Press Man Coverage:

Drills and Techniques

Keith Jordan
Coaches Learning Network Consultant
 
It is an honor to present this material to the members of
the Coaches Learning Network.

When I go to clinics or read articles, I look for

techniques, and the drills to teach them so that I can fit
them into my system. Hopefully, I can present
information here that will be helpful you and your
players.
 
Unless you never blitz, everybody plays “Man” coverage at some point. For a long time it was hard to find
good articles or tapes that taught man-to-man techniques.

The best two tapes I’ve found are by Bob Stoops, and Greg Brown, both are excellent, as is the article by coach
Tim Schaffner on this website.
 
This presentation will talk about the techniques and drills that we use to run press man coverage.

When we consider drills I believe that they have to be applicable, consistent, and ingrain the proper technique. I
only use drills that pertain to our technique. If it doesn’t make us better in press coverage it is not going to be
used.
 
Consistency might be construed as monotony by some, but for me it means that we are going to run the same
drills over and over. When I worked with Dennis Franchione he told people that if we decided to skip practice
that our players could run practice. There is a comfort and confidence built in consistency. He also preached
consistency in performance. Everyone can have a good day, but to be great you have to be good everyday.

My defensive backs could run practice if I didn’t show up. They also understand that the skills we are teaching
will allow them to be good every play every day. The whole purpose is to ingrain the various skills that we
teach in drills, so that you can see that technique throughout every route they cover.
 
Below are listed some of our thoughts on running man coverage, specifically press man. We play press, so that
we influence, and control the receiver from the time he twitches. He has to adjust because of us. In off-man we
have to react, and recover to his movement. We prefer to be in control.
 
Why Man Coverage?
1. It allows us to commit more people to the run which gives us a more aggressive attitude.
2. On the pass it makes the offense have to make plays instead of us having to recover on defense.
3. Makes the quarterback hold the ball longer which increases sack opportunities and destroys timing.
4. The offense can't nickel and dime you with the pass on first down.
5. It helps set up a lot of third-and-long situations which is to our advantage.
6. It makes our zone coverage and zone blitz coverage more effective.
7. High school and college rules favor it (no five-yard NFL bump rule).
8. It is the purest form of competition (1-on-1). The spotlight is always on you. Everyone in the stadium knows
if you win or lose your battle. Good players seek that spotlight which is attractive in recruiting.
9. It allows you to play a good athlete who is not necessarily a big hitter. He does have to be a competitor with
the ability to handle success and adversity.
10. When you blitz, man coverage is not a foreign concept or technique.
 
Consequences of Man Coverage.
1. You are living on the edge. You have to build confidence in your players.
 2. If something breaks it usually breaks long - we don't
always have the extra overlap for pursuit angles.
3. You can get over the top if you can beat us on the
fade. Defensive backs have to have a short memory; if
they ever get beat.
4. It involves a great deal of technique, which means
players have to have a keen focus - and intense
practices.
5. Coaches have to pay attention to detail - every step
in drills is important.
6. You need skilled athletes to play corner back - not
just fast, but they also have to have good bend in the
hips and quick reactions (like a point guard).
 
Teaching Progression.
When teaching man technique we break it into three
phases that correlate with the three parts of a receiver's
pattern - the release, stem and break, and the finish of
the route.
 
We teach two types of man techniques, “Press” for our
cornerbacks and “Off” man for our outside linebackers
and free safety. The difference between the two is the
release phase. The stem and break phase and the finish
require the same techniques whether you start in press
or off man.
 
When you play man-to-man coverage your defensive backs have to run all the time, so one thing I do is to run
most of our drills from the sideline to the hash , and then I move to the hash, and work back to the sideline. This
helps save their legs and keeps the field open for the next group. This also allows you to go one group right
after the other, so that when the group in front goes the next should step up, and be ready to go.
 
Press Coverage.
A. Release Phase:
To win we have to defeat the route at the LOS; on our turf. After that we are reacting to him, so it is imperative
that we disrupt the route early, and put ourselves in good position to finish.
 
We emphasize feet first through the “Slide” technique. With the Slide technique we are pushing back off the
LOS to buy time to read the release of the receiver, and to widen his release.

We are not playing bump and run, we are playing “read and run.” Young players are anxious to get their hands
on the receiver, so we spend a lot of time on the initial steps (Slide, Open, and Cut-off).
 
1. Stance
     a. Shade foot up (varies)
     b. Weight on the balls of the feet, more on the front foot.
     c. Alignment according to help (disguise).
     d. Crowd the line of scrimmage.
 
2. Key
     a. Movement
     b. Belt buckle to hip
 
3. Initial Movement - "Feet First"
     a. Slide - Allows us to read the release of the receiver. We use slide to keep the stagger in our feet.
     b. Open and cut-off - To widen the release.
     c. Shoot the offside hand - Keep hands on until you pull even, then wedge or slap the hands to stay even, and
maintain contact.
     d. Work to get on top of the route. We don’t want to be in a trail position.
 
4. Drills - Feet First - Work vs. both X (on LOS) and Z (off LOS) receivers
     a. Slide - Early season drill.
          - Usually, two players at a time
          - Push off the front foot, and slide the back foot. Work with the right foot up, then the left.
          - Coaching point: Make sure they are pushing off the front foot, instead of stepping with the back foot,
and pulling the front foot, or stepping under themselves.
 
     b. Slide Open - Early season drill
          - Usually two players at a time.
          - Work the slide, and then the open
          - Coaching point: Players should stay low as they slide, and when they flip their hips.
 
     c. Slide/Stab Conflict - Early season drill
          - Usually 6-8 players at a time. Work from the sideline to the middle of the field.
          - The coach acts as the receiver for the group. The players will all have the right foot up. When the coach
(receiver) steps to the players left, they should execute their slide steps, and then reset. If the coach steps to their
right they should stab with their right hand, and step to the inside then reset. I get four or five reps then go back,
and get the second group. We do the same thing from the middle of the field to the sideline with their left foot
up.
          - Coaching point: They have to focus. Make sure they bring the right foot when they bring the right hand
on the stab because they are not going to stop a receiver from taking the inside with just an arm. (In the clip
shown we are using a short backpedal instead of the Slide technique.)
 
     d. Partner Slide without hands - Early season drill
          - The defensive back puts his hands behind his back while his partner serves as the receiver. If the
defensive back is set to the right, the receiver will release to his left. If I have a large number of defensive
back’s I will go two groups at a time. They will both release the same way, so that I can see both defensive
backs. They will release, and go from the sideline out to the hash. When everyone has gone we come back with
the players exchanging roles. Then we will repeat the drill with the defensive back shaded to the left.
          - Coaching Point: Check their eyes pre-snap, and watch their steps. It emphasizes the footwork, and
narrows the focus for the player, and the coach, by taking the hands out of the movement. They just work the
first few steps and then they jog to the hash or sideline while the next group goes.
 
     e. Partner Slide/Open/Cut-off (with hands) - Daily drill
          - The defensive back shades to the right, and his partner who serves as a receiver releases to his left. We
will repeat to the left if not that practice then the next.
          - Coaching Point: This is probably our most important drill. We are looking for a good slide with low
hips as they open, and a good cut-off angle to get to the top of the receiver as he gets into the stem of his
route. We also work Open/Cut-off vs. a Z receiver. Since he is off the LOS we eliminate the slide. We also
set further inside, and take a deeper cut-off angle.
 
     f. Open/Open (2-3 good cuts) - Daily Drill
          - Partner drill to work the hips and feet to counter the receiver (X) who releases one way to get the
defensive back to open up, and then tries cut back. During the season I will go two groups at once.
          - Coaching Point: Keep the hips low, and be firm with the stab inside. Make the receiver come through
you to open your hips, and then be firm with the second stab to stay on top. Early we will have the receiver
make three cuts to learn the movement.
 
     g. Open/Headwhip - Daily Drill
          - Similar to Open/Open except we are working vs. a receiver who is off the LOS (Z). We can’t get our
hands on him, so we use the headwhip, and read his angle of release to get back on top of the route.
          - Coaching Point: Make sure they keep their hips low, get their head around, and go to the top of the route
- do not undercut.
 
        h. Screen Steps - Weekly (Daily on weeks we are
preparing for a team that runs lots of wide receiver
Screens)
            - Partner drill with the defensive back set inside.
His partner releases two steps out, and then drives back
to the inside behind the LOS. The defensive back uses
his slide steps then drives hard inside to try to beat him
to the spot.
          - Coaching Points: Make sure they get slide
steps, and emphasize that they should drop the inside
shoulder, and get ready to rip through a blocker
coming from the inside. (You can add a blocker with a
hand shield.)
 
B. Stem and Break (Middle of the Route):
This is the wide receiver's territory, it is imperative that
we key his hips, and that we break when he breaks.
 
1. Drills
     a. Slap the hands (thigh board) – Early season drill
          - Partner drill. The players are side by side going from the sideline to the hash. The defensive back is
slapping the hand (wrist) of the receiver. The technique allows us to get back into phase (even with the
receiver) if the receiver is on top of the defensive back. Slapping the wrist slows him down by breaking his
stride.
          - Coaching Point: We start out having them slap the thigh
pad then work to the wrist. We tell them that Maurice Green
runs 100-meters using both arms. We can slow him down if we
take away one arm swing.

     b. Break Point - Daily Drill

          - Partner Drill run the same as Slap the Hands except the
receiver sinks his hips, and stops.
          - Coaching Point: As the defensive back slaps the wrist
his eyes should go down to the hips. When the receiver stops he stops.
 
     c. Speed Break (Post/Flag) - Daily Drill
          - Partner Drill where the receiver breaks away at a 45 degree angle as it he was running a Post or Flag
route. Since the receiver doesn’t have to sink his hips on the break he will get separation. The defensive back
will have to recover, and get back on top of the route. We want the defensive back to pull the upfield arm and
punch the tuck with the other.
          - Coaching Point: The defensive back cannot undercut the route he must go to the upfield shoulder not
the middle of the receiver. We have the receiver reach as if he were making a catch, so the defensive back can
Pull and Punch. After they learn the drill we have the receiver press into the defensive back, and then break
away. It teaches the defensive back to pressure the pressure. 
 
     d. Wedge the Fade - Daily Drill
          - Partner Drill where the defensive back works to get his elbow in the sternum of the receiver, and wedge
himself in as he would vs. the fade route.
          - Coaching Point: Once the defensive back gets wedged in he can get his head back to look for ball.
 
     e. Open/Open Upfield - Daily Drill
          - Similar to the Open/Open drill, but we work the technique after the receiver is in the stem of his route.
          - Coaching Point: The defensive back has to make the receiver work through him.
 
C. Finish the Route:
 It's not a catch until the referee marks it. The mentality
to finish the job can save a bad coverage. (Don't look
back for the ball if beaten! Run to the hips and hands.)
 
1. Drills
     a. Pull and Punch - Pre-Practice drill
          - Partner drill where the defensive back gets on
the right shoulder of the receiver. The receiver jogs in
place with good arm movement then shoots his hands
as if he is receiving the ball. The defensive back pulls
the near arm down, and punches the pocket on the
opposite side. The defensive back gets three reps on
the right then three on the left. They switch roles and
repeat. 
 
          - Coaching Points: If the defensive back is on the
upfield shoulder, and pulls that arm it makes a catch
almost impossible. If he is a little late and the ball is
caught the receiver will usually seat the ball away from
pressure, so we have a chance to punch it out.
 
     b. Punch the Pocket - Weekly Drill
          - Partner Drill. The receiver starts two yards in
front of the defensive back. He carries the ball low,
and when he feels the defensive back closing he
presents the ball as if he were reaching to catch it. The defensive back clubs the far shoulder and punches the
ball.
          - Coaching Point: If a defensive back is beaten we want him running to the hands of the receiver. If he
gets to the hands he can disrupt the catch. The club allows him to make a tackle if he is too late.
 
     c. Punch the Tuck - Weekly Drill
          - Same as Punch the Pocket except the receiver carries the ball in the catch position, and attempts to tuck
it as the defensive back closes.
          - Coaching Point: If a defensive back is badly beaten the catch will be made, but we want to attempt to
force a turnover, and the club assures the tackle if we don’t get that.
 
     d. High Point Drill - Weekly Drill
          - Partner Drill where the defensive back cuts off the receiver, and wedges him out. Once the defensive
back has him wedged the receiver drops off, and the defensive back finds the ball, and catches it at the highest
point.
          - Coaching Point: We have the receiver drop off so that they don’t get tangled up. Make the receiver
work upfield a little longer than in the film clip so the defensive back gets the feel of being wedged in.
 
All drills are started on movement. I call “Set” to let both players know to get ready, but they go when the
receiver moves. It is also important to get the player portraying an offensive receiver to work at a good speed,
or the defensive back develops bad habits.

It also helps to film the drills as often as possible to give players essential feedback. The film helps you as a
coach because you can get a more complete view than when you are working rapid fire on the field.
 
In conclusion, I want to stress again how important it is to develop fundamentals through drills that are
applicable, consistent, and ingrain the proper technique, while using a teaching progression that correlate with a
receiver's pattern (release, stem and break, finishing the route). Through this method you will give your players
the best opportunity to be successful in your defense.