4-Spoke Coverage Versus a Floater
[Figure 71] illustrates 4-spoke coverage versus the straight back pass from a floater set.
Figure 71
When the offense lines up in a floater set, illustrated in [Figure 71], our secondary does not revolve but merely loosens up a little. The defensive corner man to the side that the back is flanked (our right) lines up a little wider and a little deeper. On the snap of the ball, if a back-up pass develops, he drops off to eight yards depth, and covers his one-quarter zone. The defensive right halfback lines up wider and he still covers the deep one-third area to his side. The defensive left halfback lines up in approximately his regular position because he must be able to cover the deep one-third zone to his side of the field. On this particular play as he sees a back-up pass develop, and only one receiver is out to his left, he anticipates receiving a quick release signal from his corner man. Should this occur, he now covers the deep middle one-third of the field. Otherwise he covers his deep side zone, as indicated above. The left corner man lines up in his regular position and sprints into a position to cover the deep one-third area on his side of the field when he sees his nearest offensive back blocking and only one receiver is coming out to his side. He gives the defensive halfback a quick release signal on about his second or third step.
Action Pass With a Floater
Figure 72
[Figure 72] illustrates 4-spoke coverage versus the action pass from a floater set. The entire secondary plays the action pass exactly the same as a drop back pass if the action is toward the back who is flanked. It would be played in a slightly different manner if the action is away from the back who is flanked, as illustrated in [Figure 72]. In such a situation the left corner man would sprint to a position eight yards deep and set up immediately to cover the short one-quarter zone. The left halfback sprints to a position back and out so he can cover the deep one-third of the field to his side. The right halfback plants, turns to his inside, and sprints to a position to cover the deep middle one-third of the field. The right corner man turns to his inside, sprints back and out, and gets in a position to cover the deep one-third of the field when the action starts away from him.