COORDINATING RUN DEFENSE AND MAN TO MAN COVERAGE

COACH BASS.COM
MAN TO MAN DEFENSE AND RUN FORCE

One of the most important areas for any coach to consider as he designs his defensive
package is the area of run force and its coordination with the type of pass coverage that
he will be using. It was our belief that we had to have two different run force packages.
One would be incorporated with our varying types of zone coverage. The other would be
incorporated with our man to man and blitz defense packages. In this clinic summary we
will look at the coordination of our run force with our man to man pass coverage.

CLINIC SUMMARY

It became very important to our defensive scheme that we make force calls to each side
of the defense on every play regardless of the coverage we were going to use or the
personnel that we had in the game.

CALLS DEFINE RESPONSIBILITY

In designing our run force with our man to man pass defense, we wanted our players to
understand that any run force call that might be made would be subject to change based
upon the release of one or more eligible receivers into the pass pattern. With one word,
we wanted the following to be defined and understood by the members of our defensive
team.

First, it would tell which player had the primary responsibility for containing the run to
his side. Incorporated with this responsibility would be the teaching of how the contain
man would take on any lead blocker.

Next, the call would designate how our coverage responsibility would change based on
the blocking of the offensive players.

Finally, it would clearly define the responsibilities of how we would play the option.
With this we would teach who had pitch and who was responsible for playing the
quarterback.

MAKING THE CALLS

Each safety has the responsibility to make the proper force call to his side. Force calls
would be determined and influenced by the type of man to man defense called, the
offensive personnel in the game, the offensive formation being used, our scouting report,
and by the down and distance situation.

PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE FORCE CALL

Each force call that we made in our man to man pass defense packages could involve the
following four defensive players on each side of our defense. In addition to the corner,
safety and outside linebacker on each side , the defensive end also had to understand that
he could become involved in the run contain responsibility.

It was important that each player understand that the key to our run force in man to man
pass defense will come with a block by an offensive player who the defender has in
coverage.

MAN TO MAN CALLS TO BE USED

With our man to man pass defenses we used four basic calls to designate our run force
responsibility. Our calls were:

Cathy - Call which designated the corner as the force man. A block by either offensive
receiver in a wing set or by a weak tight end would cause the corner to force and release
by these receivers would cause the force to be off.

Storm - Call which designated the safety as the force man. A block by the tight end will
cause the safety to force and a release will cause the force to be off.

Billy - Call which designated the outside linebacker as the force man. A block by the near
back will cause the outside linebacker to force and a release will cause the force to be off.
Easy - Call which designated the defensive end as the force man to his side.

AUTOMATIC CHANGE

In order for our run force package to be sound it is important for all four players to realize
that the run force responsibility automatically moves in one man with the release of an
eligible receiver. These automatic changes would be; Cathy to Billy with weak tight end
release, Storm to Billy with tight end release, Billy to Easy with near back release.

FREE SAFETY ADJUSTMENT TO FLOW

We designed an automatic change from our free safety man to man coverage to a strong
or weak man to man coverage based on full flow by the offensive backs in one direction
or the other.

BLITZ RUN RESPONSIBILITY

By design, in any man to man blitz, the outside man of the blitz, defensive end,
linebacker or defensive back always has the responsibility for forcing the run.
I hope this summary gives you a good feeling and insight into the written text and
diagrams which will be included in the detailed material you will be receiving when you
order our In Depth Clinics.

Each of the areas in this summary will be fully covered and developed in the In -Depth
Clinic material. The bound clinic material that you will receive for your reference library
and for your immediate personal use will include diagrams in addition to complete and
thorough explanations. The clinic will provide you with new innovative ideas, specific
techniques, plans for implementation and valuable insights that will make you a better
teacher and coach.