NFL 101: Introducing the Basics of Prevent Defenses

June 20, 2015   ·   Matt Bowen   ·   Jump to comments

In this installment of Bleacher Report's "NFL 101" series, former NFL defensive back Matt Bowen breaks down schemes and execution for prevent defenses at the pro level.
Click here for the previous version of NFL 101, which broke down the Two-Point Playbook.
 
"Deep as the deepest."
That's the old NFL saying when it comes to protecting over the top and showing a "prevent" shell to defend a lead late in the fourth quarter or to close out the half. Put a tent on the secondary, guard the boundary and force the ball underneath.
The idea here is simple: Keep the ball in play, tackle and watch the seconds tick down on the clock. Think of safeties gaining depth, cornerbacks sinking hard at the snap and underneath defenders dropping—with speed—to close down the seam.
However, this isn't a free pass to give up the middle of the field or allow an underneath throw to pick up a major chunk of yardage. That's little league stuff, with defenders droppin...

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