Playing man-to-man defense involves each defender covering a specific offensive player, focusing on shutting down their assigned opponent regardless of their route. It requires tight coverage, quick reactions, and the ability to stay with the receiver.

Man-to-man coverage (also shortened to man coverage) in football is a defensive coverage strategy where defensive players are assigned to defend against individual offensive players. Typical man coverage assignments might see defensive backs paired against the wide receivers, while the linebackers are matched against tight ends and running backs.

Man coverage, or man-to-man coverage, is a style of defense that is common in football. A defensive player is lined up to guard each receiver, tight end, and running back in man-to-man coverage.

Man to man coverage consists of matching defenders with specific receivers and following them around the field throughout the play. Zone coverage assigns portions of the field to each defender. Each defender is then responsible for stopping any passes from being completed in their area.

Man coverage is exactly as it sounds; the person in front of you is the player you will guard for the duration of the play, and depending on the number of pass rushers, you can have or not have any help. In zone coverage, you are defending an area of the field, and you will eventually be matched up with someone in a man style of coverage.