What's the difference between zone defense and man-on-man coverage?

What's the difference between zone defense and man-on-man coverage?

Darrin Chiaverini (Football Coach and Professional Athlete) gives expert video advice on: What are the different defensive formations?; What is a '3-4' defense?; What is a '4-3' defense? and more...

Zone defense is basically you control a zone. If you have cover too, the few safeties control the two halves of the field, and then the corners play the flags. If it is cover three then they have a third of the field. This corner has this third. The safety has that third. And that corner has the third. Man defense is basically exactly what it says. It is man defense. You cover the guy that you are on right now, so the corner will have the receiver on this side. The left corner will have the receiver on this side. The safeties will play the tight ends and the other safety will play the slot guy. So it just depends on how your personality is on defense whether you want to play zone or man.