Split Field Coverages: Defending Trips

Split Field Coverages are becoming more and more widely used in football.  They have been a permanent fixture in the Pro game, and with any Cover 4 based defense in college, but they are gaining attention with high school coaches.

There a multiple reasons to play Split Field coverages.  The first is you always keep a safety to either side of the ball.  Many single high teams roll a safety to one side and lose a safety on the other.  Split Field coverages allow you to keep equal run support to each side.  

This of course leaves you with coverage problems, the most famous head scratcher being 3 WR sides.

Lets look at how to defend them.

Quarters:

This is a true quarters look where the DB's are playing deep.  In this case the FS is reading vertical release from 3 to 2, and the CB is reading the same from 2 to 1.  The Linebackers are each executing the same technique walling off the receivers from getting good vertical releases.

2-Read:

Here we have the favorite quarters concept 2-read defending the #2 and #1 receivers.  By alignment the CB takes away the bubble and speed out from #2. SS reads vertical release from 2 to 1.  OLB plays curl/flat.  With this coverage the FS plays a backside poach on a vertical release from #3.  

Man/Zone Combo:

This is a concept you could play with your 5 DB defenses (3-3-5 or 4-2-5).  Match your $ (who should be one of your better athletes) up on the #3 cancelling him out.  And play 2-read on the remaining wideouts.  You could also play a Cover 3 concept out of this combo look if you're feeling confident.

Cover 2

Cover 2 is an easy alignment change-up to your Cover 4 coverage although it will take time teaching new techniques.  Still covers all 3 potential verticals with your Middle backer playing high hole, and it can be valuable if they like to run flood/bubble.  CB plays squat technique and SS midpoints vertical routes.

Inverted Cover 2 Mike High Hole

This is similar to a cover 3 look, except you don't have your backside safety bailing to the middle of the field.  This is an excellent edge-run defense that floods the passing strength.  Middle backer plays high hole like in Cover 2 keying #3 vertical.  OLB plays hook.  SS comes down on #2 and plays a hard SCF.  CB midpoints #2 and #1.

Stay tuned for more football scheme analysis.