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AFM Magazine


10 Ways To Maximize Press Man Coverage

by: Bill Bradley
Former College and NFL Coach
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There are a number of ways your players can reach their potential as cornerbacks in press man coverage. After playing in college, nearly a decade in the NFL, and coaching at both the college and professional level for 28 years, I have learned a number of things that should be helpful in improving your players’ press man techniques. Here are some tips and coaching points to share with your cornerbacks:

1.  Attitude – The corner must be ready, relaxed, and supremely confident when using press man coverage.

2.  Stance – The feet should be parallel and you should lean on the balls of your feet with the chest over your feet. You should also bend at the knees and waist with your hands up and ready.

3.  Technique – Proper technique includes two quick bounce steps back with the eyes on the mid-section of the receiver. Whichever way he releases, get your inside hand on him firmly and let the other follow. Do not duck your head, do not lunge, and do not lock your hip out. Shadow box with him with your feet and have firm hands. Above all, be patient.

4.  Counter – Stay patient, shuffle and slide in the pocket. Continue to shadow box the receiver with firm hands and arms. The key is not to get locked out. If he slaps you, grab him while keeping your eyes and head up and working your feet. Remember – feet first and hands second.

5.  Speed release – If the wide receiver uses a speed release, plant, flip and go. Run with phase to hip and shoot for his upfield shoulder.

6.  Jam - The quick jam is always beneficial early in the game. Jam him after he has made his final move. You have to study him and have a feel for the types of moves he prefers. This is why we bounce step first and shadow box early.

7.  Push-Pull – Jam to push and grab to pull back.

8. When should you jam the receiver? The quick jam usually works well in the early stages of a game. Jam him after he has made his final move. You have to study the WR and have a feel for him. Again, this is why we bounce step first and then shadow box.

9. Get a partner and practice three different moves at full speed daily – the slap and go, stutter slant and the speed release (See Diagrams).
   
10. What do you do if he beats you? It is imperative to get back in phase with your hip and eyes strictly on your target.

    There are a number of basic drills you can use to improve CBs’ overall technique for press man coverage.


 Drill 1: Slap and Go
(See Diagram 1)

    In this drill, the wide receiver slaps the cornerback and attempts to go straight. The cornerback should shadow box the wide receiver and shuffle sideways to slow him down. The CB shouldn’t rush and must show patience.


Drill 2: Stutter Start
(See Diagram 2)



   

In this drill, the receiver attempts to beat the CB on a slant route. He will stutter step one way and then break to the other. The CB should lock on his numbers, bounce on the balls of his feet and use his hands.

Drill 3: Speed Release
(See Diagram 3)



In this drill, the receiver jabs and stutters and then attempts to sprint downfield. The CB should not let his hip out. He should use his inside hand on the receiver for an outside release and his outside hand for an inside release. 
 
About the Author: Bill Bradley was a high school All-American quarterback in Palestine, TX. A three-year starter at Texas, Bradley played for the Philadelphia Eagles (1969-1977) and the St. Louis Cardinals (1978). He was an All-Pro with the Eagles and led the NFL in interceptions in back-to-back seasons. Now living outside of San Antonio, Bradley was a college and NFL coach for 28 seasons.

Coach Bradley recently completed a series of DVDs that is now available at AFMVideos.com.






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