When designing your Man-to-Man Coverages, how will you use your Linebackers?
That’s the topic for today.
Types of Man
There are many different types of Man-to-Man Coverage.
The two main variables include how many players are Blitzing, and where the help is located in Coverage.
For the purpose of today’s article, we will focus on Cover 1 against a one-back set.
This means all the Defensive Backs are in Coverage, and the Free Safety is Covering Deep Middle.
So what should the Linebackers do?
Here are a few options.
Zone Off and Cover RB
It’s clear from the above picture that the uncovered player on Offence is the Running Back.
Often the Running Back will remain in the backfield to help with Pass Protection. Sometimes, however, the Running Back might release late for a Check Down, or even leave right at the snap to run a route
We’ll need to be ready for this.
Typically the Linebackers will be responsible for the Running Back in Coverage, but this can be done a few different ways.
One option would be to have the Linebackers “Zone Off” initially. This means they can get some Depth and help in a certain area of the field. You might want to assign them to help with the Hook/Curl Zone, or maybe to help on Crossing Routes.
The choice is yours.
Either way, the alignment of the Defensive Backs should match the help. For example, if the Defensive Backs Covering Down the Slot Receivers now have inside help, maybe they can take an outside shade in Coverage.
But we can’t forget about the Running Back. If the Running Back does release, the Linebacker to that side must now Cover the RB Man-to-Man.
QB Spy
If you’re playing Man Coverage against an athletic Quarterback, you might want to assign a Spy.
This means one Linebacker will be responsible for the QB if they take off and run.
If you assign a specific Linebacker to handle the QB, say your Mike, this means the Will Linebacker now has the Running Back in Coverage.
Blitz and Engage
One last option would be to Blitz and Engage the Running Back.
This is the most aggressive choice.
In this option, when the Linebackers read pass they will go get the Running Back right now.
If the Running Back is Pass Protecting in the B Gap, go get them. Grab the Running Back and don’t let them release on a route, and this way you’ve added into the pressure.
In this option, the opposite Linebacker is now free to simply Blitz to daylight and further increase the pressure being applied to the QB.
Final Thoughts
In most situations, Linebacker are run first players.
This means your plan for using your Linebackers in Man Coverage must account for them first getting their run read before getting into pass coverage.
Release Day
A final note, today is the release date for the highly anticipated Defending Zone Runs Super Clinic.
You can purchase this video series right now by clicking here.
All the best,
Jon Svec
Defensive Coordinator
St. Francis Xavier University
X-Men Football
Email: jsvec@stfx.ca
Twitter: @jonsvecx
To read more check out the Canadian Football Chalk Talk e-book and video series, which can be found by clicking here.