Quarters Drop 6: 6v6 flag football defense

Quarters Drop 6 is a 6v6 flag football prevent defense with no rusher. Four defenders split the deep field into quarters and two more cover the short middle on each side, so the offense has to string together short completions to move the ball.

5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 LOS LC LS RS RC W M
Four Deep

How to run it

  1. LC lines up 7 yards off X and drops to the deep outside left quarter, about 15 yards.
  2. LS lines up 9 yards deep over the left slot and drops to the deep inside left quarter, about 15 yards.
  3. RS lines up 9 yards deep over the right slot and drops to the deep inside right quarter, about 15 yards.
  4. RC lines up 7 yards off Z and drops to the deep outside right quarter, about 15 yards.
  5. W lines up 5 yards deep, left of the center, and drops to the left hook and curl at 6 to 7 yards.
  6. M lines up 5 yards deep, right of the center, and drops to the right hook and curl at 6 to 7 yards.
  7. Center: W or M, by side.
  8. Run fit: W and M attack, the corners keep contain, the safeties stay home.
  9. For younger divisions, shorten the deep depths by 3 to 5 yards.

The coverage read

The deep four never let a receiver get behind them. W and M take away the hooks and rally to the flat when the ball goes outside.

  1. LC DEEP QUARTER
  2. RS DEEP QUARTER
  3. W HOOK

When to call it

  • A prevent call, not an every-down defense.
  • On a Hail Mary or the last snap of a half, or protecting a late lead when the offense needs a big play.

Tags and formation

Four Deepzoneno-rushfour-deep

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Common questions

How do you line up Quarters Drop 6 in 6v6 flag football?

Corners 7 yards off the outside receivers, two safeties 9 yards deep over the slots, and two underneath defenders 5 yards deep on each side of the center.

What beats Quarters Drop 6 in 6v6 flag football?

Quick throws to the flats, where nobody starts, and a quarterback willing to take short gains all the way down the field. Pull the flag the moment the catch is made.

How is Quarters Drop 6 different from Quarters in 6v6 flag football?

It trades the rusher for a second underneath defender. The quarterback gets more time, but the short middle is covered on both sides.

Video transcript

Quarters Drop 6. Four defenders split the deep field into quarters. W and M sit underneath on each side of the center. Nobody rushes, so nothing deep gets through. Build your plays free on Flag Fifty.

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