Man-Press Technique Part 2 of 2

This is part two, of my two-part blog, on Man-Press Coverage.  Part one covered alignment, stance, key and start.  Part two will cover eye discipline, hip movement, hand placement, the kick-step, the mirror technique, playing the hands, and playing the ball.

• Eye Discipline: The defender’s eyes are focused solely on the inside hip of the receiver until the receiver raises his hands to catch the football.1
• Hip Movement: When the receiver releases off the line of scrimmage he will have to open his hips either inside or outside because the defender’s body position will prevent him from releasing vertically up the field.  The defender opens his hips in the same direction the receiver opens his being sure not to open to such a degree that the receiver has an unobstructed vertical release up the field. 1
• Hand Placement: Simultaneous to opening his hips, the defender raises his off-hand (if opening to the right it would be his left hand) with his thumb facing upward and elbow locked in full extension, aiming his hand toward the chest of the receive and ultimately allowing the receiver to run into his locked hand/arm.  The defender immediately drops the arm after contact with the receiver.  When executed properly the defender will now be his arm-length distance up field of the receiver. 1
• The Kick-Step: Once the defender opens his hips he must be prepared to move in the same direction as the receiver without crossing his feet, he does this using a single shuffle motion, referred to as a kick-step.  The kick-step enables the defender to be in position to respond if the receiver tries to change direction and/or cross his face. 2
• The Mirror Technique: Once the receiver has declared his release and the defender is running with him, the defender’s eyes remain pierced on the receivers inside hip, the defender mirrors any and all receiver hip and feet movement. So, if the receiver dips his hips, the defender dips his hips.  When the receiver gathers his feet, the defender gathers his feet.  When the receiver breaks, the defender breaks, etc.1
• Playing the Hands: When the ball is thrown to the receiver, the receiver must stop using his hands to help run and move them into position to catch the ball. The defender will see this action, because the receiver's hands pass his hips while running, and when he does he thrusts his hand(s) between the receiver’s hands prohibiting the receiver from catching the football.1
• Playing the Ball: There are situations where the defender earns the right to look back for the ball instead of playing the hands.  One such situation would be when the defender is in-control of the receiver.  Being in-control is defined as the defender having his hip in front of the receiver’s hip and the defender having body contact with the receiver.  When in-control, the defender can look back for the ball with the intent to catch it while maintaining body contact with the receiver so he can detect any fading off or back shoulder throw action.2 This technique is sometimes referred to as leaning into the receiver, although the leaning in is not always literal rather it simply means to maintain physical contact with the receiver.

It should be noted here that what I’ve described above is general technique that can be, and often is, altered depending on a litany of variables to include athletic ability, body size/style, field position, the game situation, opponent tendencies, etc. When executed properly, the Man-Press technique described in this two-part blog will lead to consistent effective coverage and improved overall pass-defense.

References:

1Bedford, V. (2015, June).  Texas Secondary Play. Speech presented at San Angelo Coaching Clinic, San Angelo.

2Martin, D. (2015, April). UCLA Secondary Play. Speech presented at UCLA Coaches Clinic, Los Angeles