Playing zone coverage is much different than man-to-man. In man-coverage, you're concerned with covering one receiver potentially all over the field through the entire play. You focus on the receiver, recognize the pass pattern he's running, and react properly to that pattern. By watching the receiver, he tells you where to go. Your only chance to look for the ball is when you're in position to see the receiver and the ball at the same time during your coverage.
Playing zone requires you change your way of thinking and understand that your priorities must change as well. The main differences you'll discover when switching to zone coverage is that:
1. On the snap of the ball you'll move to a predetermined area of the field
2. Your focus will be on the QB, not necessarily a receiver
3. The direction the ball is thrown will tell you where to go, not the receiver's pattern
This doesn't mean you should discard all you know about man-to-man coverage to play zone - far from it! You can backpedal into your zone or angle-backpedal if necessary to stay in the proper position on the field. Once the ball leaves the QB's hand, you should implement your rollover to leave the backpedal. There are no new physical techniques for you here, just knowing where you have to cover and that your focus will shift more to the QB than the receiver.
More to come!
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