Catch Man

It used to be that when you played man coverage, it was required that you adhere to tight or press-man technique and relied on disrupting routes and pressuring the quarterback.  This pretty much meant your defense needed to out-athlete the offense you were facing as well as showing your intentions pre-snap if the offense ever presented a one-back formation. 

Wide Receiver Releases

How a receiver releases from the line of scrimmage will tell you a lot about the type of play and the route he is running against man coverage. Pay attention to the details and your PBU (Pass Break Up) ratio will rise.

I urge my Defensive Backs to remember these points and review with their personal notes from film work as they prepare for each opponent. 

I want them to see how each release corresponds with different routes receivers run. 

Certain releases are used with certain routes, and the release a wide receiver uses most times will indicate what's coming next.

Route Concepts...China and Verts

I had some unexpected free time so I hammered out the last two route concepts. 

Pass Route Concepts

There are many Offensive Pass Route packages utilized against today’s defenses. They are used to exploit the inherent weaknesses in each pass defense scheme. The more "Concepts" you understand the better you will be at defending your opponent. There are more but these are the most often used. They are categorized by “Concept” and all combinations can be used out of any set. 

Philosophy and Mechanics of Bump and Run Basics

The following information discusses the different, basic releases that wide receivers use at the line of scrimmage and the routes you will see against man coverage. I ask my defensive backs to compare these points with their film notes as they prepare for each opponent.

Cover 2 Fundamentals

Why is it called Cover 2?

The number of deep zone pass defenders that are deployed will normally determine what a defensive coach calls a defense. In Cover 2 for example, there are two deep safeties that divide the field into halves. If the secondary played Cover 3, three deep defenders would divide the deep responsibility on the field into thirds. If they played Cover 4, four deep defenders divide the deep zone into fourths.

Off Coverage Progression Drill

In order to completely capitalize on training “Route” recognition you must understand what routes are run from what specific QB Drop.

Route Progression Drill

One of the most difficult tasks in coaching Defensive Backs is to acquaint your players with the Route Tree and those routes which can be run from the three primary QB Drops. I have attempted to put together some drills that illustrate all the basic routes and then incorporate those routes into the Pass drop schemes instituted by any QB. The purpose of this drill is to develop route recognition and to utilize the proper cutoff path to the reception area.

Man Versus Zone

There are inherent advantages and disadvantages to playing man coverage. You say to yourself: “Do my corners have enough speed? Are my safeties athletic enough to cover a slot receiver? What about the pass rush schemes? Will the D-line get the sack? Will the Linebackers take their proper blitz lanes? Once you have decided to play man coverage be it in a blitz package or as a standard coverage scheme within the framework of your defense be aware of the risks and rewards of both man Coverage and your favorite zone schemes:

Reading Receivers and Routes is Easy

Increasing your defensive back I.Q. by reading receivers--studying them before games, reading their alignment, and knowing how to recognize the routes they're going to run--is another tool you can use to dominate opposing teams. Film work is crucial for Friday night success!

Receiver and Running Back Routes

The more you know what they run the better you are at stopping what they run!

Playing the Fade Route in Press Coverage

As cornerbacks we often have to play press or bump coverage and we immediately think “Fade” route. Before we even get this far in our processing let’s think like a receiver. To beat your opponent you have to first think like your opponent. When they line up across from you what are they thinking, seeing or preparing for at the snap of the ball?

Man to Man Coverage Tips

It sure is easy playing man to man isn't it? Nobody to help you on your little island of fun and frolic and all of the fame or blame rest on your shoulders. I hope you can handle it because that’s where you are and it is what you have chosen to do. Here are some Man to man reminders:

Darryl Williams

Man Coverage Reminders

Here is a detailed look at what happens on the field when you play man. This is a breakdown of the key techniques and tips required to play man-to-man coverage:

Pass Defense Route Concepts

Predicting routes through extensive film study and opponent down and distance tendencies allow the Defensive Back the luxury of taking risks where appropriate. With each risk taken is also the possibility of failure. Know when to gamble and when to play dependable coverage. The first step in responsible risk taking (a contradiction in terms if there ever was one) is the recognition of the possible pass routes that can be run in any situation. For example, if the ball is on the opposite hash and #1 to the field is spread wide to the boundary the likelihood of an “out” route is negligible. You must know your opponent’s route combinations and favorite schemes. Start with the basics: