Poach coverage
Solo — the backside safety steals the crosser
A quarters adjustment against 3x1 trips: when the #3 receiver — the innermost trips receiver — runs across the field, the backside safety abandons his quarter and poaches him, robbing the deep cross the offense thinks is running into empty space. The price is printed on the call: the backside corner plays solo, alone on his man with no help.
When it applies
Against 3x1 formations whose money play is the deep cross from the #3 receiver.
+ StrengthsSteals the offense's favorite 3x1 shot while keeping quarters structure everywhere else.
− Trade-offsSolo is solo — if the backside receiver runs a go, the corner is on an island.
Filed under: Coverage