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Quarters vs. the Run Game – Adding the Safeties

by: Mark Thoephel
Linebackers Coach, Becker College
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Pattern-reading quarters is our most frequently used coverage scheme, as it allows us to be sound against most passing attacks and keep the box loaded to defend the run. In this way, quarters is a rather unique coverage. It gives us protection against vertical passing while allowing for up to nine defenders in the box, depending on the offensive formation. We can play cover 4 against virtually any offensive scheme and there are many variations and adjustments we can make to protect against difficult situations and formations. There are also many ways in which our quarters coverage allows us to put additional players in the box to defend the run.

The main reason we run quarters so much and are able to get additional players involved in the run game is the “pattern-reading” nature of the coverage. Both of our safeties (as well as our corners) are responsible for playing vertical routes by wide receivers. However, their coverage responsibility is based on routes by offensive players, rather than zones on the field. There are inherent difficulties in playing coverage this way because we are relying heavily on our players being able to read routes and identify various scenarios.

Conversely, quarters eliminates the need for confining our secondary to being “pass-first” defenders based on the play call. Rather, it is the offense’s personnel and alignment that dictates the role our defensive backs will play in the run game. Offenses that utilize tight ends and two-back sets are forced to contend with an extra run defender for every additional player they bring into the box. Therefore, we will never have less than eight men in the box when an offense shows two backs or a tight end. Even when teams give us two-back formations without a TE, or single back formation with a TE, we always have one of our safeties playing a pivotal role in the run game. This allows our linebackers to play faster and more aggressively because they know they have additional support.

Diagram 1 shows cover 4 alignment vs. a one-back, one TE formation and diagram 2 shows the alignment vs. a two-back, no TE formation.


Diagram 1: Cover 4 Alignment vs. 1-Back, 1-TE



Diagram 2: Cover 4 Alignment vs. 2-Back, No TE

Pro-style teams are prevalent in many conferences at the Division III level and we predominantly face two-back offenses several times throughout the season. These teams can be a difficult in the run game, as they like to use fullbacks, tight ends and pulling linemen to add extra gaps that we must account for.

Playing quarters against these teams is a great way to load the box against these formations, making sure we will never be outnumbered in the run game. Against a basic two-back, one TE pro formation, we can put up to nine defenders in the box, while being protected against any pass combinations. Since our defensive backs pattern-read, rather than pedaling to a zone, the presence of tight ends and additional running backs to an offensive formation allows us to add safeties into the box as run-first defenders. They will base their run/pass reads off of their key, which will either be a running back or a TE. A run read from their key brings them into the picture and provides the linebackers with run support to spill plays to. Diagram 3 shows the alignment vs. this pro formation.


Diagram 3: Cover 4 Alignment vs. Pro Formation

Pro-style teams can bring one of the safeties out of the box with a twins look. This can be done by adding a removed #2 receiver to one side of the formation. If this happens, the safety to that side must become a pass-first defender and adjust his alignment. However, we can still maintain a nine-man box by keeping the safety to the tight end side in the box, as well as bringing the corner as a force defender. He is basing his read and coverage responsibility off of the TE. Since the twins side takes away the safety support in the run, there is a heavier emphasis on our linebackers to that side working in tandem with one another in the run game. The outside linebacker to that side provides support for the inside linebacker to spill the play to. Diagram 4 shows alignment vs. a twins formation.


Diagram 4: Cover 4 Alignment vs. Twins Formation

It is important that the safeties in quarters coverage focus on what their “key” is telling them. Both safeties must key the #2 receiver on their side. That is why when that player is a wide receiver in the slot, the safety must play pass first because the alignment of his key has pulled him out of the box. If, however, that player is lined up as a tight end or in the backfield, the safety can get immediately involved in the run game.

A safety reading a tight end must be able to distinguish between a run block from that tight end and a pass route. If the safety reads run, he drops down into the box and looks to help based on the run fit of the linebacker to his side. Wherever the linebacker ends up, the safety to that side should “make him right.” Typically, we like to spill plays to the safety with the linebackers. This ensures that the safety is able to play downhill over the top of his key. The less the safety has to move inside, the less we risk him getting picked up by an offensive lineman. Also, we allow the safety to play over the top of his key, where he may be able to pick up a delayed tight end release or simply recover from a misread.

A safety whose “key” is lined up in the backfield (one-receiver side) has an easy read, keying the running back for the flow of the play and then fitting accordingly if it is a run. Conveniently, if he reads pass, his coverage responsibility has little to do with the running back in the backfield, unless the back pushes vertical. Often, his key will be running underneath routes or will be involved in the protection scheme. If that’s the case, the safety can offer inside help to the corner on his side. Because of this, we are often able to double-team routes to the single-receiver side.

Basic run plays like iso and power become easier to deal with when we add safeties into the box. This creates a numbers advantage by utilizing players that the offense cannot account for in their blocking schemes. We are able to defend every gap that a lead blocker or pulling lineman adds to a play while also having an extra defender clean up the play without being late to the point of impact. Here are some examples of how safeties fit in against common run plays when  playing quarters coverage (Diagrams 5 and 6).


Diagram 5: Safety Support vs. Iso



Diagram 6: Safety Support vs. Power

Of course, being able to effectively run quarters in this way depends on how instinctive and disciplined your safeties are. They need to be solid tacklers and they need to have the technique and eye discipline required to effectively pattern-read and cover receivers downfield. It requires meticulous coaching and attention to detail from players but, when perfected, quarters can be a great call against virtually any opponent running any scheme.

About the Author: Mark Thoephel begins his fourth season at Becker College this fall. He coached outside linebackers in 2010 and in 2011 became Becker’s special teams coordinator. Thoephel is now co-defensive coordinator as well as linebackers coach. He played for four seasons as a linebacker for Hartwick College.

Coach Thoephel answers your questions on Facebook - just go to https://www.facebook.com/AmericanFootballMonthly/


More articles on this subject can be found here:

  •  Tight Quarters – Progression Techniques in Trinity College’s Quarters Coverage – March, 2011
  •  Zone Coverage for the 4-2-5 Defense – April, 2010
  •  Cal’s 3-Deep Zone Coverage vs. the 4-Vertical Passing Gam







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