Zone defense in gridiron football

Zone coverage is a gridiron football pass coverage scheme in which defenders are responsible for covering specified areas (zones) of the field rather than following individual receivers. In typical zone coverages, linebackers and defensive backs divide the field into underneath and deep zones, attempting to limit passing lanes, keep receivers in front of the defense, and rally to tackle after completions. Zone coverage is commonly contrasted with man-to-man defense, where each defender is assigned an eligible receiver.