2023 NFL Man Free Coverage Concepts and Variations!

 We will look at some of the different ways NFL team play man free coverage.

There are several ways NFL teams play the coverage and the rules that they have. All these coverages can be run from a 3-2 dime, 3-4 or 4-2 look.

Here are the 5 we will look at in this article.

1. Man free with 4 man rush no blitz (LB play hook or have back their side)
2. Man free with a 5 man rush ILB blitzing
3. Man free with a 5 man rush as the Sam blitzing (2 and 3 changes the coverage rules)

4.  6 man pressure with the de having peel rules if back releases. Can be done from 4-2 or odd looks

5. Man free with lurk concepts. The coverage starts as a 2 high with a safety dropping to a hole type position.

6. Man free with a 3 man rush

There are examples below of each concept:

Let's first look at it from a 4-2-5 or 4-3 point of view

1. Man free with a 4 man rush No blitz.

Coverage rules-

CB  #1 

Sam LB #2 strong

SS  #3 strong or middle 1/3 vs 2x2 

FS  middle 1/3 vs 3x1 or #2 vs 2x2

This allows the 2 lbs to be underneath help players with 1 player responsible for the running back should he releases.

The Seahawks run the concept below.

film with clips above.

Rat defender does a nice job underneath taking away the shallow cross.