Man coverage is the most basic coverage – one defender shadows one receiver, and follows them wherever they go.
Man Coverage ensures all receivers are accounted for in the secondary, but it can be a big liability if your defenders aren’t clear on how to play it.
Let’s cover just a few of the fundamentals of Man Coverage.
First, ignore the QB. Seems counter-intuitive, but remember your assignment – Follow the receiver wherever they go. Your eyes should stay on the receiver at all times. Inexperienced defenders will sneak a peek at the QB or stare down the QB to see if the pass is coming their way. Big mistake. Watch the receiver and react to their movements.
Next, only react to the receiver’s belt. The receiver can only go where their hips tell them to go. Inexperienced defenders will bite on head fakes, shoulder dip fakes, stutter steps, and other moves designed to create separation. But if you watch the receiver’s hips, you can avoid getting fooled by this kind of trickery.
Lastly, make a play for the ball. Defenders have as much right to catch the football as the receiver. Your job is to break up the pass, so either knock it down or catch it yourself. Either way, you have to make a play for the ball. Cut in front of the receiver and attack the ball at its highest point.
One more trick you may find helpful – and it answers this question.
“Coach Art, if I’m spending my time locked in on the receiver, reacting to his hip direction, and not looking back at the QB, how can I make a play on the ball? How do I even know when it’s in the air?”
Good question. When a receiver has the ball thrown his way, he’ll look up above your head, spot the ball, and begin to move his hands to catch it. Also, his eyes will get very big. When you see these signs, you know the ball is already in the air and on its way to you. That’s when you need to get your head around, locate the ball in the air, and make a play on the ball at its highest point.
What Man Coverage techniques work best for you? Share your thoughts in the comments box or via Twitter @MyCoachArt, or on Facebook on the "Winning Flag Football" page.
**A recording of this script is available on the Winning Flag Football Podcast page or at the following link - Episode 023: Fundamentals of Man Coverage.
First, ignore the QB. Seems counter-intuitive, but remember your assignment – Follow the receiver wherever they go. Your eyes should stay on the receiver at all times. Inexperienced defenders will sneak a peek at the QB or stare down the QB to see if the pass is coming their way. Big mistake. Watch the receiver and react to their movements.
Next, only react to the receiver’s belt. The receiver can only go where their hips tell them to go. Inexperienced defenders will bite on head fakes, shoulder dip fakes, stutter steps, and other moves designed to create separation. But if you watch the receiver’s hips, you can avoid getting fooled by this kind of trickery.
Lastly, make a play for the ball. Defenders have as much right to catch the football as the receiver. Your job is to break up the pass, so either knock it down or catch it yourself. Either way, you have to make a play for the ball. Cut in front of the receiver and attack the ball at its highest point.
One more trick you may find helpful – and it answers this question.
“Coach Art, if I’m spending my time locked in on the receiver, reacting to his hip direction, and not looking back at the QB, how can I make a play on the ball? How do I even know when it’s in the air?”
Good question. When a receiver has the ball thrown his way, he’ll look up above your head, spot the ball, and begin to move his hands to catch it. Also, his eyes will get very big. When you see these signs, you know the ball is already in the air and on its way to you. That’s when you need to get your head around, locate the ball in the air, and make a play on the ball at its highest point.
What Man Coverage techniques work best for you? Share your thoughts in the comments box or via Twitter @MyCoachArt, or on Facebook on the "Winning Flag Football" page.
**A recording of this script is available on the Winning Flag Football Podcast page or at the following link - Episode 023: Fundamentals of Man Coverage.
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