If you are getting hurt in the flat when in Quarters Coverage take a look at the alignment adjustment used by Pittsburgh State University Associate Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator Dave Weimers. In the video below he details his alignment and assignment rules, reads and responsibilities for his Quarters Coverage. Coach Weimers will show you why he has the strong safety align outside the number two receiver in order to cover the pass to the flat.
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Coach Weimers uses Quarters Coverage when he is not sure if he is gonna get run or pass based on the offensive formation.
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Coach Weimers has the Free Safety make a 4 call to to the passing strength side of the formation and then they play zone with three defenders verses the two receivers. What he does that might be different that traditional Quarters coverage is he has his strong safety (they call the position the gorilla) play to the outside of the number two receiver. He feels that the strong safety can still give run support, plus they have the free safety coming up strong to stop the run.
Coach also explain how they define vertical. For his defense vertical is defined as anytime the receiver gets deeper than the linebackers. Another key is that he feel that the deep safeties need to key on the best offensive lineman. To get run pass key. If it is pass key number 2 receiver and if it run we they are gonna fill where needed and safeties are told to keep the ball between them.