Bump and run coverage: Difference between revisions

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'''Bump and run coverage''' is a strategy formerly widely used by [[defensive back]]s in [[NFL|American professional football]] in which a defender lined up directly in front of a [[wide receiver]] and tried to impede him with arms, hands, or entire body and disrupt his intended route. This originated in the [[American Football League]] in the 1960s, one of whose earliest experts was [[Willie Brown (American football)|Willie Brown]] of the [[Oakland Raiders]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=STRAUB |first=LUKE |date=2018-01-09 |title=Raiders’ legend Willie Brown recalls glory days |url=https://www.petaluma360.com/article/sports/raiders-legend-willie-brown-recalls-glory-days/ |access-date=2024-11-27 |website=Petaluma Argus-Courier |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-10-22 |title=Hall of Fame cornerback Willie Brown dies at age 78 |url=https://apnews.com/article/c7f5fcdc45124731b8d9d8296a0ba1f8 |access-date=2024-11-27 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref> [[Mel Blount]] of the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] specialized in this coverage to such a point as to cause numerous rule changes (see below) strictly limiting when and where a defender may make contact with a potential receiver in order to make it easier for receivers to run their routes and increase scoring.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Mel Blount, NFL 100 |url=https://www.nfl.com/100/originals/100-greatest/game-changers-46 |access-date=2024-11-27 |website=NFL.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

In contrast, under [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] rules, contact is allowed anywhere on the field as long as contact is in front of the defender and a pass is not in the air.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kirshner |first=Alex |date=2018-08-30 |title=College pass interference rules are better for DBs than the NFL’s |url=https://www.sbnation.com/2018/8/30/17488358/ncaa-pass-interference-rule-nfl-differences |access-date=2024-11-27 |website=SBNation.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2018-07-30 |title=Understanding The 5 Yard Illegal Contact Rule In The NFL - vIQtory Sports |url=https://www.viqtorysports.com/understanding-5-yard-contact-rule/ |access-date=2024-11-27 |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Technique ==

This play works well against routes that require the receiver to be in a certain spot at a certain time.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hatman |first=Dan |date=2017-02-15 |title=ITP Glossary: Bump And Run Technique {{!}} The Scouting Academy |url=https://scoutingacademy.com/itp-glossary-bump-run-technique/ |access-date=2024-11-28 |language=en-US}}</ref> The disadvantage, however, is that the receiver can shed contact and get behind the [[cornerback]] for a big play.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nguyen |first=Ted |title=Explaining the four coverage categories: Man, zone, zone match and man match |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2275485/2020/12/22/defense-coverages-types-man-zone/ |access-date=2024-11-28 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> This varies from the more traditional defensive formation in which a defensive player will give the receiver a "cushion" of about 5 yards to prevent the receiver from getting behind him.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Top Defensive Back Drills For Practice |url=https://www.glazierclinics.com/football-coach-resources/defensive-back-drills?hs_amp=true |access-date=2024-11-28 |website=www.glazierclinics.com}}</ref> In the [[National Football League|NFL]], a defensive back is allowed any sort of contact within the 5 yard bump zone except for holding the receiver, otherwise the defensive back can be called for an illegal contact [[Penalty (American football)|penalty]], costing 5 yards and an automatic first down, enforced since 1978, and known colloquially as the [[Mel Blount Rule]].<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" />

== See also ==