Understanding Levels to Defend Stacks/Bunches in Man Coverage

By Mike Kuchar
Senior Research Manager
X&O Labs
Twitter: @MikeKKuchar

Introduction

The following research was conducted as part of X&O Labs special report on “Man Coverage vs. RPOs,” which can be accessed in our exclusive membership website, Insiders.

Defending Compressed Formations:

Quite simply, if you’re going to play man coverage you’ll need to learn how to handle compressed formations. Bunches and stacks are pre-requisites for offensive coordinators now when they prepare against man coverages and adding the RPO element to these structures can further perpetuate a defensive coordinator’s anxiety. So we felt it was necessary to research man adjustments on how coaches were playing these formations. We’re talking pure man adjustments here, not “bunch” or “area” checks, which are synonymous with zone coverage.