Why Run M2M?

[Johnp2 21]

In our last two games, our offense has simply destroyed M2M defensive teams. I hope no one takes this the wrong way, but I see no reason to run this defense unless 90% of your team can tightly cover the offense and break on the ball when needed.

To attack M2M, all a coach needs to do is send the defense wherever he wants it to go. It's like an orchestra, as the offensive coach just needs to move the defense one way, and hit them in the opposite direction.

Zone is a lot more difficult to coach, but it pays tremendous dividends. The kids will pick it up after a few games, and you build on it from there.

I'm curious to hear from the coaches on here who run M2M, and how it's worked for you. As mentioned, if you have the athletes to do it, it works. However, it can be exploited if you don't have tremendous talent. Thanks!

[rushbuster70 16]

It simply doesnt work unless you have a team full of studs lol...so i dont see any point to it.its funny when i was coaching in a league dominating everyone i saw most teams switch to a 2-1-2 just like us.but since they werent coached properly we still ran the same misdirection and it just killed teams still lol.its all about how its coached.

[TeeDub23 0]

Yeah, M2M is bad. I might run a zone with a man on their best player, but never the entire team. The coach just didnt know any better.

[Orange 26]

I've run into teams loaded with athletes that run man and boy can they shut you down. But more frequently you encounter teams that have weak links and exploiting them is relatively easy. Ideally I like to slip in and out of man/ zone coverage to keep the offense guessing. But it would probably be no more than 10% man because generally I didn't have the horses.

[Coach Rob 26]

If I had a team of higher quality players, I'd definitely consider M2M. Ran into the zone vs. M2M discussion early on in basketball. I ended opting for M2M simply because it teaches the kids good defensive fundamentals. When you do switch to zone it is a lot more effective because they clearly understand how to play good solid defense.

[rickref 2]

M2M works if you have all around atheletic team and speed. If not you get open to get picked apart. Rusher better be amazing also. I have about 4 games coming up with 2 opponenets that run man. I will let you know next week how it turns out.

[KWILSON512 1]

I run zone and then M2M on one or two stud players. Man to man for my team (5-7 year olds) means chaos on any type of misdirection.

[djmrg 0]

We play NYS 7 on 7 with no rushing. I mix it up quite a bit so they can't adopt their offense. When on man to man we float a safety that focuses on reading the QB. In 8-10 year old, the QB almost always telegraphs his pass. Our boys aren't the fastest although we have two or three speed demons, so we do occassionally play a zone. We play 2-3-2, 3-2-2 or 3-3-1 depending on what we think they will do on offense. Keeping the boys in the zone has become easier over the years. We put our two speed demons up front, which shuts down any run. We put our good kids in the middle as that is generally the range of the other team. Our tallest and slowest kids are in the back and their instructions are to close on the play for an interception or to assist in tackling.

On offense we eat up zone defenses by passing with crossing routes where the zone gets confused who is to cover. Additionally we overload a side and do a silent snap to get us unfair odds on receivers and defenders. If they compensate, our RB heads over to the open side as an outlet pass receiver and then uses his speed down the field. Man to man can easily be beat with using your linemen to pick the receivers coverage, leaving them wide open.

We spent a year building our attack, it takes time. Focusing on the basics of passing, catching and blocking lead to success. Good luck out there.

[spider 0]

I coach 6-8 year olds. We recently faced a team which went man and blitzed every play. Initially they started out with a zone. We bombed a long touchdown and they switched to man. They actually contained our passing game a little better. I was able to hit a couple crossing routes. But no big gains. But where we really we're able to capatalize was in the running game. It brings all of their players near the line of scrimmage with virtually no safety help. So once you get a fast kid to the second level he's gone. We hit a reverse, end around and misdirection run for scores. I would much rather call plays vs man coverage.

[YMCA Coach 1]

I coach an 8 on 8 team, ages 10-12. And I just love facing M2M defenses.

My starting QB (my son) isn't the quickest or fastest, he doesn't have the strongest arm, but he's smart and reads defenses quickly. My receivers have learned over the season how to adjust to the defense that's in front of them, and we have a good time with it.

Once I know I'm facing man, I give my receivers 2 or 3 options on the play, 2 routes to run depending on the defense - inside or outside. For example, my slot receiver will either have a deep out or post or short in - all depending on the coverage.

I ran a zone defense for the most part, using man only when a receiver is really burning us - which happened only once this season. I put 3 players "in the box", a corner on each side, with three safeties. The corners set the edge, forcing all runners inside so no one gets to the sidelines. The safeties play deep, communicate constantly (the hardest thing to coach!), and do not chase receivers. If an opposing WR runs a deep cross or post or the like, the safety yells out to the center to cover. I have 4 really good safeties and two safeties who are okay, so we don't get beat deep often.

So - why play man? I suppose if there is that one player who is burning you with moves or speed or whatnot, put someone man-up on him. If not, I don't see a reason.

[IFLY808 0]

I play man but the key is you have to blitz the QB AND contain/sack him. If your rusher gets juked, you will be in a world of hurt cause you can only count on your team covering man for 3-4 secs, after that someones getting open. In practice find your best rusher and use him. After that I teach my team to play man on top as you won't have a safety deep, this also helps with the run as they never turn their back to the play like a bump and run coverage would do. Line them up to the away the quick route as you want the QB to hold to the ball so your rusher can get to him and force the long throw. The hot route is another dangerous play to beat man. Of course you need to read the offense and determine if your talent can match theirs or come reasonably close. Yes a athletic team will beat man, but a athletic team will beat anything if you don't have the horses to match up. Basically I match my talent to theirs regardless of where they are playing. If they have their best kid at center my best kid has him man. Thats my .02

[Thrawn87 1]

I run man to man against teams that spread. But when they bunch up, we typically switch to a 3-2 or a 1-3-1, depending on if the team likes to run or pass. Its always good to have versatility on your defense.