Despite the fact that the 4-2-5 is a natural fit for Cover 3, I love Quarters Coverage. We’ve got to start out in Cover 3 with this defense, because it is just right. But we would probably run Quarters more than anything else. It is an adaptable coverage to whatever the offense gives you, since both sides can operate independently. It takes away the need for a Cover 3 corner to split two vertical routes. At the same time, you can put 8 in the box, and even 9 versus a 2-back set. There are a variety of checks that can be used, and the players pick it up amazingly fast because the rules are simple. I’ll go into some of the most important checks here. None of this was my idea, by the way, I’m just adapting what I’ve stolen in the past for the 4-3 Defense to a 4-2-5 structure. Almost everything I’ll show here is with the idea of keeping a 4-2 box at all times, so that the defensive linemen and linebackers can play fast!

We’re going to set the passing strength to the Field, or to the most receivers if the ball is in the middle of the field. Two wide receivers would take precedence over a Tight End – Flanker set. Against a balanced set in the middle of the field, we would set the strength to the left unless film indicated another tendency.

Quarters Clue and Read Checks

The first check we’ll show is the “Read” Check. This check can be used to the Field or Boundary side when we have one receiver removed, particularly against a Tight End and Flanker. The Corner aligns at 6-8 yards, 1 yard outside of the #1 receiver, and stays over top of him. The only time he leaves #1 if he goes down inside immediately. The Free Safety reads #2, aligning at 9 yards. If #2 run blocks, the safety fills immediately on the run. If #2 goes inside or outside, under 8 yards, he immediately heads to the inside hip of #1 and robs. If #2 goes vertical, the Free Safety has him in man coverage. The Strong Safety is responsible for the flat and boxing the run, and stays on the top side hip of the #2 receiver when he goes flat. The Inside Linebacker on the read side has the hook zone, and walls anything coming inside. He will go to the inside hip of the most dangerous (Tight End) and redirect as soon as he gets a pass read.

On the boundary side, we have a “Clue” check. We get our clue from the #2 receiver. This coverage will turn into man coverage, based off of what the #2 receiver does. If he goes vertical or in, the Weak Safety takes the #2 man to man, and the Corner has #1. If #2 runs an out route under 8 yards, the Corner jumps him and the Safety gets over top of #1. The Inside Linebacker drops to the #2 receiver on a pass read and works for width.

Wide and Alert Checks in Quarters Coverage

To the field side, we now have an “”Alert!” Check. The Alert Check is used when we have two receivers removed, alerting everyone that there are two fast guys out there. The corner aligns at 4-6 yards, with outside leverage on the #1 receiver. The Free Safety aligns over top of the #2 receiver at a depth of 12-14 yards, depending on his speed. With the Alert Check, we work the Vertical Line Rule. The Free Safety stays over top of #2 and the Corner funnels #1 inside. If #2 crosses the “vertical line” of #1, the Corner immediately opens his hips and takes #2, with the Free Safety now staying over top of #1. The Strong Safety is still the box player, and plays the flat. He must wall anything coming inside by #2, instead of just getting to the top side hip. This is a soft cover 2 look.

On the boundary side, this diagram shows a “Wide” call. You would probably only need to use this call when the ball is in the middle of the field. The Wide Call tells the Corner and Weak Safety that the two receivers removed are too wide to play “Clue,” and instead we will play a straight man coverage on #1 and #2. The Corner has to move his alignment to inside shade on #1, because he cannot expect help from the Free Safety. Both receivers can play man coverage from a tighter alignment. Wide also tells the Inside Linebacker that he must get to the flat now on a run read, since both #1 and #2 will be over top.

Cloud and Alert Checks in Quarters Coverage

In this picture, we have an Alert Check to the Field, but a “Cloud” check on the boundary side. The Cloud Check is used against a single receiver removed on the boundary side. The Boundary Corner will walk up on the line with an outside shade on #1 and funnel him to the inside, as in a press Cover 2. The Weak Safety can align on the hash or play over top of #2 (the Tight End). He reads the Tight End for his run-pass read. The safety’s alignment is at 12-14 yards, just as he would play in Alert. The Inside Linebacker can really help out by walling #2, as can the Defensive End aligned in a 7-technique and preventing the free release of #2. I like this check because the Corner can really be the force player out there into the boundary. To the field, I don’t like the Corner being declared as the force, because he can be set too wide to ever help out.

Alert with Survivor Check in Quarters Coverage

Against a Trips Formation, we have a great answer. The Field Corner, Free Safety, and Strong Safety play the #1 and #2 receiver with an “Alert!” Check – they ignore the #3 Receiver, with the exception of the Free Safety calling “Survivor!” to the Weak Safety. The Weak Safety comes over to a position where he can play over top of #3. He stays over top of #3 while the Inside Linebacker gets to the inside hip of #3 as soon as he reads pass. This creates a robber look on the #3 receiver. The backside Corner is locked in man coverage on #1, with the Inside Linebacker working quick to the flat to help on the slant or the hitch.

If leaving the boundary corner on #1, basically all alone, is a scary thought, you can walk out the Inside Linebacker and make a call to tell the Defensive End to cut into the B-Gap. The walked out ILB has Box responsibility now – but you’ll need to rep those reads for him if you’re going to do it. Whenever possible, I want to play the 4-2 box. You could also make a Clue check between the Field Corner and Free Safety, with the Strong Safety taking #3 in man coverage. He’ll need to let the End know that he is in Man Coverage, thus giving the End the box responsibility.

The great thing about this coverage is that once the players get good at recognizing the different alignments by the receivers, they follow their rules no matter what happens. If a team lines up in Trips, but motions #3 back across, the Weak Safety can run over with him and make a quick “Clue!” check to the boundary Corner. If the offense motioned from Doubles to a Trips look, the Safeties make their “Survivor!” check and are ready to play. It is not uncommon to make 2 or 3 checks on any given play. We’ll spend a lot of time just lining up formations, motioning receivers around, and making all of our checks and adjusting the alignment.