Andy Merfeld

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. 

Whether you primarily coach on offense, defense, or special teams, field position is king. One of the ways you can help your team win the battle of hidden yardage and dominate field position is by building an explosive kick return unit. 

Coach Merfeld’s two-part series will allow you to build your kick return team from the ground up. He details a comprehensive plan for the unit which includes everything from practice drills and blocking techniques to return schemes, game-planning, and situational calls.

In this first course of the series, Coach Merfeld goes through a detailed teaching progression for each type of block used on the kick return team. He uses game film as well as film of individual and group drills for each technique. Finally, Coach Merfeld discusses how coaches can put all the pieces together to run the “Power” return scheme.

In the second course on the kick return unit, Coach Merfeld covers a variety of change-ups for the Power return detailed in the first course. He also details the process of breaking down an opponent, game-planning, situational planning, and much more! You can purchase both courses in the Kick Return Bundle! 

This course includes almost two hours of quality content and will help you take your kick return team to the next level, whether you're a veteran special teams coordinator or a young coach just taking over the unit.

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! 

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. 

In this first course of the Man-Free Coverage Bundle, Coach Merfeld goes into great detail describing how all of the coverage pieces fit together. The safety and low hole defender provide help in the middle of the field, which allows man coverage defenders to play with outside leverage. The first few lessons of the course focus on how man coverage defenders play to their help by using proper position maintenance and understanding their dividers.

The middle of the course provides coaching points for the middle of the field safety and low hole defender, as well as how to use the defense's numerical advantage in the middle of the field (the defense will have a two on one if there is one back in the backfield, a three on two if there are two backs in the backfield, etc.). Coach Merfeld provides clear and specific coaching and teaching points to get these concepts across to your players.

The end of the course focuses on teaching man coverage techniques to slot defenders. Coach Merfeld favors the "scootch" technique from an off alignment and a traditional inch or motor technique from a press alignment. 

This course emphasizes the principles and structure of the coverage, providing an in-depth look at different elements of playing great pass defense in man-free coverage. The second course in the series will focus on the applications of what is taught in this first course: using different coverage rotations and personnel groups to align to formations, game-planning, formation and motion adjustments, run fits from even and odd spacing, and blitzing with simulated and five-man pressures. 

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 almost three hours of in-depth material that will help you develop a great foundation for implementing and teaching man-free coverage! 

Playing good pass defense is difficult. That’s why you’re reading the description for this course, and that’s what this coverage is designed to address. Playing Man-Match Cover 2 gives your pass defense three distinct advantages: it allows you to take pressure off your corners, it allows for tight coverage without playing man-to-man, and it is the best way to defend the middle of the field from a two-high coverage structure.

This is the third course of Coach Merfeld's Man-Match Cover 2 Bundle. This coverage is part of the Cover 2 Man (Saban verbiage Cover 5 Buster/Cougar) and man-match quarters (Saban Cover 7 Clip/Cut) worlds. It is a tremendous third-down concept to take pressure off of your defensive backs while still playing tight coverage on all routes. In the first presentation, Coach Merfeld does an in-depth installation for each position and focused on 2x2 formations and split adjustments. In the second presentation, he covers the specifics of defending 3x1 and empty formations (both the strong and weak sides of the formation).

In this third presentation, Coach Merfeld discusses other tools to help make this coverage even more effective: motion adjustments, a coordinated disguise package, and QB scramble control. The first tool covered is motion adjustments. It is important to practice motion adjustments against all coverages, and especially the ones you intend on using in passing situations. It is also important to practice motion adjustments against man-match coverages, because it only takes one bad route matchup to leave a receiver wide open.

The second tool discussed in this course is the disguise package. Coach Merfeld focuses on presenting one-high looks pre-snap before running the Man-Match Cover 2 post-snap. He discusses coaching points for the disguise and how it ties in to the coverage package as a whole. 

The third tool is quarterback scramble control. Given the nature of the coverage, with underneath players turning to run with the interior receivers, it is important to have QB scramble control answers. Coach Merfeld presents several different options to get extra pressure while keeping the quarterback under control and keeping his scrambling to a minumum. There are diagrams and examples of different interior and exterior defensive line stunts, as well as recommendations on spying the quarterback. 

Finally, Coach Merfeld turns his focus to defending the run in Man-Match Cover 2. He presents general principles for defending the run using middle of the field open coverages, and discusses specific tools using both even and odd spacing front concepts, 'now' stunts, read stunts, "slinging" the fit based on RB location, and more! 

As an added bonus, Coach Merfeld has included a Powerpoint presentation which contains all the diagrams from all three Man-Match Cover 2 courses. This includes all formation adjustments, as well as the position responsibility charts from each coverage check. The Powerpoint is editable, so coaches can download it and change what they need to, in order to best suit their team's needs!

These presentations include everything you need to install this coverage!

Part 3 Contents:

Motion adjustments

Disguise package

QB scramble control: DE/DT stunts, empty stunts with spy, interior stunts, rush 3 & spy

Defending 10 personnel run: "slinging" the fit. even spacing, odd spacing, read stunts, 'now' stunts

Defending 11/20 personnel run: "slinging" the fit, even spacing, odd spacing, fitting middle of the field open like middle of the field closed

When it comes to man-to-man technique and playing close coverage on receivers, press-man will always be king. However, you also must equip your players with change-ups to disguise their intentions, take some pressure off, and take away different routes. One change-up is to teach corners to play off-man coverage. This requires a different skill set from playing press-man but also allows your players to take away different routes with their alignment. 

In this course, Coach Merfeld teaches a comprehensive installation of off-man technique. Using game and practice clips (both good and bad), as well as drill work and diagrams, he discusses how to defend different quick, intermediate, and deep routes. He covers the inital steps of the read pedal, the transition to the speed pedal, the half-turn, how to match the receiver's tempo, and different downhill and uphill breaks. He also discusses how to use the off-man technique within man-free coverage. This course includes almost 2.5 hours of material, and includes everything you need to effectively teach this technique! 

This is the second 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 third course, Coach Merfeld installs bail man technique, which combines some of the best parts of both press- and off-man. 

Question: "Are you guys more of a block team or more of a return team?" Answer: "We love to return punts...after we block them."

If you are looking to block more punts and win more games, you've come to the right place. Blocking a punt is one of the quickest ways to turn a game around, and Coach Merfeld is here to teach you his schemes and techniques to help you dominate with your punt block team.

This is the first in Coach Merfeld’s series of presentations on running the punt block-return team. In this presentation, Coach Merfeld covers all elements of scheming, practicing, and executing punt blocks. He discusses his philosophy for pressuring punts and explains how he attacks shield protections, pro-style protections, and rugby punts. This course also includes the Powerpoint presentation from the course, with editable diagrams and coaching points. 

In part 2 of this series, Coach Merfeld focuses on punt returns. In part 3, he covers all aspects of organizing and administering the punt block-return team. You can purchase all three courses with the Punt Block & Punt Return Bundle. 

Coach Merfeld currently coaches the corners and runs the punt block team at Benedictine College. The Ravens led all NCAA and NAIA schools in 2019 with ten blocked punts, while also ranking among the national leaders in punt return yards. This 3-part series includes everything you need to coordinate the punt block-return team!

Whether you primarily coach on offense, defense, or special teams, field position is king. One of the ways you can help your team win the battle of hidden yardage and dominate field position is by building an explosive kick return unit. 

Coach Merfeld’s two-part series will allow you to build your kick return team from the ground up. He details a comprehensive plan for the unit which includes everything from practice drills and blocking techniques to return schemes, game-planning, and situational calls.

In the first course of the series, Coach Merfeld goes through a detailed teaching progression for each type of block used on the kick return team.

In this second course on the kick return unit, Coach Merfeld covers a variety of change-ups for the “Power” return detailed in the first course. After a short review of the base Power scheme, he discusses several small variations that keep things simple for your team while showing different looks to the opponent. Then Coach Merfeld goes into detail on other return scheme change-ups that are designed to make the coverage team pay for overplaying the Power return. At the end of the course, Coach Merfeld also details the process of breaking down an opponent, game-planning, situational planning, and much more! You can purchase both courses in the Kick Return Bundle! Also included in this second course are templates for grading players and specific game-planning forms for the kick return unit. 

This course includes almost two and a half hours of quality content and will help you take your kick return team to the next level, whether you're a veteran special teams coordinator or a young coach just taking over the unit.

Playing good pass defense is difficult. That’s why you’re reading the description for this course, and that’s what this coverage is designed to address. Playing Man-Match Cover 2 gives your pass defense three distinct advantages: it allows you to take pressure off your corners, it allows for tight coverage without playing man-to-man, and it is the best way to defend the middle of the field from a two-high coverage structure.

This is the second course of Coach Merfeld's Man-Match Cover 2 Bundle. This coverage is part of the Cover 2 Man (Saban verbiage Cover 5 Buster/Cougar) and man-match quarters (Saban Cover 7 Clip/Cut) worlds. It is a tremendous third-down concept to take pressure off of your defensive backs while still playing tight coverage on all routes.

In the first presentation, Coach Merfeld does an in-depth installation for each position and focused on 2x2 formations. In this presentation, he covers the specifics of defending 3x1 and empty formations (both the strong and weak sides of the formation). He provides thoughts on game-planning for different situations and formations. In the third presentation, he discusses other tools to help make this coverage even more effective: motion adjustments, a coordinated disguise package, and QB scramble control.

As an added bonus, Coach Merfeld has included a Powerpoint presentation which contains all the diagrams from all three Man-Match Cover 2 courses. This includes all formation adjustments, as well as the position responsibility charts from each coverage check. The Powerpoint is editable, so coaches can download it and change what they need to, in order to best suit their team's needs!

These presentations include everything you need to install this coverage!

Part 2 Contents:

Review and overview of defending 3x1 formations

Defending the 3-WR side

Defending the 3-WR side: Bunch

Defending the 1-WR side: Poach, Solo, Cut, Cop

Empty formations

In the modern game, corners at the high school level and above must be able to play press-man coverage. Quarterbacks and receivers are too well-trained for a defense to play exclusively zone or off-man coverage. However, corners who are not well-versed in playing press-man can be exposed quickly.

In this course, Coach Merfeld takes you all the way through his teaching progression for press man corners. It is a great introduction to the technique for coaches who have not taught it before, or those who want to improve their teaching. Press-man technique can be used in many different coverage structures and defensive systems. 

Coach Merfeld uses practice and game film (both good and bad), drill work, and diagrams to take the viewer through a step-by-step installation of the technique. He also has specific lessons on how to use this technique when covering in the slot, how it can be used within man-free coverage, and how it changes in the red zone.

He focuses on initial steps and disrupting the route at the line of scrimmage, the corner’s eye discipline, using the feet and hands at the same time, what to expect on different releases, how the technique can be used in different coverage structures, and much more. This course includes almost 3.5 hours of material, and includes everything you need to effectively teach this technique!

This is the first course in Coach Merfeld's three-part Cornerback Man-to-Man Bundle. In the second course, Coach Merfeld installs and teaches off-man technique, which allows corners to more effectively defend deep routes. In the third course, he installs bail man technique, which combines some of the best parts of both press- and off-man. 

If you want to dominate the opponent with a sound and dynamic punt block team, this is the course for you! Whether you're a veteran special teams coordinator or a young coach just taking over the punt block unit, you will find a wealth of information in this course.

This is the third presentation in Coach Merfeld’s series on running the punt block team. In this presentation, he focuses on the nuts and bolts of running the team. He starts with personnel selection and coaching punt returners, then looks at off-season work, practice, and continues through all areas of breaking down an opponent and game-planning. He closes with a discussion and examples of situational considerations on the punt block team. Included in this presentation are different templates to assist with efficiency, organization, and game-planning. The lessons and coaching points from this course can also be applied to other special teams units, or even coaching and game-planning on offense or defense. 

This course also includes several forms and templates Coach Merfeld uses to help organize the punt block team. These forms can be downloaded and edited to fit your needs. These tools allow you to organize your roster, plan practices and drill work, grade your returners in practice, game plan for your opponent, develop a call sheet, script for the scout team, and analyze your punt block team at the end of the season. The downloads also include the Powerpoint punt block diagrams Coach Merfeld used in this series of courses.

In part 1 of this series, Coach Merfeld focuses on punt blocks. In part 2, he focuses on explosive plays in the punt return game. You can purchase all three courses with the Punt Block & Punt Return Bundle. 

Coach Merfeld currently coaches the corners and runs the punt block team at Benedictine College. The Ravens led all NCAA and NAIA schools in 2019 with ten blocked punts, while also ranking among the national leaders in punt return yards. This 3-part series includes everything you need to coordinate the punt block-return team!

Playing good pass defense is difficult. That’s why you’re reading the description for this course, and that’s what this coverage is designed to address. Playing Man-Match Cover 2 gives your pass defense three distinct advantages: it allows you to take pressure off your corners, it allows for tight coverage without playing man-to-man, and it is the best way to defend the middle of the field from a two-high coverage structure.

This is the first course of Coach Merfeld's Man-Match Cover 2 Bundle. This coverage is part of the Cover 2 Man (Saban verbiage Cover 5 Buster/Cougar) and man-match quarters (Saban Cover 7 Clip/Cut) worlds. It is a tremendous third-down concept to take pressure off of your defensive backs while still playing tight coverage on all routes.

In this first presentation, Coach Merfeld discusses the pros and cons to using this coverage. Using game and practice clips (both good and bad), he then installs the coverage position-by-position (linebackers, corners, and safeties), followed by a description of different 2x2 flank checks. 

As an added bonus, Coach Merfeld has included a Powerpoint presentation which contains all the diagrams from all three Man-Match Cover 2 courses. This includes all formation adjustments, as well as the position responsibility charts from each coverage check. The Powerpoint is editable, so coaches can download it and change what they need to, in order to best suit their team's needs!

This presentation is an in-depth install of the coverage focusing on position specifics and defending 2x2 formations. Part 2 will cover the specifics of defending 3x1 and empty formations (both the strong and weak sides of the formation). In Part 3, he discusses other tools to help make this coverage even more effective: motion adjustments, a coordinated disguise package, and QB scramble control.

These presentations include everything you need to install this coverage!

Part 1 Contents:

Introduction and overview

Pros, cons, and solutions

Linebacker film: techniques, reads, and coaching points

Corner film: techniques, reads, and coaching points

Safety film: techniques, reads, and coaching points

2x2 Split adjustment: Nasty

2x2 Split adjustment: Stay

2x2 Split adjustment: 2 Man

In this article, Coach Merfeld discusses some of the tools he uses to help his players learn. Although there is a defensive focus to the article, it is applicable to all three sides of the ball, as well as other sports.

The first section of the article discusses general procedures Coach Merfeld uses in his position meetings, including the seating chart and practicing communication. 

The second section of the article covers the special activities Coach Merfeld uses in his position meetings, including the pre-snap coverage test, players leading the meetings, and counterintelligence meetings.

The third section includes general thoughts and guidelines to help facilitate player learning and comprehension, including communication best practices, long-term cutups, charts, and understanding the "commander's intent." 

This article can be a valuable resource for coaches at all levels who want to be better teachers!

We've all been on the wrong end of a game when the opposing QB was on fire, carving up the defense with impunity. You play coverage and he sits back and picks you apart; you pressure and he immediately diagnoses the soft spot and gets the ball out before you can get home. 

To combat today's high-powered passing attacks, defenses need to try to use every possible advantage. One tool that I believe is underutilized is purposefully and systematically disguising your coverages. Properly disguising your intentions effectively makes your coverage better, your players faster, and your pass rush even more dangerous. 

I have put a lot of thought into the question of how best to disguise one's intentions on defense, and I put all of my best ideas into this course. If you are interested in sharing ideas that you have, please contact me on Twitter and I'd be excited to discuss more. 

In the first half of the course, I focus on the importance of pre-snap disguise: how to hold your coverage disguise, how to present coordinated looks, how to coach your players to disguise their intentions, how to easily build a disguise "language" into your scheme, and how to use your different disguise calls.  

In the second half of the course, I dive into the topic of post-snap disguise. I present different ideas about disguising whether the coverage is man or zone, whether the middle of the field is closed or open, and which way the coverage is rotating. I also spend time discussing different positional techniques that can be used to disguise coverages, reading the boundary safety, and several specific coverages which allow the defense to effectively disguise. 

I hope you enjoy this course and I look forward to opening a dialogue about disguise and other tools for defensive success!

Whether you primarily coach on offense, defense, or special teams, field position is king. One of the ways you can help your team win the battle of hidden yardage and dominate field position is through assembling a dynamic punt return unit. 

This is the second in Coach Merfeld’s series on running the punt block-return team. In this presentation, Coach Merfeld covers all elements of teaching, practicing, and executing successful punt returns. He discusses the coaching points for the three different parts of the play: at the line of scrimmage, the “battle” in the middle of the play, and the finish.  For each of the three parts of the play, Coach Merfeld explains the main coaching points, with practice drills and game clips included. For each of the three parts of the play, Coach Merfeld explains the main coaching points, with practice drills and game clips included. He also discusses how you can use two deep returners to cover the field, as well as other variations which can be easily and effectively implemented.

In part 1 of this series, Coach Merfeld focuses on punt blocks. In part 3, he covers all aspects of organizing and administering the punt block-return team. You can purchase all three courses with the Punt Block & Punt Return Bundle. This course also includes the Powerpoint presentation from the course, with editable diagrams and coaching points.  

Coach Merfeld currently coaches the corners and runs the punt block team at Benedictine College. The Ravens led all NCAA and NAIA schools in 2019 with ten blocked punts, while also ranking among the national leaders in punt return yards. This 3-part series includes everything you need to coordinate the punt block-return team!

Practicing Hail Mary defense is a lot like a fire drill: it may seem like a poor use of time when you're practicing it, but when the real situation arises, you REALLY want to have prepared for it. 

In this mini-course, Coach Merfeld covers strategies and coaching points (developed through trial and one big error) for different Hail Mary situations. It is important to realize that the defense needs to develop different strategies depending on field position. Using game film and diagrams, Coach Merfeld discusses how to give your athletes the best chance to be successful in Hail Mary situations.