Post Views: 6 By: Chad WilsonOwner – All Eyes DB Camp Press-man coverage gets a lot of attention in today’s game, but real ballplayers and coaches know that you’re not a complete defensive back until you’re able to play man coverage from an off position. If getting proficient in off-man coverage is your goal, then this is the article for you. Below, I will give you a simple breakdown of off-man coverage that you can use to win using this technique. Alignment As with all things in football, success starts with your alignment. Typically, a defensive back in off-man coverage is playing at 6 to 7 yards off with a shade—either a yard inside or outside—depending on the coverage and the split of the wide receiver. To the Field: An alignment at 7 yards off is preferred since the ball will have to travel a greater distance to reach the receiver. To the Boundary: Being at 6 yards will serve you better. In the boundary, the ball reaches the receiver much faster, especially in the quick game. With regard to leverage, Cover 1 features help on the inside in some cases. For that reason, versus a normal split by the wide receiver, a defender will take a shade to the outside. However, should the receiver have a wide split (placing him closer to the sidelines), an inside alignment is best. In these situations, it’s best to discourage or be in a better position to defend a throw to an inside route like a slant, curl, or dig. In a coverage like Cover 0, which features no help inside, defenders are best served taking an inside alignment at one, or possibly two yards, depending on the split of the receiver. The wider the split, the further inside the defender should align. Stance and Start Now that we know where to stand, let’s talk about how we should stand. Since our technique involves a backpedal, the defender should have a staggered stance. My personal preference is for the defensive back to have his outside foot up, whether he’s aligned inside or outside, though preferences vary from coach to coach. My reasoning is that a defender should have the same stance in both man and zone coverage so as to not give away the scheme. The defender’s feet should be in tight—no wider than his hips—with knees bent to allow for power in the push-off at the snap. A good rule of thumb for a staggered stance is to have the back foot 12 inches behind the front foot. The weight should be over the toes to keep the defender off his heels. As the ball is snapped, the defender should push off his front foot and reach with his back foot to gain ground immediately. Some coaches may prefer a couple of “scooch steps” or a “walk out” when the ball is snapped. These are more advanced techniques that I discuss in the All Eyes DB Camp Member’s Area, but for now, we are teaching the basics. The Backpedal An effective off-man DB must have a proficient backpedal. This requires quick, short steps as you retreat with matching hand speed. The heels should stay low to the ground and arm movements should not be long. The emphasis is on keeping the feet close to the ground in the event that a change in direction is required. For mental imagery, your hand movements should resemble a drummer beating on the drums. While the feet are working, keep your chest down and your weight over your toes. Also, the hips must stay down to maintain power in the pedal. The final and most important piece is eye discipline: the eyes of the defender must remain focused on the near hip of the receiver. This is the most important factor in maintaining solid coverage on a receiver intent on losing you during his route. Weaves and Breaks On a typical route tree, only three of the ten routes send the receiver to the deep part of the field. The rest will break off. For this reason, developing a weave is of the utmost importance. As receivers approach and attack your cushion, they will also attack your leverage. A weave involves the defender maintaining a backpedal while moving at an angle (often 45°). This allows the defender to keep his leverage as the receiver attacks. Defenders without adequate weaves are forced to open their hips early, setting themselves up for a blindside attack. A well-developed weave allows you to hold your pedal longer and puts you in a better position to drive on a breaking route. If the route breaks off, the defender must quickly react and efficiently break to defend the throw. This is achieved by keeping the hips low, planting the feet under the hips, and driving out toward the receiver’s hip or the interception point. Defenders should emphasize taking only two steps in their break: one step to plant and the other to replace as they push out. Practicing the “W Drill” will sharpen this skill. The Turn If the route doesn’t break and the receiver runs deep, do not panic. A smooth, efficient turn will keep you in position. To execute the turn: Plant the foot opposite to the side you are turning into the ground under your center of gravity. Generate the turn from your hips while keeping your chest down. Keep your eyes focused on the hip of the receiver. Match the acceleration and try to remain on the receiver’s upfield shoulder (the shoulder closest to the goal line). Playing the Ball If the route has broken off, your first move out of the break should be to the receiver, not the ball. This protects you against a double move. Once you reach the receiver’s hip, then you look for the ball. The quarterback is throwing to the receiver, not you, so focus your initial efforts on getting to where the ball is going. On deep routes, once you are “in phase” (at least hip-to-hip), you can look for the ball when the receiver does. Track the ball and play it like you are the receiver. While experienced DBs seek to knock the ball away, elite DBs look to intercept it. Take extra time to practice tracking and catching both short and deep passes—completed deep balls can make or break the outcome of a game. Putting It All Together Excelling in off-man coverage starts with proper alignment and a solid stance. This sets the foundation for backpedaling and weaving. Defensive backs who sharpen their ability to get in and out of breaks are a menace to any passing attack. If you’re looking to develop these skills at an elite level, check out my book, 101 DB Tips, or join the All Eyes DB Camp Member’s Area. I have over 300 posts on defensive back play, and you can join hundreds of others just like you by clicking here. Author Recent Posts alleyesdbcampOwner at All Eyes DB CampChad Wilson is the founder of All Eyes DB Camp and a former standout defensive back for the Miami Hurricanes. After an elite collegiate career, Wilson spent a season with the Seattle Seahawks before transitioning into coaching. A 3-time Florida state champion defensive coordinator, he has spent over 20 years developing the "All Eyes" blueprint that has produced NFL All-Pros and stars like Xavien Howard, Patrick Surtain II, Tyson Campbell, Minkah Fitzpatrick and more. His coaching system is proven at the highest levels—his own sons, Quincy and Marco Wilson, both excelled as starters in the SEC before being drafted into the NFL.Chad is the author of "101 DB Tips"—The Ultimate DB Reference Guide. You can find more information on the manual and how to order your copy in the sidebar and footer of this page. 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