Jerry Gordon

Split Eagle Cover 4/3

vs. Pass

Potomac Falls HS
Jgordon0508@yahoo.com
www.savefile.com/projects/808662074
 Why Cover 4/3?
• Great Angles vs. the Run

• Allows us to be +1 with #’s

• Highly Flexible
Easily Altered with simple calls
• (Jam, Jump, Cloud, Seam, Sky)
 Why Cover 4/3?
• Very Rarely covering grass

• We only play one more coverage in our

entire package
 Major Calls in Cover 4

Read Call- To a TE/Flanker or

Single receiver
Alert Call- Made to a Slot

Sky Call- Made to a Nub TE

A Call is Made on both Sides of the
Ball and they are independent of each other
 Let’s Get Set- Read Call
1X8
1x7
1X8

S E T T E
M W
C 30 20 C
FS R
8
All Alignments are Ability Based And Game Plan Based
Sam and Mac Travel also Rover and Will Travel
 Let’s Get Set- Read Call
1X8
1x7
1X8

S E T T E
M W
C 30 20 C
FS R
8 Read
Read

All Alignments are Ability Based And Game Plan Based

 Read Call
Corners and Safeties
Corners- All of #1 except for shallow inside- Late to smash
Watch 3 step. You are inside and over the top of #1

FS- Run player. Pat your feet

TE Outside- Underneath post and curl
TE Vertical- M/M past the LB’S (Play inside)
TE Under- Melt to Deep 1/3 (NCAA)
or look to #1 (Game Plan)

Rover Same as Free except if #2 goes under Play Hi/Lo

Because of Mesh route
 Read Call
Linebackers
Sam/Will- Stay outside #2 . You are a wheel player
#2 doesn’t expand. Play curl (Game plan)
Listen for smash or in call

ILB- #3 Vertical- No vertical get under Digs

 Free Safety Reads

Rob #2 Out
Melt #2 In

C
F
Man #2 Vertical
 Sam Reads

#2 Outside = Flat/Wheel

C
#2 Inside = Sam Curl F
Do Not allow easy Vertical release
 Safety and Sam Read Looks

S
W M
R C
C
FS
#2 outside release: Sam Flat/Wheel,
FS Rob, Mac #3 vertical. Corner Squeeze
 Safety and Sam Read Looks

S
W M
R C
C
FS

#2 Inside Release: Sam Curl/Flat

Mac Dig, FS Check Vertical and then Play Third
 Safety and Sam Read Looks

S
W M
R C
C
FS

#2 Vertical: Sam No Free release Play Curl (Game plan)

Mac Jump #3, FS Play Vertical #2
Rover and Will Read Looks

S
W M
R C
C
FS
Rover: Carry #2 Vertical,
Will: Hook to Curl, Game Plan
 Rover and Will Read Looks

S
W M
R C
C
FS
#2 outside release: Will: Flat/Wheel,
Rover Rob
 Rover and Will Read Looks

Note:
Will must always maintain leverage on #2
If #2 is a great receiver, we would consider
this a one back set and check to Sky or Cover 3
 NCAA Route

S
C W M
R C
F
 5 Step Smash Route

S
C W M
R C
F

FS: M/M Over top

CB: Hi/Lo Call Smash
Sam: Drive to Smash
 Tough Route

S
C W M
R C
F

FS: M/M Over top

CB: Drive to Out
Sam: Make QB Throw with Air Under Ball
 Boot Weak

S
W M
R C
C
FS
 Boot Weak

S
W M
R C
C
FS
 Boot Weak

S
W M
R C
C
FS

Vs. A non running QB we would press Mac

Also used DE at Times
Lets Get Set- Alert/Sky Call

2x10

1x8
2x5

S E T T E
M W R
C C
8
FS
The Rover is in a Low Position
Corner is in a Bandit Position
Lets Get Set- Alert/Sky Call

2x10

1x8
2x5

S E T T E
M W R
C C
8
FS
SKY ALERT
 Alert Call
Corner and Safety and Alert Man

Corner: Squeeze #1 until #2 crosses your Vertical

DO NOT CHASE POST Play your ¼

Safety: Same reads as Cover 4 but you must play

over the top DEEPER

Alert Backer: Wall #2 to #1

ILB to Alert Vertical/Wall

 SKY Call
Corner and Alert Man

Corner: Half Player

Sky OLB: Flat/Wheel

ILB to SKY: Hook/Curl

 Alert/Sky Routes
Double Slant

S
M W R
C C
F
 Alert/Sky Routes
Bubble

S
M W R
C
C
F

SKY Alert- Corner squeeze

And then come off
 Alert/Sky Routes
Jailbreak

S
M W R
C
C
F

FS: Watch Crack and Go

 Alert/Sky Routes Curl

S
M W R
C
C
F

Free is over the Top

 Boot Strong

S
R
W M
C
C
FS
 Boot Strong

S
R
W M
C
C
FS
 Boot Strong

S
R
W M
C
C
FS
 Let’s Get Set
RIGHT

S E T T E
M W R
2x2
C C
FS
Sky Read
Left, Left Let’s Get Set

E T T E S
R M
W
C C
FS
Sky Read
 Let’s Get Set
Field is Left

E T T E

S M W
R C
C F
Alert Read
 Let’s Get Set 2x2
Field is Left

E T T E

S M W R
C C

Sam and Rover are in an APEX because of 2 backs

We now check to Cover 3
 Let’s Get Set 2x2
Left Call Field is Left

E T T E S
R W M
C C
F

Sam and Rover are in an APEX because of 2 backs

We now check to Cover 3
 Remember

The original call is Split 4/3

There is a TE and 2 RB’s in the game

The Front 8 are run first players

 Cover 3 Rules
Free Safety- Split #1’s Favor Field or Skill

Corners- 1x8 inside Divider

Sam and Rover- Curl/Flat

Control #2 (slant/ vertical)

Mac and Will- Hook to Curl

We need to communicate under and smash calls
 4 Verticals

E T T E
S
R W M
C C
F
 Smash/Hook Combo

E T T E S
R W M
C C
F

Rover plays Curl/Flat LC still has wheel problems

RT Corner must yell Smash. He now can play Receiver
 Y Shallow

E T T E S
R W M
C C
F

Sam Must yell CROSS. Will can jump this

Rover: Control #2. Make him fight over you
Mac can get depth for Dig
 Let’s Get Set 3x1 Open
Right Field is Left

E T T E
S M W R
C C
F

We make a SLIDE call. ONLY Time LB’s will move

We now check to Cover 3 because 1 Back
 3x1 Rules Open
Corners- 1x8 inside Divider rules

OLB- to Trips Apex 2 and 3 Control #2 (same as CV 3)

ILB to Trips Control #3 and then expand

Free Safety- Deep 1/3 (or 2/3 combo)

Backside OLB Check slant

Get Depth
ILB away Trips Zone Drop hook
 3x1 (2 and 3 cross)

E T T E
S
M W R
C
F C
 3x1 #3 Bubble

E T T E
R W M S
C C
F

Slide: OlB’s in a 50 ILB’s in a 10

 Let’s Get Set 3x1 Closed
Left Field is Left

E T T E S
R W M
C
C
F

We make a SLIDE call. ONLY Time LB’s will move

We now check to Cover 3 because 1 Back
 3x1 Closed Layers
Left Field is Left

E T T E S
R W M
C C
F
Sky Look

We make a SLIDE call. ONLY Time LB’s will move

We now check to Cover 3 because 1 Back
 40 Cover 4 Stay
Rules

Sam always to Field

Set Front to TE

No TE: Set Front to Sam

 Let’s Get Set 2x2
Right Call Field is Left

E T T E
S M W

R C
C F

Alert Read
Rover is in a Bandit Position. Will is in a Low
 Let’s Get Set 2x2
Left Field is Left

E T T E
S M W
C
C F R

Alert Alert
 Jump Call
Same Rules as alert EXCEPT

Corner will JUMP any Flat threat

Go Through #1 if he goes vertical

Safety will jump #1 now when #2 goes out

OLB’s play alert- wall #2 and expand to #1

Great vs. Picks and Bubbles

 Jump Call vs. Picks

E T T E
S M W

C C
F R

Corner: Must go through #1

When vertical release
 40 Cover 4 Stay vs. 3x1
Rules
Trips side- Play ALERT

Safety over top Play #3 man unless he goes out

Get Depth Play #1 Weak

Corner away M/M

LB To Trips Wall #3 to #2

LB Away Trips Zone drop hook

 40 Cover 4 Stay vs. 3x1

S E T T E
M W C

C F R

ALERT or JUMP
 40 Cover 4 Stay vs. 3x1
Check Fox

S E T T E
M W C

C F R

There is a new #2 and a new #3

 Game Plan Ideas
#1/ #48

S E T T E
M W
F C
C R
#48 = Read
#1= Alert or Cover 3 or Man
 Game Plan Ideas
Fast TE

S E T T E
M W
F C
C R
If TE is Very Fast
Alert Call
 Game Plan Ideas
#1 or #48

S E T T E
M W
F C
C R

#48 Read Call OK Could check Man

#1 Make a trips check (Slide)
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