3-4 defense

Secondary

The free safety is responsible for reading the offensive plays and covering deep passes. Depending on the defensive call, he may also provide run support. He is positioned 10 to 15 yards behind the line of scrimmage, toward the center of the field. He provides the last line of defense against running backs and receivers who get past the linebackers and cornerbacks. The 3-4 defense generally requires that the free safety be a quick and smart player, capable of making tackles efficiently as well as reading the play and alerting his team of game situations.