One Sure Fire Way to Win in Man Coverage

Keep your leverage

One of the hardest things for defensive backs, especially cornerbacks, to do is to maintain discipline in man coverage. From the moment cornerbacks hear man to man, their mentally changes. It becomes this kind of challenge to their manhood that requires that they not allow an inch to the man they are covering.

While this mentality is great to have, it can sometimes be detrimental. Instead, defensive backs in man coverage can keep that mentality while also remembering that football is the ultimate team game. So, in many man coverages there is help coming from somewhere. As such, a defensive back in man coverage is required to keep a certain leverage on the man he is covering. To those of you who are knew to the term “leverage” it simply means the shade you are to play on the wide receiver whether that is inside or outside. So for instance, in Cover 1 where the defensive back may have help in the low hole (middle) by a linebacker and in the post by a safety, the defender in man to man should keep an outside leverage on the man he is defending since his help is inside. Some man to man coverages like Cover 0 and 2 Man require you to keep an inside leverage.

With that said, once that leverage has been established, it is important that the defensive back maintain that leverage during the route and not get induced into overplaying a route away from their leverage where they have help and open themselves up to getting beat to the area where they don’t have help. That’s just “dumb football” for lack of a better term. To illustrate my point, I have broken down a play from the Green Bay vs. Minnesota game this past weekend where you can see maintaining leverage working to perfection for Packers CB Jaire Alexander.

Listen to my coaching points and as always, if you have any questions or feedback, feel free to reach me via email at: cwilson@alleyesdbcamp.com – Thank you for being a member.

• Author
• Recent Posts

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.

Latest posts by alleyesdbcamp (see all)

• The Secret to Elite DB Play: Striving for Technique Perfection - March 17, 2026
• The Alien Era: How Defensive Backs Can Win vs Athletic Tight Ends - March 4, 2026
• These 4 Drills Will Drastically Improve Your Off Man Coverage - February 25, 2026