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Safety Play in Cover 4

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The Army defensive scheme uses zone coverage 99% of the time and the reason for this is simple: it enables the secondary to keep everything in front, make the tackle and play another down. Since switching to a zone scheme four years ago, the number of big plays surrendered in the passing game has been greatly reduced. Army employs multiple coverages: 2, 3, 4 and many variations. However, the coverage which Army hangs it hat on is Cover 4.

No coverage can defend everything and Cover 4 is no exception. Some advantages of Cover 4 are that it enables the defense to heavily involve the safeties in run support; it protects the deep seams vs. a vertical passing game; and it takes the pressure off the LBs in jamming and protecting the underneath seams.

Cover 4 has its weaknesses as well. One drawback is that there is no deep defender in the middle of the field that is very desirable against the deep ball and play action passing game. The glaring flaw, though, is that Cover 4 isolates CBs to the extent that they, for all intents and purposes, are playing man coverage. Both the 3-step passing game and vertical routes can wreak havoc on CB’s.

Generally the Army safeties will align at a depth of 10 yards from the LOS and one yard outside the TE or ghost TE, if there is only an OT. If there is a slot receiver, he will adjust to two yards inside the #2 receiver (See Diagram 1). Many defenses will play their safeties ‘flat-feet,’ but Army uses a slow ‘walk-out’ technique on the snap. The reason for this is to constantly reinforce to the player that although he is expected to be a factor in run support, his foremost responsibility is to defend the pass.

Diagram 1

The run/pass key is the first thing that must be executed after the ball is snapped. The safety will read the OT to his side and look through the imaginary pane of glass that rests along the offensive line. If that OT ‘breaks’ the pane of glass, the safety plays run. If that OT only ‘bumps’ the pane of glass, then he plays pass. The ‘don’t go if you don’t know’ philosophy tells the player to play pass if there is any indecision.

A run play presents the safety with three scenarios: run to, run away or option. When the run is to him, the player is coached to ‘fit where needed.’ As long as he keeps the ball on his inside shoulder and does not follow his own color (a teammate), he is correct. When the ball is away, the safety becomes a cutback player. His aiming point is to play the cutback at a depth of six yards over the B Gap (See Diagram 2). It is important to keep the cutback player at six yards because if he is any closer, he risks getting caught up in the ‘trash’ of the DL and LBs and will have difficulty locating the ball. The other rule, as the cutback player, is to shuffle square to the line of scrimmage and never overrun the ball. Versus option plays, the safety is generally the pitch player, although that can vary by front scheme.

Diagram 2

Upon recognizing a pass, the safety’s eyes go directly to the #2 receiver. The receiver will have three general releases. If he releases vertically, the safety will play him man-to-man once the receiver passes the depth of the linebackers. If he releases non-vertical and inside, the Safety will ‘quarter off’ in his zone and peek at #1 while reading the QB. If #l runs an inside-breaking route, then the safety will drive it (See Diagram 3). If the receiver releases non-vertical and outside, the safety makes a ‘Wheel’ call and looks up to #1 to immediately help on any inside-breaking route (See Diagram 4). The ‘Wheel’ call simply alerts the CB to the possibility of a mismatch on the OLB if the #2 receiver turns his route up the sideline.

Diagram 3

Diagram 4

When facing a 3x1 offensive set, it is necessary to make an adjustment in Cover 4 or the defense will be outnumbered three to two to the strong side. Probably the simplest 3x1 adjustment is what Army refers to as a ‘Deep’ adjustment. ‘Deep’ does not affect the weak side; those players still play regular Cover 4. However, the safety and CB to the strong side have to adjust their techniques slightly. To handle the threat of three verticals, ‘Deep’ tells the Safety to that side that he must key the #3 receiver instead of his normal key of #2. If #3 is vertical, the safety is coached to lean hard to him. If #3 is non-vertical, then the safety’s eyes go to #2 and he reverts to his original Cover 4 technique.

If #3 is a vertical player, then obviously the CB is in a bind with two potential vertical threats in his zone. For that reason, ‘Deep’ tells the CB to play a ‘Stress’ technique. ‘Stress’ tells the CB that he plays a mid-point technique between #2 and #1, leaning hard to #2. If a deep ball is thrown to either receiver, it is the CB’s responsibility to overlap both receivers and make a play on the ball. If #2 is non-vertical, then the CB’s eyes go to #1 and he plays his normal Cover 4 technique (See Diagram 5). The ‘Deep’ adjustment allows the players to defend the easier throws to #3 and #2 and rally and run to the longest throw to the #1 receiver.

Diagram 5

Another situation that is challenging vs. any coverage is the Boot/Naked pass. The first problem that arises vs. Boot is the key. If the Boot key is read incorrectly, then the Safety will invariably come up for the run only to find receivers running by him. Therefore, film study of the Boot key is crucial. For most teams, the key remains consistent with the ‘Bump the Glass’ pass concept discussed before. A coaching point on reading the Boot is that the offensive line will turn their shoulders parallel to the sideline to simulate a zone run scheme but they will not break the glass.

Next, the safeties must understand how to defend the pass once Boot is recognized. In Cover 4, the safeties are coached to understand whether the Boot action is to him or away from him (meaning which direction the QB is rolling). If the Boot is away from him, the safety should play his regular technique. Usually the #2 receiver will run a crossing route. If that #2 is past the LBs, take it. If not, then look to #1 who will often be running a deep post. Versus Boot away, the safety can be aggressive in helping on any inside breaking route of #1.

The safety to the Boot side has a bit more to think about. His first thought when he sees Boot coming to him is to stop and find the crosser. There will often be an intermediate crossing route that gets by the LBs. The play side safety is taught to stop getting depth because if he drifts too deep, the crosser will be open. After stopping, he must turn his eyes to the crosser and make the play (See Diagram 6). There are also issues with the play side flat if that LB gets sucked up too far on the play action fake. Potentially, the safety has to deal with two open passes: the crosser and the flat. In that situation, the player is told to 1) hold off the crosser and 2) tackle the flat pass if completed.

Diagram 6

One of Cover 4’s weak points is the isolation of the CBs, especially on out-breaking routes. To counter this, the secondary can use the ‘Vise’ technique. ‘Vise’ is employed when there is no #2 receiver for the safety to read. With only one receiver to his side, the safety tells the CB to ‘Vise,’ which effectively creates a double-team on that receiver. The CB can move to outside leverage which helps against the out-breaking routes. He is guaranteed fast and aggressive help on any inside-breaking route by the safety (the safety keys the #1 receiver). This adjustment takes pressure off the CB and helps to reduce a weakness that is inherent in Cover 4 (See Diagram 7).

Diagram 7

These are some of the basic principles of Army’s Cover 4 scheme. Hopefully, some beneficial information can be gained from this article. If any further assistance is needed, please do not hesitate to contact the Army football office.






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