The Situation

You’re on defense and have been using a 4-3, cover 2 defense for most of the game. Your opponent is in a Power I formation with one WR on each side. The ball is on your 30-yard line on the near hash mark and you’re facing a 4th and 2 situation late in the third quarter. As the ball is snapped the QB is in play action, the tight end on the right side flares out and both wide outs look to be in a crossing pattern. How do you cover this fourth down play and stop your opponent’s offense from making a first down? Mike Morrison, Defensive Coordinator, and Patrick Russell, Head Coach, Mills University Studies High School, Little Rock, AR. AFM subscribers since 2005 and 2006, respectively. Since we run a Shade 50 Defense, on 4th and 2 we would call Strong 55 which is our Cover 2 package. We call it Strong 55 as we declare to the strong side of the formation and 55 is our Cover 2 package,