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6 Rules for Beating Press Coverage – Are your receivers getting stuffed by the press? Here’s how to get them freed up.

by: Chris Metcalf
Former Wide Receivers Coach, John Carroll High School (AL)
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One of the most difficult things for my players to do is beat press coverage. Since we run a double wing offense at John Carroll, defenses will often pack the box with defenders and lock down on the outside. By playing press man, defenses try to disrupt the timing of pass routes by jamming receivers at the line of scrimmage. If successful, the defense has a greater opportunity to sack the quarterback since teams often blitz when playing man coverage. However, when a receiver beats press coverage, the result is frequently a big play.

We emphasize that failure to convert against press coverage is not an option for us. I teach my receivers to relish the opportunity to prove to the defense that you can beat them 1-on-1 at anytime. We have the attitude that we will beat man coverage whenever the defense presents us with it. This confidence comes from the 6 “Rs” that we emphasize as a receiving corps. By implementing these strategies and continuously working through press coverage drills, your receivers will be confident enough to beat man coverage at all times.

1. Relax: In order to play wide receiver, one must be relaxed and confident in their own ability. It is not a position where a player can be stiff or uncomfortable. Confidence breeds success. Therefore, encourage your receivers to relax and play the game the way they know how to play it. Many players become nervous when a defender is in their face. We focus on being a competitor and winning the battle each play. As an offensive player, we dictate the outcome of the play, not the defense. Emphasize that rigorous preparation in practice will ensure success on the field.

2. React: Another aspect of playing receiver is being able to react. First, we do not depend on the snap count. As a wide receiver, we look down the line of scrimmage and react to the ball being snapped. False starts are something that we do not tolerate. Additionally, every football player must react in order to make a play. We always want to be on the offensive. Therefore, we will attack based on what the defense gives us.

3. Release: If I had to pick a single most important aspect of beating press coverage, I would say that it is the release off the line of scrimmage. The reason defenses run press coverage is in order to disrupt or re-route the receiver at the line. If the defender can jam a receiver at the line of scrimmage, then the play will undoubtedly be disrupted as well. We spend a lot of time working the fundamentals of releases. One easy drill is to have receivers partner up and work the different types of releases (Rip, Low-Punch, Diamond Release, and Speed Release). When teaching this drill, make sure that players start with rapid feet and hands at the snap of the ball. Players should fire their feet and hands for a moment, or until the defender lunges to jam, and then use the appropriate release. After securing a release, a receiver should work to get back “on top” of the defender so that he cannot push a receiver too far to the outside (See Diagram 1).

Diagram1.


Here is a brief explanation of each release:

Rip - Use fast hands and feet at the snap to feather up to the defender. When the defender lunges, attack his elbow with your outside hand and rip underneath with the opposite arm.

Low Punch - Use fast hands and feet to feather up to the defender. When the defender lunges, attack his elbow with the outside hand. Then throw the opposite hand directly over the top of his arm. This is not a swim move. A key coaching point is to keep the “punching” arm as low as possible in order to keep a receiver from exposing the ribs.

Diamond - The receiver begins to release to the opposite side that he wants to go. This will get the defender to flip his hips, thus creating separation and allowing the receiver to gain leverage. Once the defender flips his hips, place the inside hand on the defender’s hips in order to push him by as the receiver uses either the rip or low punch technique to complete the release.

Speed - At the snap, take one hard step to the opposite side of the desired release. Then, use speed to run by the defender, either to the outside or inside.

4. Re-Stack: Once we get a release, it is extremely important that we get back “on top” or re-stack the defender. Ideally, the defender will be directly behind the receiver. If the defender runs with the receiver, he should lean back on the defender to the inside so that the defender cannot run the offensive player out of bounds or off of the desired route. By re-stacking the defensive player, we have the freedom to run any route that we want. This allows us to attack the defense and make the defender play “catch-up” to what we are doing. One drill that we emphasize is much like the one above. This time, we set up a rectangle with four cones about 6-8 yards wide. Here, the receiver will work a release and re-stack the defender without being pushed outside the cones (See Diagram 2). 


Diagram 2.

5. Reception: This is what most people think of when they think about receivers. After winning the 1-on-1 battle at the line, they have to win the individual battle to secure the football. Key coaching points are going up to snatch the ball at the highest point, and using the body to shield a defender from breaking up the pass. 

6. Relentless: Finally, we are going to be relentless whenever we face press coverage, or any other coverage the defense presents. No one will ever play with more effort than we do because we hold ourselves to a higher standard in practice, which carries over into games. Beating press coverage often comes down to desire. We are going to outwork the defender in order to put ourselves in position to make the big play. Essentially, if you do not put forth the effort, you will always be jammed at the line of scrimmage. Therefore, we emphasize giving 100% effort on every play of every game and practice.


About the Author: Chris Metcalf is currently completing his degree in Math Education at Auburn. In 2010, he coached the wide receivers at John Carroll Catholic High School in Birmingham and also was the offensive coordinator for the junior varsity. Metcalf plans a career in coaching after graduating.






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