Most often, commentators will talk about man-to-man and zone coverage. Basically, man-to-man is when a defensive player is assigned to block (or defend against) a particular player. Zone is when a defensive player is assigned a particular zone. Simple, right?
In man-to-man coverage, the defender's only job is to make sure his assigned man doesn't get the ball (or in the case of an RB, doesn't get anywhere with the ball). The defender is going to stick to that guy like a tween to her HS crush....Following him like a lovesick puppy. Or a pit bull chasing bacon. Either way, in man-to-man coverage, the defender sticks to his, well, man.
In zone coverage, the defender is guarding his "zone" or his fiefdom. The biggest difference is, when a defender is playing zone, it doesn't matter who comes into his fiefdom, that joker is getting laid out if he's got the ball. (At least, that's the plan if it is effective zone coverage). Interesting fact: according to www.dummies.com (yes, I scour other sources so you don't have to!!) an easy way to identify zone coverage is when more than two defenders drop deep into the secondary.*
Now, within each of these, there are even more subtypes of the defenses: 3-4 Defense, Cover 2, Nickel, and so on. But that's more detail for a different day. Can you spot both of these this week? Let's call that a project for Week 2.
*so basically, they line up like a guy is at home plate during the kickball game rather than a girl. Did this bug anyone else in elementary school? No? Just me then.
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