CB Bail Man-to-Man Technique

As a defensive backs coach, you teach your corners to play press-man coverage at the line of scrimmage in order to take away space, disrupt timing, and challenge short and intermediate routes. You teach your corners to play off-man coverage to defend deeper routes. Now, you can get the best of both worlds by implementing the 'bail' technique for your corners. Corners using the bail technique align at the line of scrimmage but go straight into a crossover run at the snap, discouraging short throws with their alignment while still allowing them to stay on top of deeper routes. 

In this course, Coach Merfeld installs the bail technique for corners. He primarily focuses on bailing when play man-to-man coverage, but also touches on other uses. This technique is a great change-up to press-man and off-man techniques, as it combines the best of both by disguising what may be open post-snap. It also meshes well with teams who incorporate a shuffle or crossover run technique for their corners (in other coverages), because they can use the same movement and break/turn mechanics when bailing. 

After describing the technique and showing game examples, Coach Merfeld discusses when and why to use the technique. Then he dives deeper into the coaching points, discussing both inside and outside releases, including game and practice clips of both. Later on, he shows and discusses examples of what can go wrong when using this technique. He concludes by discussing other ideas for using the bail technique and shows film and diagrams of how to incorporate this technique into your drill work. The bail technique (and variations) can be used in many different coverage structures and defensive systems, and this course is a great resource if you are looking to implement this technique. 

This is the third course in Coach Merfeld's three-part Cornerback Man-to-Man Bundle. In the first course, he does an exhaustive installation of press-man technique, which is used to play tight coverage all over the field by disrupting route timing and spacing. In the second course, Coach Merfeld installs and teaches off-man technique, which allows corners to more effectively defend deep routes. Coaches are also encouraged to contact Coach Merfeld and he will send the Hudl film used in these presentations.