Content deleted Content added
It's 1978. Look up the full rule changes of that decade. |
Added text about the Mel Blount Rule |
||
Line 1:
{{Unreferenced|auto=yes|date=December 2009}}
'''Bump and run coverage''' is a strategy often used by [[defensive back]]s in [[American football]] in which a defensive player lines up directly in front of a [[wide receiver]] and tries to impede him with arms, hands, or entire body and disrupt their 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]]. [[Mel Blount]] of the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] specialized in this coverage to such a point as to cause a rule change (see below) to make it easier for receivers to run their routes and increase scoring.
== Technique ==
This play works well against routes that require the receiver to be in a certain spot at a certain time. The disadvantage, however, is that the receiver can get behind the [[cornerback]] for a big play. 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. 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]]. 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.
== See also ==
| |||