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Tight Quarters – Progression Technique in Trinity College’s Quarters Coverage

by: Kurtis Von Bargen
Outside Linebackers Coach Trinity College
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At Trinity College, we are a base 3-4, cover 4 defense. In this scheme, the two outside linebackers act as the adjusters of the defense and are required to play their assignments from a number of different alignments. At Trinity, we put an emphasis on stopping the run with an aggressive attacking-style defense, forcing the offense to become one-dimensional.

    When teams throw the ball, our base coverage is a true quarters (cover 4) pattern- read scheme. While all coverages have a strength and a weakness, we feel that being a zone coverage pattern read team allows us to be fundamentally sound against any look our players might see. The way we teach our base coverage, we are able to give offenses multiple looks, based on their sets, and not have to adjust our coverage.

    If the adjuster is to a single WR side (tight end, flanker or split end), then his job is very simple. On a pass read, he will open to the curl of the #1 receiver to his side and any route that releases to the flat he will now take as if it were man-to-man. If a player does not release to the flat, he must now body help with the #1 receiver and prepare to leverage any receivers that cross (See Diagrams 1 and 2).

    Versus a twins alignment, the adjuster must now remove himself and align in his “walk” alignment (4 x 4 of the end man on the line of scrimmage). Now, his progression two read is the twin receiver. On a pass, the adjuster will now work to the interception point of the #2 receiver.  

•  If #2 goes out, the adjuster will hold the curl and body help with the #1 receiver, ready to expand with any route that crosses his face and carry him on all wheel routes (See Diagram 3).

•  If #2 takes a vertical release, he will fence post (re-route) the receiver in order to impede his release and help the safety. Once the adjuster fence posts the receiver, he must now prepare to expand with any route that crosses his face and carry him on all wheel routes (See Diagrams 4 and 5).

    When we talk about fence posting receivers, it is our way of communicating to our guys to “re-route” vertical releases. The way we teach our fence post technique is that we tell our players that there is a 4 x 4 box eight yards in front of the receiver and we cannot allow him in that box. If the receiver takes an exaggerated inside or outside release (out of our box), we will not chase him because he has already “re-routed” himself.
   
    If the #2 inside receiver releases, the adjuster will now squeeze the receiver until another route crosses his face and will now carry him on all wheel routes (See Diagram 6).

    If #2 sits down in front of us, he will now settle over the top of the route (See Diagram 7).

    A coaching point to remember is that as a progression #2 player, they must be aware of where the #3 receiver is because of the potential of a quick 2/3 interchange. This is more of a concern when playing against tight split sets. When playing versus tight splits, our base rules still apply. But now, because of the offensive players’ alignments, everything happens a lot quicker (See Diagram 8).

    In regards to wheel routes, a base rule that we give our players is that as a progression #2 player, you will have the wheel routes of all running backs, tight ends, and #3 receivers. This is a technique that has proved successful for us and I hope it can do the same for you.






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