Inside the Session: Talking Press Man Alignment

You’ve heard the saying, it starts with your alignment. Well that is definitely true in man to man coverage and in particular, press man. As a young defensive back, it is important to learn about wide receiver splits and what they may mean to the route that is likely coming.

Being able to eliminate certain routes on the route tree based on how a WR is lined up is a tremendous help. If any of you have taken a multiple choice test, you know that your chances of success are always better when you can eliminate a choice or two right off the bat. Well, predicting a route that’s coming is much like a multiple choice test. If you don’t study the alignment of wide receivers then you are forced to have equal feelings about choice A, B, C, D and beyond.

Being able to eliminate choices B and D in a multiple choice test gives you a good chance of picking right between A and C. Likewise, being able to eliminate the slant, curl, dig and post by a WR’s alignment is a tremendous help once the ball is snapped.

In this short clip from one of my All Eyes DB Camp sessions in Miami, FL, I am discussing how cornerbacks should line up in Cover 1 and 0 based on how the wide receiver lines up to run his route. You can give yourself a strong advantage by knowing where your help is on the field and adjusting your position based on the location of the help vs. where the WR lines up. There’s much to learn from this video.

Enjoy it and as always, feel free to contact me with any questions or comments. Thank you for being a member.

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alleyesdbcamp

Owner at All Eyes DB Camp

Chad 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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