Film Study: Pressing the Case at the Line of Scrimmage

By Jonathan Stephanson on December 10, 2015 at 10:10 am
Eli Apple
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After an up-and-down 2014 season, cornerback Eli Apple has found a home at the line of scrimmage with Chris Ash’s brand of aggressive press coverage.

The 6-foot-1, 200 pound third-year sophomore entered Ohio State as an ESPN five-star recruit and key member of a banner 2013 class that included the likes of Joey Bosa, Ezekiel Elliot, J.T. Barrett, and Vonn Bell. The 11th-rated player in the 2013 ESPN 300 was expected to immediately contribute, only to be redshirted after poor fall practices. In fact, it took the New Jersey native a whole year to have the traditional freshman black strip removed from his helmet, a rite of passage most freshmen go through by the end of their first fall camp.

Looking back on Apple’s freshman year, head coach Urban Meyer said, "He was lazy in the classroom, lazy about his business."

After the discovery of an undiagnosed medical condition (iron deficiency) during winter conditioning in late 2013, Apple’s effort and play improved dramatically, resulting in an opening-day start against Navy to start the 2014 season. He hasn’t left the field since.

The potential NFL draft pick achieved a measure of redemption this season as a key member of a rejuvenated pass defense that finished 10th in the nation (176.2 yards per game), and being voted second team All Big-Ten at the defensive back position. Former co-defensive coordinator Chris Ash recently said of Apple’s 2015 performance, “I think he has played great.” He went on to add, “He has had a couple penalties that you’d like to take back, but he is playing aggressively and playing with confidence.”

In large part Apple's confidence can be attributed to the aggressive man-press technique the newly-named Rutgers head coach demands of his cornerbacks. 

Press coverage is a technique that requires the defensive back to align over the wide receiver at the line of scrimmage, using his body and hand to disrupt the receiver’s ability to run a pass route, also known as jamming. The defensive player is left on an island against his opponent in a battle that usually results in a clear winner and loser. The technique is not for the faint of heart.

Press coverage is effective for a variety of reasons:

  • It disrupts the timing between quarterback and wide receiver.
  • It forces the receiver to work hard every play.
  • The nature of the technique promotes aggressive, intimidating play by the defender.
Press

The technique is played at every level of football and out of every coverage shell, including the Buckeyes' oft-used Cover 1 (man-hi) and Cover 4 (quarters). While simple in theory, successful press coverage requires refined technique and countless practice reps.

In a 2011 Iowa State practice video, Ash reveals a variety of techniques and drills he utilizes to teach his system of press coverage. The system can be broken down into four basic parts:

  1. Stance
  2. 'Scooch' stepping
  3. Mirroring the receiver
  4. The jam

Good press coverage starts from the feet up with the cornerback’s stance. His feet should be shoulder width apart, with bent knees and dipped hips to create a low center of gravity. Most of the body’s weight will rest on the balls of the feet, resulting in a slight lean forward. Many coaches teach the body position using the phrase “Eyes and nose over toes,” as this position creates an athletic stance and balance.

Stance

Notice Apple’s strong base. Without a low center of gravity and athletic stance he will be unable to execute man-press with consistency as he will be off-balance at the snap of the ball.

The next phase of press coverage begins at the snap of the ball. Because many cornerbacks (particularly the young and inexperienced) tend to lunge forward, causing a missed jam and allowing the wide receiver a free release, the former co-defensive coordinator has integrated a ‘scooch step’ into his system.

The scooch step prevents the cornerback from lunging at the receiver, or as Ash says, creates “time and space.”

Scooch

At the top of the screen, the second year starter takes a bunny hop backwards as he reads the wide receiver’s inside hip for a route direction key. Pay close attention to the space created between Apple and the wide receiver. Even if he was predisposed to lunging at the line of scrimmage, he would be unable to do so due to the scooch step’s ability to create distance (you can’t lunge forward if you’re jumping backwards).

The third phase (and often most difficult) of press technique is known as mirroring the receiver. The cornerback’s goal is to move in whatever direction the receiver moves using short, lateral steps, or ‘hot feet’. The defender should stay square in his stance to avoid turning too soon. This movement will block the wide receiver from running straight upfield by forcing him to move around the defensive player.

When the wide receiver approaches the cornerback’s hip, he will kick step by opening his hips 45 degrees towards the receiver. By not turning completely, or ‘opening the gate’, the defensive player forces the pass catcher to move around, rather than through him.

Focus on Apple at the top of the screen below.

Hot Feet

Notice the short, lateral steps Apple takes as he mirrors the receiver’s movements at the line of scrimmage. When the receiver declares his outside release, Apple does a great job of opening his hips at an angle towards the break.

The fourth phase of press coverage is likely the most well-known, the jam. A guiding principle of man-press is that the hands MUST work with the feet at all times. If the feet stop moving when the jam occurs, the cornerback will lose the battle.

A jam can be executed with one or two hands. With two hands, the defensive back should aggressively strike the receiver’s chest plate with his palms out and thumbs up. If the receiver has released to one side, the defender should strike with the opposite hand, as this will allow the shoulders to turn in conjunction with the hips. Focus on Apple’s left hand below.

Press

Because the receiver has released to Apple’s right side, he uses his left hand to strike the shoulder pads, allowing his upper body to turn naturally with his lower body. The effect of the jam is obvious, as the strike puts the route runner off-balance.

In Ohio State’s 2014 victory over Alabama, Apple displayed outstanding man-press technique against current NFL rookie Amari Cooper. Watch the athletic stance, scooch step, hot feet/mirror, and off-hand jam. This play is particularly impressive as Cooper is already known for his skilled releases that leave veteran NFL cornerbacks lunging at air.

Cooper

While Apple has shown marked improvement over the previous two seasons, his game still suffers from moments of inconsistency. Midway through the 1st quarter of the Minnesota contest, Apple makes two glaring mistakes. Watch him closely at the bottom of the clip below to see if you can pick out the breakdowns. 

Wrong Hand

First, by not scooch stepping Apple denies himself space and time to mirror his opponent's release. Because the receiver stacks, or gets hip-to-hip with Apple so quickly, he uses the wrong jam hand when his opponent cut across his face inside. Although the result of the play turned out positive for the defense, a more-skilled receiver will create separation on the slant route.

Apple has demonstrated NFL talent in both measurable and technique throughout the 2015 season. With the evolution of precision passing attacks and rules limiting defensive contact past five yards, the ability to play consistent press coverage at the line of scrimmage is a highly-coveted skill by NFL general managers and coaches. With wildly varying opinions regarding both Apple’s play this season and NFL readiness, he could easily declare for the draft or return for his junior season. The departure of Ash throws a wild card into the deck as the cornerback’s technique and understanding of the game clearly grew leaps and bounds under his tutelage.

Regardless of his decision, expect him to own the Glendale, Ariz. line of scrimmage on New Year’s Day. 

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