The Art of X Show: Teaching Coverages

Welcome to the #ArtofX Show.
In this episode, I talk about:
Coverages are just shapes / The Geometry of football
Six words I use to define roles within coverage
Terms to know / Technique glossary
Split flow vs. Load Flow / Push & Tack-Back
Defining verticals & Smash Rules
Alignment basics
Safety spokes
For a comprehensive breakdown on how I teach & categorize my coverages, check out my full-length book on the topic, Match Quarters - A Modern Guidebook to Split-Field Coverages: www.amazon.com...
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Come learn the #ArtofX​​​.

[@kofianpu4499]

That “take back” concept is something I needed 💯💯💯

[@TheInterloperTV]

The last two videos of yours are some of the best I’ve ever seen!

[@MatchQuarters]

Really appreciate it, Caleb. Thank you!

[@jamaaljohnson9124]

​@@MatchQuartershow the fuck aren't you on a D1 sideline. Very knowledgeable keep up the good work

[@MatchQuarters]

@@jamaaljohnson9124 Really appreciate that. It just wasn't in the cards. Timing is everything in this business.

[@romeotorres4800]

Quality has been immaculate lately and your communication has improved from the standpoint that your points are a lot more direct! Thank you for educating us!

[@nateyarnes]

This is awesome! Thank you so much for posting and making this presentation free, much appreciated!

[@MatchQuarters]

@@nateyarnes Appreciate it!

[@mbizzle03]

Awesome commentary! You've helped me simplify some of my terminology!

[@MatchQuarters]

Appreciate it!

[@FootballAnalysis1]

Phenomenal content Coach

[@MatchQuarters]

Really appreciate it! Thank you.

[@mjciavola]

really looking forward to this.

[@MatchQuarters]

Thank you!

[@EvanRothfeld-f6u]

i tell corners in the boundarey to even take an inside alignment on 1 to not get caught up in noman's land...also gotta be cognizant of will's gap and his coverage assignment. it's hard for will to play A gap but work towards #2 when #2 is pretty wide. idk...4-2-5 can be hard on the weak side

[@frankl3518]

Awesome job. Very clear

[@MatchQuarters]

Thank you!

[@TheDudeAbides421]

Fantastic video, Coach

[@MatchQuarters]

Appreciate it!

[@tacklingacademy]

outstanding great stuff

[@MatchQuarters]

Thank you!

[@billycougar3378]

Absolutely outstanding presentation Cody!!! What would be the communication/responsibilities for CB/Ni/Mike/FS in 2 Read (Cloud) when facing 2x2 removed with Double Slants with RB Swing in that direction? Thank you!

[@MatchQuarters]

CB will cap the Slant while the Ni pushes with the RB to the flat. It will end up playing similarly to Qtrs. Try not to get DBs on RBs.

[@billycougar3378]

@@MatchQuarters Good coaching point! Thank you so much!

[@MatchQuarters]

@@billycougar3378 Anytime!

[@trevorbechtel1612]

Great information, Coach A. Always look forward to these when you post them. When the Sam matches #2 out, what do you mean by “tag the hip”? Thanks.

[@MatchQuarters]

He doesn't need to be on top of the route but in the window between the QB & the Slot. If he can tag the near hip, he can force that ball low and outside. Appreciate it!

[@trevorbechtel1612]

@@MatchQuarters So, is he breaking flat outside the no cover zone and matching the route from there with eyes on the QB? He doesn’t get depth because the FS would be under any curl, correct?

[@MatchQuarters]

@@trevorbechtel1612 Right... Vs a Fade/Out or Curl/Flat, he'd be even w/ the Slot. Safety = Intermediate

[@trevorbechtel1612]

@@MatchQuarters Great! What are the Sam’s keys? Do you have him read the QB to #2 if RB is to him and use EMOLOS if RB is away or do you keep his key the same no matter where the RB is?

[@trevorbechtel1612]

Never mind, Coach. I checked on that in the Match Quarters book and I’m all set 👍

[@brianadamsjohn]

I know that your ILB is telling your OLB “PUSH” when 3/4 goes to the flat, but what specific word are you having your OLB tell your ILB if someone crosses his face? UNDER / IN / CROSS?

[@MatchQuarters]

Under has usually been the term.

[@patrickmoore5736]

Hey Cody, in Meg quarters, if you get Post out of #1 and Wheel from #2, does your overhang carry the wheel? And the safety is post control?

[@MatchQuarters]

CB has ALL of #1. In MEG, the Safety is responsible for #2 out, so he would have to roll with the Wheel. Overhang is a Wall-2 player. If it is a rub wheel, you might be able to get a switch call in.

[@ryanrosfjord9587]

What if the back is in pistol formation? How does this affect the Sam's alignment to the field? How does it affect who the Mike alerts for the push?

[@MatchQuarters]

Typically against a Pistol team, the overhangs are playing the face of the QB. Open to me = Hold, open away = fit. The Mike & the Sam can work off that system together. A base way of playing a Pistol team that will push their RB is to keep the Sam in a full cover down to the field. Plus, the RB is already so far behind the LOS, you can be late to the push because of the negative route.

[@bryanschaumloffel6272]

Is the coaching points the same in Cloud to the Boundary and Field for the Sam/Nickle and Will?

[@MatchQuarters]

Similar. In Cloud, the overhang is a Wall-2 defender & will "late push" since the CB is in the flat.

[@ChalkboardFootball]

In 11p TE inline 3x1 (Trey) do you set the 3t to the TE or away from the trips?

[@MatchQuarters]

Away, to get a full cover down on the TE

[@ChalkboardFootball]

@@MatchQuarters thanks coach!

[@billycougar3378]

Hey Cody. You said that in Sky the S "carries #2 until he is knocked off"... can you explain what that means please? Thank you!

[@MatchQuarters]

Until he breaks, but if he goes vertical, you have him

[@billycougar3378]

So< "Smash Rules " would be an example of that?

[@MatchQuarters]

@@billycougar3378 For the CB. Fade/Out is a better example

[@billycougar3378]

Ok, got it. Aren’t you concerned about vacating the Curl/Flat when #1/#2 go vertical and CB/FS/N are all carrying? Especially if back side receiver(s) are running some sort of Under routes?

[@billycougar3378]

I apologize Coach. I went back and found the answer... great video!@@MatchQuarters

[@dylanfalso1035]

Slants has been my biggest question mark since learning quarters. So generally speaking when in sky the CB is taking the slant with man. Only route he wouldn’t play man wise would be a shallow crosser right off the release right ?

[@MatchQuarters]

Exactly. & most of the time, you're not getting a shallow from number one to the field.

[@dylanfalso1035]

@@MatchQuarters how do I explain to kids to differentiate between a shallow in off the snap and a slant in off the snap?

[@MatchQuarters]

@@dylanfalso1035 Vertical stem. Slants are trying to climb. Shoulders are usually facing down field. In a shallow, the WR's hips roll through & he gets parallel to the line of scrimmage (no climb). Great question.

[@dylanfalso1035]

@@MatchQuarters my last question would be how does the Ni play an out by 2 and a push by the RB? Does the mike just have to realize the situation and get width to cover the flat

[@MatchQuarters]

@@dylanfalso1035 Right, that's a double push, so the Mike has to work w/ it.

[@CoachDub]

What does expensive vs inexpensive mean

[@MatchQuarters]

Takes a lot of time to teach and practice compared to a simpler install.

[@mjciavola]

What is the difference between "carry" and "match?"

[@MatchQuarters]

Carry vertical, match out

[@mjciavola]

@@MatchQuarters but aren't you technically matching a man in order to carry him? Seems like the same thing to me.

[@MatchQuarters]

@@mjciavola Match out, carry vertical. Differentiate the direction. Up, out, in. Carry, match, deliver.

[@mjciavola]

@@MatchQuarters That means that you are "matching" to a man in all cases. It's just a matter of the direction? Terminology...it will get you every time. Thanks.

[@MatchQuarters]

@@mjciavola Yes, just my terminology. You can always use what works best in your brain.

[@bretthickman1530]

Carrying meaning manning the seam? Or just an aggressive wall? I guess my question is since you have 2 capped by the safety what would be the need to carry the vertical of 2 with the Will or Sam?

[@MatchQuarters]

You need to sink with it as a Wall-2 player to expand the route & make it run deeper. Funnel to the Safety. I don't want my overhangs sitting at 5 yds, rather 10-12 & find work.

[@bretthickman1530]

@@MatchQuarters understood. I hear the term "carry" and I think buy the route. So just a verbiage question. Thank you.

[@MatchQuarters]

@@bretthickman1530 No problem at all.