Defensive Back: Four Deep Zone

You'll probably find yourself playing a four deep zone when your coach knows the offense has to throw deep for a shot at winning the game or when four or more wide receivers find their way onto the field at once.

In either case, both corners and both safeties will be asked to drop deep and cover only a quarter of the field each. Any ball thrown deep should be either knocked down or picked off.

All the techniques discussed for defensive backs covering in a deep zone previously should be used for a four deep zone defense.

In general, when you play zone, the main rules are that you:

1. Recognize that the play is a pass
2. Get to your zone immediately
3. Get as deep as you can before the QB sets to throw
4. Focus on the QB and the ball
5. React to the pass and let the ball direct you to the receiver

One challenge, that you'll face in playing zone defense is that you'll often be taking your eyes off the QB to look at a receiver running into your zone. Another will be the urge to come up before the ball is thrown to cover a receiver running in front of you.

Both challenges can be overcome. If you practice alone, go to your zone and look in at where the QB will set up. Stop and settle in your backpedal and react to the right or left. Focusing on the QB and the ball gives you a much better chance at making a gamechanging play such as an interception.