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Why Cover 4? How this alignment can be effective against both the run and the pass.

by: Richard Shepas
Head Coach, Waynesburg College
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A Cover 4 alignment allows the secondary to adjust to various formations and personnel groupings and helps stop the run while also defending the pass.

We have found that Cover 4, with certain adjustments, is the most effective defense in today’s world of high-powered offenses. The coverage adjustments that I have made allow the secondary to be more aggressive against the run. Personnel will always dictate the use of any adjustments based on how much your athletes can typically handle. However, vs. sets like twins, trips and Ace TX trips, you can get an extra defender in the box to make an offense more one-dimensional.

Moreover, playing inside technique vs. an outside receiver make reads harder for the QB, which is ultimately why I like this coverage. There are subtle adjustments that can also be made to deal with inside slot receivers, which can disrupt timing routes. Cover 4 fits well with our aggressive defensive style. It is not meant to be a universal adjustment but has proven successful for us.  
 
Why Cover 4?
 
•  Align/Adjust – Basic 4-across alignment allows the secondary to adjust to the formation, personnel groupings and any motion.
 
•  Support vs. the Run – Depending on the formation and backfield set, Cover 4 will allow 8-9 defenders in the box vs. the run.
 
•  Flexibility vs. Play-Action Passes – Enables the defense to handle full and split-flow flat pass variations with four deep defenders.
 
•  Coverage Disguise – With the safeties alignment at funnel depth, it makes it easy to match routes in coverage, use robber concepts to both the strong and weak side as well as both odd and even coverages.
 
•  Handle 4 Verticals – Cover 4 allows the defense to handle one-back sets by matching 4 DBs on 4 vertical threats.
 
The diagrams listed include Cover 4 alignment in a base defense (Diagram 1), Base Alignment/Twins (Diagram 2), Run Support/Flow (Diagrams 3 and 4), Run Support/Webb (Diagram 5), Run Support/Split (Diagram 6), and Pass Assignments (Diagram 7).

 
Our complete drill progression for cornerbacks includes:
 
•  Footwork/backpedaling.
•  Pedal turn.
•  Read pedal with man turn.
•  Weave Drill (This drill positions a DB in an inside leverage or outside leverage position as they backpedal against a WR).
•  W. Drill (In a five-yard area, the DB backpedals on a 45-degree angle and then plants and drives forward. The DB then simulates a break on the ball.  The drill can then be moved down the field at 10 yards or more).
•  Four Square – Incorporates the W. Drill progression with breaks and angle sticks at 45 to zero, 45 to 90 and 45 to 45 degrees.
•  Boundary corner funnel.
•  Crack Replace Drill – You work with your corner and safety on this drill. The corner releases the WR inside to the safety and communicates a ‘crack’ call to help the safety anticipate the blind side block. The corner then fits off the WR and assumes the support of the safety as he works to the top for secondary run responsibilities. Teams who play a lot of Cover 4 must anticipate crack blocks because of supporting the run.
 
There are also fundamental rules for corners:
 
•  Maintain inside leverage.
•  Progression of seeing #2 to #1 (check vertical).
•  No curl/no dig/high on post route.
•  Break on anything in your corner – quick out, deep out, corner route, late on hitch, and man turn on vertical.
 
We also have a safety drill progression:
 
•  Work flat to pedal.
•  Work flat break alley/support.
•  Work flat check hole/zone middle.
•  Streamer Drill - This drill is for safeties. Two WRs line up 10 yards apart. The safety lines up in the middle of the two, 10 yards off the ball. The receivers run at Ύ speed while the safety backpedals and maintains a high position on each receiver. The coach then gives a direction for the ball and the safety breaks at a 45-degree angle on the receiver.
•  W Drill
•  Four square – Incorporates the W Drill progression with breaks and angle sticks at 45 to zero, 45 to 90 and 45 to 45 degrees high.
•  Vertical – 8 to 10-yard vertical route and lock receiver after 8 yards.
 
There are a number of fundamental rules for safeties:
 
•  Hat read for support.
•  Key near or deepest back for flow.
•  Play flat before you commit.
•  Play #2 out vs. pass:
    A. Strong #2 out, look to #1
    B. Strong #2 vertical, carry the seam 8 to 10 yards and then lock in past 10 yards.
    C. Weakside play #2 out (tackle box rule).
          #2 stays double, #1 weak.
          #2 out play release - #2 flat rob curl/slant by #1 or
          #2 vertical carry seam 8 to 10 yards and lock at 10 yards.
 
We use, in practice, a complete Shell Drill progression:
 
•  5-on-3 serves as a Fit Drill in three parts – run fits vs. flow, play-action, and match patterns. This helps develop leverage for the defense while the offense is timing up their run game.
•  Split skelly (no help – Ό , Ό , ½ ).
•  Split line match-up skelly – this allows the defense to work for leverage in under coverage and for robber looks while the QB is working his read progression.
•  Combination quarter coverage vs. double sets.
•  Crack Drill replace.
•  Option period.
 
The following diagrams illustrate specific player responsibilities:

A 5-on-3 Run Fit (Diagram 8), 5-on-3 Pass Play (Diagram 9), a 5-on-3 Skell Pass (Diagram 10), Split Skell (Diagrams 11 and 12), and Split Shell Twins (Diagrams 13 and 14).


 
Key points for maximizing the Cover 4 include:
 
•  Wide corner rules (KISS).
•  8 to 10-yard vertical rule.
•  Take away windows with basketball concepts; that is, understanding space and defending it. Terms like post up pivot routes, pick plays and match-up zones are important.
•  Crack replace practice.
•  Need to rep play-action pass vs. play-action throw backs.
•  Routed recognition.
 
About the Author: Rick Shepas recently completed his ninth season as head coach at Waynesburg University. He has also coached on the high school level for 20 years, most recently as the head coach at Massillon Washington High School (OH) for seven seasons. Shepas was a four-year letterman as a receiver at Youngstown State and received his Bachelor’s Degree in 1987. He received his Master’s from Ashland University in 1991.






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