DEFENSIVE BACK SKILLS
AND DRILLS
Gene Shulman - Assistant Coach
Shawnee High School
609-654-7544
eushulman@lrhsd.org
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
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 .
ALIGNMENT VS PRO
C
7YDS from WR's body
Outside foot on WR's
inside foot
C
S
9YDS from LOS
over strong side OG
7YDS from WR's body
Outside foot on WR's
inside foot
ALIGNMENT VS TWINS
C
6YDS from LOS
Head-on TE
C
S
9YDS from LOS
over strong side OG
7YDS from WR's body
Outside foot on WR's
inside foot
ALIGNMENT VS WING
C
6YDS from LOS
Head-on TE
C
S
9YDS from LOS
over strong side OG
7YDS from WR's body
Outside foot on WR's
inside foot
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.
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.
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.
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
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
4
2
E
S
C
3T
M
T
1
E
W
S
$
1- Fire out
2-Pull
3-Downblock
4-Retreat
C
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
AGILITY DRILLS (FEET & HIPS)
• Mass drill as much as possible – No one
stands around
• All drills are COD (Change Of Direction)
MASS DRILL SET-UP
EXPERIENCED
DB’S
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
C
YOUNG DB’S
D
D
D
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
MOVEMENT-BUDDY DRILLS
MULTIPLE BASEBALL TURN
R
D
ANGLE PEDAL
R D
POST-CORNER
R
D
PLAYING THE RECIEVER
Both of these drills can be
done with or without a ball
D
R
D
QB
CUTT-OFF DRILL
R
QB
BUTT-BUTT DRILL
PLAYING THE RECIEVER
D
5 YDS
R
D
10 YDS
5 YDS
R
QB
SHORT MAN
QB
TERMINAL MAN
ADJUSTMENT DRILL
3
1 = Radical
2 = Slant
D
2
3 = Slant & up
1
R
QB
GOAL LINE MAN
D
R
D
GOAL LINE
DB aligns 5yards of WR
WR can run fade, slant,
fade-stop
R
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
TACKLING DRILLS
• Tackle every day – don’t have to put
ball-carrier on the ground
• Open Field
• Angle / Angle Cutback
• Sideline
• Shed
RUN - BALANCE - HIT
BC
T
Set up is 10 yard square
T backpedals 5yds
BC takes 3 steps then breaks
ANGLE RUN - BALANCE - HIT
BC
T
Set up is 10 yard square
At 5 yards BC can cutback or
fake and continue
ANGLE TACKLE / ANGLE
TACKLE CUTBACK
BC
T
At 5 yards BC can cutback or
fake and continue
OPEN FIELD TACKLE
C
R
D
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
SHED TACKLE
RB
R
D
C
HALF FIELD 7ON7
S
S
C
C
$
$
W
R
R
W
QB QB
RB RB
R
R