips2 Q 3 2 C 1 1 T E R N S C C M W
“Bronco” F B
“Sky”
“Solo”
Backside safety reads #3 vertical if pass 20

21. “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.

22. “Stress” Coverage vs. Trips2 Q 3 2 C 1 1 T E R N
S/N C C
Field corner locks on #1 M
Boundary Corner has help on number 1 W
“Bronco” F B
“Sky” 22

23. “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

24. Quarters Coverage vs. NubF 2 Q 1 1 C Y E R T N C C S
“Cloud” W M
“Bronco” B F

25. 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.

26. 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.

27. Quarters Coverage vs. Empty2 2 3 C 1 1 W N C C M F B