DEFENSIVE BACK SKILLS AND DRILLS

1. DEFENSIVE BACK SKILLS AND DRILLS Gene Shulman - Assistant Coach Shawnee High School 609-654-7544 eushulman@lrhsd.org

2. PHILOSOPHY • Do what your players can do-not what someone else’s players can do • Drill the techniques that are used in the coverages you run-don’t simply drill • Use a limited number of drills-you don’t need 101 drills • Give your players “diagnostic tools”-a specific read and a specific response

3. DEFENSIVE BACK FUNDAMENTALS • ALIGNMENT: Vertical and horizontal position on receiver is critical • STANCE: Every DB must have a comfortable stance that will eliminate wasted motion and allow him to maximize his speed to the ball and the receiver .

4. ALIGNMENT VS PRO C 7YDS from WR's body Outside foot on WR's inside foot C 7YDS from WR's body Outside foot on WR's inside foot S 9YDS from LOS over strong side OG

5. ALIGNMENT VS TWINS C 6YDS from LOS Head-on TE C 7YDS from WR's body Outside foot on WR's inside foot S 9YDS from LOS over strong side OG

6. ALIGNMENT VS WING C 6YDS from LOS Head-on TE C 7YDS from WR's body Outside foot on WR's inside foot S 9YDS from LOS over strong side OG

7. FEET • Should be set under the armpits or narrower. • DB can stagger feet to where he is comfortable. • The outside foot is up. Feet can be on the ground and weight is evenly distributed. • Putting more weight on the ball of ball of the outside foot may eliminate (false steps). If DB has a more pronounced stagger, keep his front foot flat on the ground and back foot with his heel off the ground. Be comfortable.

8. BODY • There should be three bends: Ankles, Knees and Waist. • The bend in the ankle should be slight and allow the feet to support weight evenly. The knees will be a more pronounced bend. • The bend in the knees must keep the DB low. Knee bend will dictate transition and leg drive. • The waist should be bent so as to keep the torso at a 45-degree angle. Too little waist bend will result in weight transferring back on the heels. Too much bend will lock the hips when in transition.

9. ARMS – HEAD - BACK • Arms should be relaxed and ready to play off blockers or level receivers. Tense arms will restrict mobility. • Head is up and relaxed with eyes on key. • Back is straight and shoulders should be slightly forward but relaxed to allow for backward arm swing.

10. BACKWARD MOVEMENT • Every DB must make a smooth transition from a stationary position to acceleration while retreating. • Areas to focus on: • Walk / shuffle • Pedal • Transition • Turn and run

11. RUN – PASS KEY • DB takes three slow, short read steps or shuffles while reading Run-Pass key • Run-Pass key is uncovered offensive lineman (lineman who has LB over him) • Lineman fires out with low hat = run • Lineman does anything else (pull, down block, fan block, retreat) = play pass, react late to run • WHEN IN DOUBT, PLAY PASS FIRST • DB’S two best friends on the field – DEPTH and the SIDELINE

12. 4 2 E T T E 1 3 $ M S W C 1- Fire out 2-Pull 3-Downblock 4-Retreat C S

13. FOOT AND HIP DRILLS • Do Foot/Hip drills in mass • Better players in back lines • No one stands around – young players will pick things up as they go • Coach stands to side so that he can see all players

14. AGILITY DRILLS (FEET & HIPS) • Mass drill as much as possible – No one stands around • All drills are COD (Change Of Direction)

15. MASS DRILL SET-UP D D D EXPERIENCED DB’S D D D D D D C YOUNG DB’S D D D

16. MASS DRILL MOVEMENTS • Back and up • Back and up at 45 • Back-turn and run- up • Back-turn and run- up across body • Down the line • Weave • Baseball turn

17. MOVEMENT-BUDDY DRILLS MULTIPLE BASEBALL TURN R D ANGLE PEDAL R D POST-CORNER R D

18. PLAYING THE RECIEVER Both of these drills can be done with or without a ball D R D R QB QB CUTT-OFF DRILL BUTT-BUTT DRILL

19. PLAYING THE RECIEVER D 5 YDS R D 10 YDS 5 YDS R QB QB SHORT MAN TERMINAL MAN

20. ADJUSTMENT DRILL 3 1 = Radical 2 = Slant 3 = Slant & up D 2 1 R QB

21. GOAL LINE MAN D D GOAL LINE R R DB aligns 5yards of WR WR can run fade, slant, fade-stop

22. ONE-ON-ONE • One-on-one with WR running one set of patterns • Hitch – Bench – Fade • Out – Out & up – Out & up & stop • Post – Dig – Post / flag Don’t try to defend everything

23. TACKLING DRILLS • Tackle every day – don’t have to put ball-carrier on the ground • Open Field • Angle / Angle Cutback • Sideline • Shed

24. RUN - BALANCE - HIT BC T Set up is 10 yard square T backpedals 5yds BC takes 3 steps then breaks

25. ANGLE RUN - BALANCE - HIT BC T Set up is 10 yard square At 5 yards BC can cutback or fake and continue

26. ANGLE TACKLE / ANGLE TACKLE CUTBACK BC T At 5 yards BC can cutback or fake and continue

27. OPEN FIELD TACKLE C R can't move until catches ball R can fake D D can move as soon as ball goes Can put R on #'s and D on hash 10yds apart R D

28. SHED TACKLE RB C R D

29. HALF FIELD 7ON7 S S C C $ $ W W R R QB QB R R RB RB