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Spare a Dime – The dime 4-1-6 package can be used in certain passing situations, providing solid man-to-man coverage.

by: Chris Willis
Defensive Coordinator • University of North Alabama
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We use the dime 4-1-6 package in third and long situations as well as other long yardage situations. We also like to use this package against passing teams who have a pocket passing quarterback who is not very mobile and does not look to run when pressured. This package has also been used in two-minute situations when the game is on the line. We only want to rush four and have tight coverage behind them. We know the weakness of this defense is running the football against it, but if teams decide to run the football in this situation, we will take that chance. Time remaining and where the ball is placed on the field will also determine if we will use this package.

Fronts

In our 4-1-6 package, we like to bring in our four best pass rushers. We like to widen the ends on certain occasions to create a better pass rush threat. At times, we run different variations of stunts and twists up front with our interior linemen in order to find different ways to get pressure. We also rely on running stunts to help cloud up any run game possibilities.
Coverage

On the coverage side of this defense, we bring in what is called our dime and nickel backs. These two positions replace the outside linebackers. We want these athletes to be our best cover guys. Their job is to play aggressive man coverage defense on routes such as slants and outs. While we do not teach trail technique, we believe with the pass rush we get and with safety help over top, it gives us the best opportunity to get off the field in these situations. We have been very successful in playing this very aggressive style of underneath coverage over the years.

The ‘Mike’ linebacker or best coverage backer will be the lone player in the middle assigned to cover any back in most calls. We also like to play with two high safeties. Their job is not to allow anyone to get behind them. These are usually the two starting safeties in our base package. The corners that are currently in the game could also be moved to dime or nickel depending on the situation and the depth of the secondary. The corners that started the game are usually the same ones used in this package.

Two-man (Diagram 1) defense provides solid man coverage underneath with two high safeties over the top, splitting both halves of the field. We teach our corners to play the receivers to their side with inside leverage, never allowing that receiver to get an inside release. We teach the dime and nickel players to cover the inside receivers with the same technique as the corners. The linebacker has the back in the backfield man-to-man.

Diagram 1.

If the back blocks, we teach the LB to add up and hug the back for screen routes or to possibly add pressure to the QB. The strength of this defense is covering short routes and being able to play press coverage across the board. In any 3 x 1 look, we want our defense to play on different levels.The weakness of this defense would be like any man coverage which is susceptible to crossing routes or pick routes. Another weakness would be a mobile QB’s scrambling, or any consistent run game. That’s why we run twists and play stunts up front in order to help with any kind of run game with this package. When using this call, we obviously like to be in passing situations such as third and long.

The 1 hole (Diagram 2) provides us with playing a robber-type coverage which allows us to play on top of digs and any crossing routes by spinning a safety down to be a hole player. In playing this call, the dime and nickel in a 2 x 2 set shift to outside leverage. In playing a 3 x 1 formation, we will just make the dime, who is covering our #3 receiver, to move to outside leverage. The hole player comes down with the intent of looking off the inside receivers and helping on any routes over the middle such as slants, crossers, and digs.

Diagram 2.


In a 3 x 1 look, we want all defenders to play on a different level so they do not put themselves in position to get picked off by routes. The safety not doing the robbing will play normal single high rules. The linebacker will play the RB and, if he does not release, he will add to the rush. We leave it up to the safeties based off film study of our opponent as to which one will be the hole player.

We use “Thief” coverage (Diagram 3) to double team the best inside receiver of our opponent. Based off film study and our opponent’s tendencies in specific situations, we will predetermine the targeted receiver we will be thieving. When thieving an inside receiver, the dime or nickel will give a signal to our safety to that side as to whether or not he will play inside or outside leverage. The leverage is determined by down and distance and where we are on the field at that time.

Diagram 3.


In a 3 x 1 set, we will either thief #2 or #3 such as the diagram indicates. The linebacker will cover the RB and, if he doesn’t release, he will be an add-up player. The corner to the side of the thief will know he is in 0 coverage depending on the route of the receiver being thieved to his side. In most situations, we like to thief to the weak side or boundary side So, if a corner has to play 0 coverage, we like to make it the corner to the field side because of the longer throw involved. The safety not involved will play normal two man rules to his side.

Bracket coverage is very similar to thief coverage (Diagram 4). The difference is that in bracket coverage we use both safeties where we double team two receivers. The corners know in a bracket call they will be in zero coverage. Based off of film study of our opponent, this is used for heavy inside routes.

Diagram 4.


In 2 x 2 coverage, we will always bracket the two inside receivers. In a 3 x 1 set, we will either bracket the #2 or #3 receiver to the trips side or add a single receiver to the back side. The linebacker will still cover down the back and be an add-up player if the back does not release. This call, as well as the others discussed, are used in long yardage situations or against teams that are behind and have abandoned the run.

About the Author: Chris Willis just completed his 11th season on the staff of North Alabama and his first as both Defensive Coordinator and Linebackers Coach. He previously served on the staff at Delta State University. Willis went to Itawanda Community College on a football and baseball scholarship and received both his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree from Delta State.






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