He dropped passes of various lengths. Last year, it was the long ball. I think he had a drop in the Outback Bowl on a short pass into the flat.
How do you beat man coverage?
- Thread starter Deeringfish
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He dropped passes of various lengths. Last year, it was the long ball. I think he had a drop in the Outback Bowl on a short pass into the flat.
GCG may be delayed in responding. He's knocking on doors at Bobb trying to get our receivers to run some sprints just to satisfy your burning curiosity. I'm sure that he'll be back with the numbers before midnight if you'd like to wait here.
You're a quick study. I like shakes, though. I think he won some big games for us... on NCAA Football 2013 or whatever.
McHugh was a high-level long-jumper in high school (Missouri state champ I believe). He would probably test well in the 40 and the broad/vertical jumps, but struggle in the short shuttle/3-cone.
All of that comes with an injury caveat, because I don't know that he was 100% healthy. Or he just wasn't nearly as fluid athletically as one would have hoped/guessed.
Plenty of guys could match those physical skills, but Zeke made his mark as a competitive guy who ran good routes and caught everything. We don't have that guy right now.
Beating man coverage has to start with the release, specifically against press man. 1 step, 2 step, 3 step, foot fire...or a combination of any of those to "move" the defender without the receiver really having/needing to deviate from his path. Teaching points need to address hands as well as footwork.
It's also important, if the defender isn't pressing, that you attack the leverage of the defender. Often times a defender will play inside leverage to discourage an inside release...that needs to be attacked, going back to the point made above about moving the defender without the WR having to deviate from his path. Certain coverages are going to dictate the leverage of the defender...that goes back to the point a previous poster made about recognition. Rarely are you going to see a man defender with outside and off leverage...if that guy is in man the slant is going to be a gimme but the WR is going to take a lick from the inside defender (SS or LB, whoever is allowing CB to play that leverage).
Once you get the release you need to stack the DB as soon as possible (i.e. get on top of him), especially if you've got a route that doesn't necessarily break back to the QB. Getting on top of the DB ensures you've still got full mobility once you make your cut.
Assuming the DB stays in phase, the next step is the break point. Speed cuts are the cuts we probably all did as a kid...put one diagonal foot in the ground and make your break. But on any route longer than 8-10 yards its going to make a speed cut susceptible to an undercut by an off-man DB, so on sharp inward or outward breaking routes receivers need to drum the feet (don't forget to coach the hands!) and really accelerate out of the break (eyes over knees).
If the DB stays on top, the receiver also always needs to keep his body between the QB and the DB (box him out, so to speak). Running a comeback? Work back down the vertical stem and allow the QB to throw it to the sideline so the DB has to go through you to get to the ball. Running a 10 yard out? Break point needs to be at 12-14 so you give yourself some room to work back towards your QB and disallow the undercut.
For the athletically inferior athlete, routes that are built more for speed aren't going to be very beneficial. If they are crossing routes, as a receiver you have to try to keep the defender on your upfield hip...if he gets underneath (especially with deep help) the throw is going to have to be something special to be completed. And for cripes sake be a hand-catcher! Get out the tennis ball machine and catch a ton of balls. Write numbers on every football the WR's catch in practice and make them yell out the number when they make catches to ensure concentration all the way through the catch process.
Sorry fellas...first post got a little wordy. Lurking for a while, finally decided to get involved!
It's also important, if the defender isn't pressing, that you attack the leverage of the defender. Often times a defender will play inside leverage to discourage an inside release...that needs to be attacked, going back to the point made above about moving the defender without the WR having to deviate from his path. Certain coverages are going to dictate the leverage of the defender...that goes back to the point a previous poster made about recognition. Rarely are you going to see a man defender with outside and off leverage...if that guy is in man the slant is going to be a gimme but the WR is going to take a lick from the inside defender (SS or LB, whoever is allowing CB to play that leverage).
Once you get the release you need to stack the DB as soon as possible (i.e. get on top of him), especially if you've got a route that doesn't necessarily break back to the QB. Getting on top of the DB ensures you've still got full mobility once you make your cut.
Assuming the DB stays in phase, the next step is the break point. Speed cuts are the cuts we probably all did as a kid...put one diagonal foot in the ground and make your break. But on any route longer than 8-10 yards its going to make a speed cut susceptible to an undercut by an off-man DB, so on sharp inward or outward breaking routes receivers need to drum the feet (don't forget to coach the hands!) and really accelerate out of the break (eyes over knees).
If the DB stays on top, the receiver also always needs to keep his body between the QB and the DB (box him out, so to speak). Running a comeback? Work back down the vertical stem and allow the QB to throw it to the sideline so the DB has to go through you to get to the ball. Running a 10 yard out? Break point needs to be at 12-14 so you give yourself some room to work back towards your QB and disallow the undercut.
For the athletically inferior athlete, routes that are built more for speed aren't going to be very beneficial. If they are crossing routes, as a receiver you have to try to keep the defender on your upfield hip...if he gets underneath (especially with deep help) the throw is going to have to be something special to be completed. And for cripes sake be a hand-catcher! Get out the tennis ball machine and catch a ton of balls. Write numbers on every football the WR's catch in practice and make them yell out the number when they make catches to ensure concentration all the way through the catch process.
Sorry fellas...first post got a little wordy. Lurking for a while, finally decided to get involved!
Thanks for the post and please keep doing it. What are your thoughts on how well our WRs are coached?
I wish I could provide a little more specific insight. For years I've always gotten the regional BTN broadcast so I get a ton of Iowa games...I did get to see/DVR a couple games this year but they've been expunged from my hard drive. Young kids keep me from getting to games in person, so all I have to go on is my memory from a couple games very early in the season (and the Iowa debacle).
I will say that there was a lot of info in this thread about the limited playbook against man coverage. CJ is right...you can't really scheme man coverage. Your guy does the things he needs to get open or he doesn't...zone you have a few more things you can work to try to free guys up. But every zone coverage has man aspects to it...even zone beaters can work against man if the routes are run with good technique. Take a classic cover 3 beater, the curl-flat...if you get man coverage, you can still get a 10-12 yard gain from your curl route if your WR pushes to 14-15, drums the feet, back down the stem and work to the QB, keeping his body between the QB and the DB. Don't need a ton of separation...but you do need to catch the ball (thus my point about hands catching). You let that thing get into your body and the DB can make a play.
I'm bullish on Nagel. I was disappointed that he burned his shirt and then got hurt, but the reps that he received could pay off down the line. GCG seems to be very excited about Lees. Apparently Lees has played receiver in the past. A few other guys expect big things, too. I'm more cautious because no offense to all your Illinois homers but Illinois HS football isn't all that good, which gives you a mistaken impression that Lees can score 100 TD at NU, and because you're asking a true frosh to come in and resurrect the receiving corps.
Just saying we never really saw the separation and guys open. And that is for the last several years. would think that they should still get open even if the windows are smaller. And it is not as if they are up against NFL CBs level every game. That makes me question if they are running solid routes. I am sure that there is a lot of getting used to the receivers for the Frosh QB. But that should not have been the case for TS last year.
IA Wildcat79 - great points! Especially release, leverage, and catching with the hands. I was wondering when someone who had either played or coached the position would answer the original post.
From some of your terminoloogy, I'm guessing you are about 30 to 40 years younger than me. I played when they called us Ends
From some of your terminoloogy, I'm guessing you are about 30 to 40 years younger than me. I played when they called us Ends
That is my point. I am questioning whether our WRs run good routes. Then they have a problem catching the ball as well. Not being the super athlete is one thing but not running good routes and not catching the ball is something else
Watching that Clemson kid, Hunter Renfrow, get open all night against the NFL secondary of Bama and catch 2 tough TD passes gives me hope for Lees to be a contributor next season. Renfrow was an option QB in h.s. and is a walk-on true freshman, all of 5-10 175 lbs.
It's not just about being able to run the routes, which were sloppy much of the past season. It's also about having the physical attributes to run said routes, which I'm not sure the bigger/longer guys often have.
But also a walkon. Really surprised by the number of highly successful walkon WRs when we get basically nothing with our scholarship guys.
I was an average (the older I get the better I was!) HS QB in the mid/late-90's. I got involved with coaching at a low level in 2003 and never looked back. Actually I heard McCall at one of the Glazier Clinics I attended a hundred years ago (I think he was still at Bowling Green). At the time I was still coaching at the youth level so talking ball with a D-1 offensive coordinator was a good time!
My point is that they WERE sloppy all last year. That and dropping the ball is what is hard to understand if our WR coaching and effort is up to snuff. I am going to assume that the effort is there so that leaves coaching. If they consistently run sloppy routes, that would indicate that they are not being taught properly, held to proper standards or corrected.
How many times have you seen something a small as a stutter step get a guy free against top DBs? Not here. If a guy cannot run a particular route, it would seem that it would be the coaches responsibility to come up with routes that the WR can run or show them how to otherwise get an advantage. With dropped balls, it would also seem to be for the coach to figure out what is wrong and figure a way to help the WR correct it. In any event, it seems to keep coming back on the coaches.
If on-field, in-game contributions are your measure of success, there are many MANY more "unsuccessful" walk-on's than "successful" walk-on's. The ones who make meaningful contributions on Saturdays are more noticeable, but very small in number.
You can keep bringing it back to the coaches if you want, but I'm going to keep pointing out that the players have to actually make the plays between the lines. Coaching can be and is an issue, but to completely absolve the players of all responsibility is illogical.