Attacking Cover 4: North Carolina vs Narduzi's Pitt Panthers

When I watch film, my mind tends to look for two things:

• How teams execute their base plays. I like to see if they have any specific technique that helps make the play work better. I also look for how teams mix their base schemes together to create hesitation for the defense (e.g. power/counter)
• Unique play designs. This can be either an entirely new play that I have never seen before, or a small wrinkle/double move to create leverage for an explosive play. 

I saw one of each when watching Pitt vs North Carolina. 

Play # 1

North Carolina uses the "Middle Read" concept quite often in their game plan each week. The play is shown below:

Pitt uses a lot of cover 4, which will typically match the safety in man coverage against the slot receiver after 7-8 yards. Pitt played their safeties with inside leverage on the slot receivers, which gives the defense leverage against this play.

North Carolina had a play prepared to attack this. They ran the smash concept for a touchdown.

Smash is a nice compliment to their base play. It was called at the most opportune time as well, in the red zone.

Play # 2

North Carolina used a nice wrinkle on the traditional concept of four verticals out of trips, in order to take advantage of the solo coverage. Solo is designed to stop most versions of four verticals, with the backside safety keying the number three receiver.




The vertical from #3 is meant to occupy the backside safety, and the play action keeps the linebackers from gaining depth. This leaves nobody to cover the #2 receiver running across the field.


Big plays change the dynamic of games. Finding ways to create them often doesn't come easy, so we must take note when we see good examples.

This book has many other plays that attack different cover 4 schemes. Click here to check it out