Zone coverage schemes require the linebackers and defensive backs to work together to cover certain areas of the field, making it difficult for the opposing quarterback to complete passes. Zone defenses will generally require linebackers to cover the short and midrange area in the middle of the field, in front of the safeties. In the case where one or two linebackers blitz, the remaining linebacker(s) expands his zone to cover the zone responsibilities of the vacating linebacker(s). Often, blitzing will leave larger holes in the pass defense, but it is a gamble the defensive coordinator wants to make to pressure the quarterback into a poor decision and hopefully an interception or at least an incompletion.

Wiki wrote:

Man-to-man defense is a type of defensive tactic used in American football, association football, and basketball in which each player is assigned to defend and follow the movements of a single player on offense. Often, a player guards his counterpart (e.g. center guarding center), but a player may be assigned to guard a different position. The strategy is not rigid however, and a player might switch assignment if needed, or leave his own assignment for a moment to double team an offensive player.

The alternative to man-to-man defense is zone defense, in which the defender is assigned a specific area of the floor, and then guards whatever offensive player enters his area.

The advantage of the man-to-man defense is that it is more aggressive than the zone defense. It also allows a team's best defender to stay on a player who has to be guarded at all times. The disadvantage is that it allows the offensive team to run screens more effectively, and it leaves weaker or slower defenders more exposed. In a man-to-man defense, those defenders are generally teammates staying close to their own assigned offensive player, and thus are often not in good position to offer help should a weaker defender be eluded by the offensive player he is trying to guard.

Wiki wrote:

I like bump and run which I think is man to man, right?

Originally Posted by: Zero2Cool 

I like this because receivers play offense because they hate getting hit, otherwise they'd be on defense.

Originally Posted by: Zero2Cool 

correct



Don't tell Jordy this. He hammers it home pretty good. Donald has also given as good as he has gotten.

Cobb on the other hand- He flopped yesterday simply because there was a group of defenders about 3-4 yards in front of him. He did protect the ball and they were down by 6 at the time. But I was expecting him to break to his right and try and outrun the defenders tot he corner. He fell down without contact and curled up into the fetal position.

Originally Posted by: wpr 

Bump and run can be used in ether man or zone. Packers often ran it in CB man coverage while the Bears have often ran it in CB zone coverage.


I don't like saying it, but Nelson got soft in the physical coverage against the Seahawks. And the WR coach told the Saints announces that the WR group wasn't physical enough against the Seahawks. But you're right normally right Nelson is normally willing to be physical, and I'm a bit surprised they've had Jennings blocking for others so much this season... why not have Nelson block and the ball to Jennings or Cobb...

Originally Posted by: beast