 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
 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 .
 ALIGNMENT VS PRO

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

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

C
6YDS from LOS
Head-on TE
C
7YDS from WR's body
Outside foot on WR's
S inside foot
9YDS from LOS
over strong side OG
 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.
 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.
 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.
 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
 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
 4
2

E 3T T 1 E
S M W $

C 1- Fire out C
S
2-Pull
3-Downblock
4-Retreat
 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
 Mass drill as much as possible – No one stands
around
 All drills are COD (Change Of Direction)
EXPERIENCED
D D D
DB’S
D D D
D D D
C YOUNG DB’S
D D D
 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
 MULTIPLE BASEBALL TURN

R D
ANGLE PEDAL

R D
POST-CORNER

R D
 Both of these drills can be
done with or without a ball

D R
D

R QB QB
CUTT-OFF DRILL BUTT-BUTT DRILL
 D
5 YDS
R

D 10 YDS
5 YDS

R QB QB
SHORT MAN TERMINAL MAN
 3 1 = Radical
2 = Slant
D 2 3 = Slant & up
1

R QB
 GOAL LINE MAN

D D

R GOAL LINE R

DB aligns 5yards of WR
WR can run fade, slant,
fade-stop
 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

 Tackle every day – don’t have to put ball-
carrier on the ground
 Open Field
 Angle / Angle Cutback
 Sideline
 Shed
RUN - BALANCE - HIT

BC

Set up is 10 yard square

T backpedals 5yds
BC takes 3 steps then breaks
ANGLE RUN - BALANCE - HIT

BC

Set up is 10 yard square

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

At 5 yards BC can cutback or

fake and continue
OPEN FIELD TACKLE

R can't move until catches ball

R R can fake D
D can move as soon as ball goes
Can put R on #'s and D on hash
10yds apart

D
 SHED TACKLE

RB

R C

D
 HALF FIELD 7ON7
S S

C C

$ $
W W
R R
R QB QB R

RB RB