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AFM Magazine


UConn's Bracket and Vice Defensive Techniques

by: Nick Rapone
Defensive Coordinator, University of Connecticut
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We play different types of man coverage with our nickel package. The advantages of this coverage are that we can take away our opponent's number one receiver, or the number one route they run.

Bracket Coverage


Diagram 1Diagram 2


Diagram 3Diagram 4

In bracket coverage, we double the number two receiver from a horizontal viewpoint, meaning we will find his release and then react. In Diagram 1, you will see the initial alignment of the two defensive backs.

The inside defensive back (free safety) will be 10 yards deep, aligned two yards outside the offensive tackle. The outside defensive back (nickel) will be eight yards from the line of scrimmage, aligned on the outside shoulder of the wide receiver.

From this alignment, there are three basic releases the defensive back must react to: inside, outside and vertical.

Inside Release (Bracket Technique)

When the receiver takes an inside release, the defensive back will jump the receiver, and the outside defensive back will now go and help with the number one receiver.

Obviously, the fundamentals in this set differ from free safety to nickel back.

Free safety. Versus a receiver's inside release, jump the receiver hard with the upfield shoulder as the aiming point.Versus a quick slant, make sure to work parallel towards the receiver and when he breaks on the slant, one must jump the route.

Nickel. Versus a receiver's inside release; if the ball is thrown quick, react to the ball. If not, let the receiver go and help out with the number one receiver.

Outside Release (Bracket Technique)

When the receiver takes an outside release, the inside defensive back (free safety) will go and help with the number one receiver and the outside defensive back (nickel) will jump the receiver.

The fundamentals, again, by position:

Free Safety. Versus a receiver's outside release, he must work parallel towards the receiver. Once the receiver runs an outside route then he will work towards number one receiver.

Nickel. Versus a receiver's outside release, jump the route hard, the aiming point is the upfield shoulder.

Vertical Release (Bracket Technique)

When the receiver takes a vertical release, the inside defensive back (free safety) will work parallel towards the receiver, and the outside defensive back (nickel) stays outside and works over the top of the receiver. When the wide receiver declares a route, the defensive backs will do likewise.

The fundamentals of a vertical release differ, of course, depending on the receiver's route.


Diagram 5

Vertical release ending in a curl route.

The free safety will work parallel toward the vertical route. He does not want to gain any depth or advance to the intersection point too soon, as the worst situation would develop and he would overrun the curl. Diagram 5 shows the exact result that the bracket is designed to accomplish, and that is to time it and be able to jump the curl route.

The vertical route by the receiver tells nickel to keep an outside alignment and maintain a good vertical cushion on the wide receiver. When the receiver commits to the curl route, the nickel settles outside and over top and reacts to the ball when thrown on the curl and go. The inside defensive back is the one who breaks on the curl route.


Diagram 6

Vertical release ending in a post route.

The free safety will work parallel towards the vertical route, as he continually leads the receiver. Once he gets close to the intersection point, we will declare his route. If the receiver declares post, the free safety will turn with the receiver and end up underneath the post route (Diagram 6).

The vertical route by the receiver tells the nickel to keep an outside alignment and maintain a good vertical cushion on the receiver. Upon commitment to the post route by the receiver, the nickel will also commit to the route by staying over the top and outside.


Diagram 7

Vertical release ending in a square-in route. This route will be handled very similar to the curl route, with the one exception being the free safety not jumping the route, as he should work towards the upfield shoulder. The nickel will stay outside and upfield until the square in route is declared. At this point, he will not chase the route, rather he will let it go and then help with the number one receiver. (Diagram 7).

Vertical release ending in a corner route.


Diagram 8

This route will be handled the same way, once the corner route is declared, the free safety will have the outside receiver by himself (Diagram 8).

This will conclude the section on Bracket Coverage. However, before we finish this technique, allow me to point out that the outside defensive back (nickel) has force versus any outside run plays, he takes pitch on option, and is told to turn the sweep inside.

Vice Coverage

When using our Vice Coverage, we are going to double the receiver with more physical contact and depending on his release, take him man to man much quicker. Our alignment in vice will usually be to the one receiver side, although we can also vice the number one receiver in twins.


Diagram 9

Alignment for Vice Coverage (Diagram 9).

The outside DB (corner) will be 3-4 yards from the line of scrimmage and 1 yard inside the receiver. The inside DB (free safety) will be 10-12 yards deep, almost splitting the difference between the wide receiver and the offensive tackle.

The corner will key the inside for run or pass. After getting a pass read, he will then eye up the receiver, forcing him to take an outside release. When this is accomplished, the corner works back towards the numbers 8-10 yards deep and zones his zone.


Diagram 10

He is always looking to jump any crossing rou-tes. If the receiver would have attem-pted to run a three step slant and cross the corner's face, the corner would have taken him man to man (Dia-gram 10).

Upon seeing the quick slant, the free safety would react to the ball thrown, and work toward number one receiver when the ball is snapped. The DB is going to take receiver man to man on all routes unless the WR has tried to cross his face. If this has been accomplish-ed, the free safety works to the flat (Diagram 10).

Our Vice Coverage will always have one defensive back sitting in the flat area.

We are able to use these techniques in all of our Nickel Coverages. Usually, the number one route we get verse Bracket Coverage is the post and post corner routes. Some of our opponents may even try to run a skinny post route to isolate our outside defensive back in bracket. Against Vice Coverage, we will see the deep square in more than any other route.


Diagram 11

Practicing Bracket Coverage. By far the best way to practice bracket technique is to first teach your players a route tree, and explain to them exactly what an inside or outside route is (Diagram 11). Once they gain this understanding, work the-se routes against them in practice.

Practicing Vice Coverage. The most important aspect of teaching Vice Coverage is to teach the outside defensive back to read the quarterback for his three step game. This will help him on his most difficult route, the quick slant. You must also work on the outside man in Vice getting good collisions on vertical routes, to help the deep DB with man to man.






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