Shane Dierking, DC, North Central College (IL)
Watch the entire Glazier Drive video: 4-2-5 Defending 10 Personnel
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Summary
This video dives into defensive strategies for containing explosive plays and pressuring quarterbacks against 10 personnel formations, with a focus on match coverage techniques:
Three Match Coverage
- Designed to defend against crossing routes, mesh concepts, and wheel routes
- Key assignments:
- Boundary corner: Mess of #1 player with outside leverage
- Field corner: Plays off at “7 tilt” alignment, mess of #1 except shallow
- Weak safety, boundary overhang, and nickel: Outside leverage, mess of #2
- Mike and Will linebackers: Match #3 players or push to middle hook zones
- Field safety: Post safety closing middle field
Key Techniques in Three Match
- Players “squeeze, scan, and steal” to handle under routes and crossing patterns
- Gap cancellation to alleviate stress on Will linebacker
- Communication of “unders” to exchange responsibilities
- Funneling receivers toward the post safety
Two Read Coverage
- Alternative to traditional “squat corners” coverage
- Corners walk out from 7 tilt position to outside tip of #1
- Read #2 to #1 and quarterback eyes/tone
- Effective against teams that condense formations and try to use full width of field
- Good solution when team was getting out-leveraged in quarters coverage
Applications
- Particularly effective against teams running mesh wheel, mesh drive, and crossing concepts
- Demonstrated handling of boundary overload concepts
- Special adjustments for “nasty snugs” formations
The video includes multiple play examples with detailed breakdowns showing how these coverages handle various route combinations and offensive strategies.