Defensive football teams must find a way to stop the run and the pass. Stopping the run often is a physical battle -- depending on the defensive players' strength and power. Stopping the pass is strategic and schematic. Teams use man-to-man and zone defenses to shut down the opponent's passing game. Both types of defense can be used at various times, depending on the game situation and personnel you face.
Man-to-Man Defense
A man-to-man defense primarily involves assigning one defensive player to each of the primary receivers. If the offense has three wide receivers and a tight end on the field, the wide receivers will each be covered by a cornerback, and the tight end will be covered by a safety. Man-to-man coverage is difficult for even the best cover men unless a strong pass-rush accompanies it. Top receivers can find a way to get away from man-to-man coverage if they have enough time.
Zone Coverage
A zone defense divides coverage respoonsibilities by area of the field. Four defensive backs will generally divide the field's middle and deep portions and they will get help from the linebackers. Zone coverage is often looser than man-to-man defense and sharp-throwing quarterbacks often can find an open receiver. However, when the defensive backs change coverage areas, this can confuse the quarterback and cause mistakes that lead to takeaways.
Hybrid Coverage
Many teams use a hybrid type of coverage that allows the defense to play principles of both types of defense. The cornerbacks will cover the wide receivers tight in the field's short and middle areas. However, the safeties will provide additional coverage if the wideouts run deep patterns. This leaves the linebackers to cover the tight ends. When two safeties cover the deep zones, this is called a Cover-2 defense. This defense has been featured in the NFL since the mid-1990s.
Personnel Analysis
Schematically, if you have excellent cover cornerbacks who can stick with the fastest wide receivers, you are better off playing man-to-man defense. However, most teams don't have a cornerback with the coverage skills of Hall of Famer Deion Sanders or the New York Jets' All-Pro cornerback Darelle Revis. If you don't have cornerbacks with those skills, playing a hybrid or zone defense probably will help you keep your opponent from making big plays when the game is on the line.
References
- "Inside the Helmet"; Peter King; 1993
- Football 101: Players and Positions -- Cornerbacks and Safeties
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