Applications of Man-Free Coverage (Cover 1)

by Andy Merfeld

Description

Playing great defense always starts with defending the middle of the field. In the modern game, defenses need to be sound against the RPO game on early downs while still being able to play tight coverage to get off the field on third downs. They need to be able to bring pressure without selling out, and they are still limited in terms of teaching and practice time. What if there was a coverage that checked all those boxes - a coverage that can be played in any situation against virtually any formation? 

Coach Merfeld is here to tell you that man-free coverage can give you all of the above, and more. When you play man-free coverage, you help your defense eliminate big plays by properly defending the middle of the field. You also keep your players out of run/pass conflict by allowing them to aggessively "fit their coverage." Defenders can play confidently against RPOs, knowing that a box players aren't needed to help cover detached receivers and a defenders playing man on a detached receiver will never need to fit an interior gap. 

This is the second course in Coach Merfeld's Man-Free Coverage Bundle. In the first course, he focuses on the foundations of the coverage, position maintenance and using the help in the middle of the field, different coverage roles and combos, man coverage technique in the slot. The first course focuses more on pass defense, while this second course ties it all together with different coverage rotations, run support, pressures, and adjustments. 

In the first part of this course, Coach Merfeld goes into an in-depth analysis of different man-free rotations and variations. He goes through their specific uses, including pros and cons of each coverage rotation. He ends this section by discussing some game-planning thoughts on using man-free coverage vs. 11/20 personnel and 12/21 personnel. 

He then focuses on run support in middle of the field closed coverages, with a special emphasis on man-free. He shows game examples of different man-free variations from both base and sub defensive personnel and using even and odd spacing with the defensive front. Coach Merfeld shows how to get safeties involved in the run fit, how to "key" versus moveable gaps in the backfield, how to allow players to marry their run and pass responsibilities by fitting their coverage, and run fit concepts from both even and odd spacing.

In the third part of the course, Coach Merfeld focuses on man-free pressures: simulated pressures with a four-man rush, five-man pressures from both base and sub personnel, and six-man "peel" pressures. 

In the final few lessons of the course, Coach Merfeld covers different formation, split, and motion adjustments within man-free. He discusses matching up vs. empty formations and how to handle offenses putting the formation into the boundary. In the lessons on split adjustments, he teaches how to cover different 2- and 3-man receiver alignments with and without the shallow rat. Finally, in the section on motion adjustments, he discusses how different defenders account for receiver and running back motions. 

Also included are the Powerpoint slides Coach Merfeld used in his presentation. They can be downloaded and edited to fit your needs. This course is a great value, with over four hours of in-depth material that will help you implement everything you need within the man-free coverage world! 

Lessons

1 Introduction Free 2:27 2 Man-Free Coverage Rotations Overview 6:54 3 Sub 1 Invert 5:44 4 Sub/Base 1 Key Free 4:59 5 Base 1 Alert 4:49 6 Base 1 Tight 4:24 7 Sub 1 Buck 3:07 8 Rotations Review and Chart 1:39 9 Game-Planning vs. 11 & 20 Personnel 5:19 10 Game-Planning vs. 12 & 21 Personnel 5:25 11 Run Fit Systems Overview 3:22 12 Middle of the Field Closed Run Fits Free 3:05 13 Even Spacing Run Fits Overview 10:44 14 Core Hit Chart 1:28 15 Setting the Front and Double-Rotating 8:40 16 Sub 1 Invert - Even Spacing Examples 12:46 17 Sub 1 Key - Even Spacing Examples 13:32 18 Base 1 Key - Even Spacing Examples Free 7:26 19 Base 1 Alert - Even Spacing Examples 14:50 20 Base 1 Alert - Even Spacing Examples, Part 2 4:03 21 Base 1 Tight - Even Spacing Examples 11:56 22 Odd Spacing Run Fits Overview 4:34 23 Sub 1 Invert - Odd Spacing 2:34 24 Base 1 Alert - Odd Spacing Examples 9:53 25 Base 1 Key - Odd Spacing Examples 6:03 26 Base 1 Alert - Odd Spacing vs. 21 Personnel 1:12 27 Man-Free Pressures Free 3:16 28 Simulated Pressures: Sub Belly 1 Rat 12:26 29 5-Man Sub Pressures: Odd Front 14:02 30 5-Man Sub Pressures: Even Front 1:20 31 5-Man Sub Pressures: Nickel Blitz 2:46 32 5-Man Base Pressures: Cover 10 Alert 3:17 33 5-Man Base Pressures: Cover 10 Key 1:05 34 6-Man Sub Peel Pressures 7:17 35 Man-Free Formation Adjustments: Empty, Formation into Boundary 5:57 36 Split Adjustment: Lock and Levels 8:42 37 Split Adjustment: "Inside-Outside" (No Rat) 3:54 38 Split Adjustment: "Traffic" vs. 3-Man Bunch (No Rat) 6:09 39 Split Adjustment: Stacked Receivers Free 2:41 40 Split Adjustment: "Point" vs. Stacked Receivers 5:07 41 Split Adjustment: "Tail" vs. Stacked Receivers 3:43 42 Split Adjustment: "Tail" vs. Screen / Screen & Go 4:07 43 Split Adjustments: "Point" / "Tail" in Cover 10 (No Rat) 2:06 44 Man-Free Motion Adjustments 13:12 45 Conclusion Free 0:22 46 Man-Free Coverage Presentation 47 Man-Free Coverage Presentation

The Coach

Andy Merfeld

Coverages, DBs, and Special Teams

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Andy Merfeld has experience coaching at the small-college and high school levels and specializes in coverages, defensive back play, and special teams. His CoachTube courses focus narrowly on very specific topics, which allows coaches to effectively implement the strategies and processes he discusses.  

 

He currently is the corners coach and special teams coordinator at Benedictine College (NAIA – KS) and previously coached at Upper Iowa University, the University of Minnesota Duluth, and Edgewood High School (WI). Relevant coaching achievements:

• Benedictine College (CBs). In 2019 the Ravens led all NAIA and NCAA schools with ten blocked punts, and also led the NAIA in punt return yards at the end of the regular season. In 2020 the team again led the NAIA in blocked kicks, and also finished sixth in punt return yards. The defense finished 3^rd in the NAIA in sacks, 4^th in interceptions, 2^nd in rush defense, and led all NAIA and NCAA schools with four shutouts in ten games. In 2022 the Ravens blocked eight total kicks and were fifth in the country in kickoff return average. In 2023 Benedictine had the top special teams unit in the NAIA, again leading the country in blocked kicks (T-1st), finished 4th in the NAIA in gross punt, 4th in gross kickoff average, 5th in punt return average, and 9th in NAIA in KOR average. 
• Upper Iowa (DBs). In 2017 the Peacocks finished second nationally in punt return touchdowns and fifth in punt blocks. They also finished 10th in the country in pass defense.
• Minnesota Duluth (Def. GA). In two years the Bulldogs compiled a 22-4 record, including three postseason wins and a #3 national ranking in the 2014 season.
• Edgewood High School (DC, strength and conditioning). In 2011 the Crusaders set the school record for wins and advanced to the WIAA state semifinals for the first time.

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