Gannon actually likes a lot of Narduzzi’s coverage looks, going to add a really deep dive on this...I hope it works:
First I’ll put it plainly: cover 4 often looks like man because it can become man depending on the routes run by the inside receivers (slot and tight end). It is difficult to identify unless you know to look for it; on one play it could look like zone, on the next play it could look like man. Much like the zone read play on offense, one simple call could has various contingencies based on post-snap reads.
If the inside receiver runs an underneath (horizontal) route, the safety will help double cover the outside receiver on his side and leave the underneath coverage to a linebacker; if the inside receiver runs upfield, the safety will man up on the inside receiver.
A different illustration to help you visualize that this is, in fact, zone coverage:
Cover 4 allows defenses to be extremely aggressive with their safeties against the run while maintaining simplicity and flexibility in coverage. How much Gannon runs this may be limited by personal, but it's something he covets.
In the Narduzzi system and what Gannon wants is a 4-2-5 base look,
It allows 9 players to play the run, while having cornerbacks on the outside in man coverage using press bail technique unless your WR goes inside at less than 5 yards.
Your safeties are aggressive run defenders who key #2. If they read run fill. If they read pass, play off #2. If # 2 goes vertical at more than 8 yards, you play #2 man for man.
They also can give a solo call vs 3x1 alerting the corner to the 1 wr side he is locking on #1.
First I’ll put it plainly: cover 4 often looks like man because it can become man depending on the routes run by the inside receivers (slot and tight end). It is difficult to identify unless you know to look for it; on one play it could look like zone, on the next play it could look like man. Much like the zone read play on offense, one simple call could has various contingencies based on post-snap reads.
If the inside receiver runs an underneath (horizontal) route, the safety will help double cover the outside receiver on his side and leave the underneath coverage to a linebacker; if the inside receiver runs upfield, the safety will man up on the inside receiver.
A different illustration to help you visualize that this is, in fact, zone coverage:
Cover 4 allows defenses to be extremely aggressive with their safeties against the run while maintaining simplicity and flexibility in coverage. How much Gannon runs this may be limited by personal, but it's something he covets.
In the Narduzzi system and what Gannon wants is a 4-2-5 base look,
It allows 9 players to play the run, while having cornerbacks on the outside in man coverage using press bail technique unless your WR goes inside at less than 5 yards.
Your safeties are aggressive run defenders who key #2. If they read run fill. If they read pass, play off #2. If # 2 goes vertical at more than 8 yards, you play #2 man for man.
They also can give a solo call vs 3x1 alerting the corner to the 1 wr side he is locking on #1.
You just kind of go with it anymore.