Split-field coverage in football is becoming more and more popular as defenses try to defend against the offense’s aerial attack. Teams are starting to play more split-field coverages to get more players into open space and fewer players in reduced space.
What is split field coverage in football? Split field coverage is when half of the defense plays one coverage, and the other half plays a different coverage. These two coverages are often played based on field position and the number of receivers on the field.
This article will break down split field coverages and how teams use them to cover spread offenses.
Split Field Coverage In Football
To fully understand split field coverages, you first must know how to read them. Often, coaches and players will look at the number of safeties and assume that two high safeties mean it’s cover 4 or cover 2.
However, with more teams playing split field concepts, it’s important to look at the linebackers combined with the safeties. Teams that run two high safeties and four defensive linemen will often have three linebackers to cover ten personnel (4 wide receivers).
Another concept to learn when understanding split field coverage is “field” and “boundary.”
When determining where to set their split field coverage, these are popular terms among coaches. For instance, if the ball is on the left hash, there is more room to run or throw the football to the right side. If the ball is on the right hash, there is more room to throw the football to the left side.
Where there is more room means more space and more opportunities for big plays. Coaches will often put their extra linebacker on the field side (the open side) and fewer linebackers and players on the boundary (less space side).
These linebackers will be able to tell you everything you need to know about the coverage. Let’s look at our first split field coverage and how you can identify it.
Why Play Split Field Coverage?
Split field coverage allows coaches to be multiple in their play calls. Instead of telling the entire field they’re playing cover 2 or cover 4, they can now split it and play different coverages on each side. This allows the coach to gameplan for certain formations and not be so predictable with every coverage.
Split field coverages also put defenses in a better position to be multiple based on TEs or WRs in the game.
Last, the split field coverage allows the two high safeties to get into the run fit. Often, they will play at 10-12 yards and are the team’s best tacklers. This allows coaches to get two extra players into the run fit to help on the outside runs.
Now, let’s look at some of the more common split field coverages in football.
Cover 6
Cover 6Â in football is one of the most popular two-high, split-field coverages. Cover 6, otherwise known as a “quarter, quarter, half”, means that half of the field is playing quarters coverage, and the other half is playing cover 2.
You can see that the quarter’s side (cover 4) has one extra linebacker to its side in the picture above. This means the back side will have one less linebacker. The coach uses this extra linebacker to cover the open space to prevent the offense from running into the open space.
The boundary side will play cover 2 (or half field coverage). This means the backside, box linebacker, corner, and safety are responsible for the boundary side’s receivers. Less space to the field means less area to cover, which means the defense needs fewer players.
Cover 6 is one of the most common split field coverages to both a 2×2 look and a 3×1 receiver look.
Cover 4 & Man Coverage
Another version of split field coverage is to play cover 4 to the field side and then man the backside. This allows teams to dedicate that backside linebacker completely to the box, so he doesn’t have to worry about playing the pass. He will drop into zone coverage when it is a pass and help with the underneath receivers.
Teams that often run this version of Cover 4 and man coverage are 4-2-5 teams. They will dedicate their two linebackers to the box and have their extra defensive back play quarters. The back side will playman coverage on any single or 2×2 set.
Cover 4 & Palms Coverage
Our last variant of split field coverage that we will review in this article is the ability to play Cover 4 and Palms coverage in combination.
This means that the front side of the formation is playing cover 4. Meanwhile, the backside, instead of playing man or cover 2, will be playing palms coverage. We’ve done a complete breakdown of palms coverage here, which you can install into your defense immediately.
The rules are simple. The corner will take the first man out to the flats. Many teams will call this their cover 2, as they will sink the corner, and he will take first to flat. Whatever you call it, you can mix it up any way you want.
These, of course, are only a few ways that split-field coverages are played.
Want To Learn More About Coverages? See Our Complete Defensive Coverage Guide Here
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