Defensive Back
Basics
Troy Gunderson
Defensive Backs Coach
Thunderhawks Football
Defensive Back Philosophy
A Grand Rapids Thunderhawk defensive secondary will operate on the principles of speed and aggression, using
superb technique and tackling fundamentals, while playing with a mindset to create turnovers. In defensive
football, there is no substitute for a close knit, smart, aggressive secondary that understands its mission. Our
mission is as follows:
• We will be an excellent run support unit, as well as a excellent pass defense unit.
• We will create turnovers by being alert and offensive-minded, intercepting the ball, knocking the ball loose and
recovering fumbles.
• We will play both zone and man coverage equally well.
• We will read our pre-snap keys and determine, by the movement and actions of our opponent, what to do and
where to go based upon the alignment, defense called, and coverage used.
Essential Skills for Thunderhawk Defensive Backs
~ Proper Stance
~ Tackling
~ Coverages
~ Footwork
~ Ball Defense
Proper Stance
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Inside foot back; both feet are perpendicular to the LOS.
Feet are slightly less than shoulder width apart.
75% of weight on the front foot.
Ankles, knees, and hips are flexed; “Z” in the knees.
Back flat, eyes up, nose over your toes.
Arms are flexed at a 90 degree bend.
Footwork: The Backpedal
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Keep your feet underneath you at all times.
Short, quick steps.
Feet should remain less than shoulder width apart.
Arms remain bent at 90 degrees.
Pump arms ~ Do not throw arms back.
Body should remain relaxed.
Eyes up; head should remain motion less.
Weave with the receiver’s release, keeping your
shoulders square to the LOS.
Form Backpedal
Backpedal Drills
From a good stance, push off the front foot and
backpedal 10 yards. Keep nose over toes, body
low, feet close to the ground, and pump arms.
M Drill
Form backpedal 5 yards and break at a 45 degree
angle to the first cone. Repeat to all 5 cones. Stay
low, pump arms, nose over toes.
Weave Drill
Backpedal and Break
Form backpedal at an angle,
keeping shoulders parallel to
LOS, turning only hips at the
cone. Stay low, pump arms,
nose over toes.
C
Facing the coach, form
backpedal. When the
coach raises the ball
and turns his shoulders,
break forward at a 45
degree angle in that
direction. Make a play
on the ball if thrown.
Tackling
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Come to balance (widen your base, sink your hips, bend your knees)
Holster hands (arms cocked at the hips, club up and through the ball carrier)
Shimmey feet (close the distance to the ball carrier, shimmey feet = short quick steps)
Club and wrap-up (eyes up, lead with chin and chest, upper cut arms, wrap up & grab cloth)
Run your feet and close your hips (move the ball carrier north and south, attack the hips)
Tackling Drills
Angle Tackle
DB
DB should get helmet
across RB’s body to
outside shoulder. Drive
back upfield.
Simulates the DB
making a tackle from
an inside position to
the outside. Keep
shoulders square to
LOS.
Key: Get helmet
across RB’s body to
outside shoulder.
RB
RB
Shed Tackle
RB
DB sheds block by
ripping inside arm through
the blocker. RB doesn’t
start until DB sheds
block. Aim for outside
shoulder.
DB
Inside-Out Tackle
BL
DB
Simulates a DB making
a tackle from an outside
position.
Key: Get helmet to
outside shoulder of RB
to force him inside; play
force and contain RB.
RB
Outside-In Tackle
DB
Ball Defense
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Be in good position vs. WR: Inside hip and trail.
As little space separating the DB and WR as possible.
Once the ball is in the air, play the ball and not the man.
Attack the football at its highest point. Win the jump ball!
After an interception yell “oskie” to alert teammates.
Pass Defense Drills
Stretch and Break
Develops
response to
having 2 WR in
same zone. DB
backpedals and
breaks on ball
depending
which way QB
turns shoulder.
DB
WR
Teaches closing
the cushion on the
post route. DB
stays in backpedal
until WR breaks or
the ball is thrown.
Close on WR.
Don’t anticipate the
throw.
DB
C
WR
WR
C
Post and Break
Backpedal, Shuffle, Break
Turn & Chase
Turn both feet at a
45 degree angle to
the inside and go
into a shuffle. The
shuffle gets knees
turned in order to
run with WR. Break
on the ball once in
the air.
C
DB
C
WR
DB
DB & WR line up next
to each other, facing
opposite directions.
On command DB
turns quickly and
chases WR, staying
on inside hip. Make
play on ball using
inside hand, keeping
outside hand near or
on WR in order to
make a tackle.
Zone Coverages
Cover 3
Deep 1/3
Deep 1/3
Deep 1/3
FS
Hook-Curl
C
Hook-Curl
C
Flats
Flats
Q
W
E
M
T
SS
T
E
Cover 2
Deep 1/2
Deep 1/2
Deep
Middle
FS
SS
Flats-Outs
Flats-Outs
C
Hook-Curl
Hook-Curl
Q
W
E
T
M
T
E
C
Cover 1
FS
In cover 1 (and man-to-man)
divide the field in half and
number the receivers from the
sideline to the center.
Corners= #1
Q/SS= #2
W/M= #3 (depending which is
blitzing)
FS= is free and plays zone/deep
middle
C
C
Q
W
M
E
T
X
(1)
T
G
SS
T
C
G
E
T
TE
(1)
QB
Z
(2)
HB
(3)
FB
(2)
Cover 1
FS
C
C
Q
W
E
T
Z
(1)
H
(2)
M
T
G
SS
T
C
QB
HB
(3)
G
E
T
TE
(2)
X
(1)
In cover 1 (and man-to-man)
divide the field in half and
number the receivers from the
sideline to the center.
Corners= #1
Q/SS= #2
W/M= #3 (depending which is
blitzing)
FS= is free and plays zone/deep
middle
Press and Off Coverage Technique
Running
Backs
Drill Sheet
•Have it at practice with you
•Great when you need to fill a bit
of time
•Keeps you from having wasted
time during Indy periods
•Helps with development of
practice plan
Footwork: Dive
•Playside Step
•Run through
Footwork: Open (Off Tackle)
•Playside step at an
angle
•Run through off
tackle
Footwork: Crossover (Outside)
•Playside crossover
step
•Run flat
•Cut upfield
Footwork: Counter/Trap
•Backside
crossover step
•Plant step
•Angle back
playside to hole
Drills: Technique
•Jump & Accelerate
•Sprint, Plant & Cut
•Read & Cut
•Star
•Jump & Cut
•Step & Plant
•Off Tackle & Up
•Sideline Extra Yard
•Handoff, Hit & Spin
•Lead Read
•Cut the Weak Arm
•Skip Cut to Outside
•Stiff Arm
•Short Yardage
Technique: Jump & Accelerate
•Step over
•Twist hips to
crossover laterally
•Emphasize control
& staying low
•Run through
Technique: Read & Cut
•Run straight at bag
•Run straight at bag
•Bag left, cut right
•Bag right, cut left
•Run through
•Run through
Technique: Jump & Cut
•Run straight at bag
•Emphasize hard
cuts & good hip
movement
•Run through
Technique:
Technique:
Off Tackle & Up
•Run off tackle &
cut upfield
•Run off tackle &
cut upfield
•Bag left, cut right
•Bag right, cut left
•Run through
•Playside Step
•Run through
•Run through
Technique: Handoff, Hit & Spin
•Run straight at bag
•Take handoff
•Drop shoulder into
bag (right shoulder
if spinning back
right, etc)
•Run through
Technique: Cut the Weak Arm
•Angle towards sideline
•Plant & cut hard inside,
changing ball to other
hand
•Swat the defender’s
inside (weak arm)
•Cut back upfield & run
through
Technique:
Technique:
Stiff Arm
•Run straight at bag
•Run straight at bag
•Bag left, cut right &
jam defender’s
shoulder with stiff
•Playside Step
arm
•Bag right, cut left &
jam defender’s
shoulder with stiff
arm
•Run through
•Run through
•Run through
Technique: Sprint, Plant & Cut
•Run hard at cone
•Plant & trade ball to outside hand
•Repeat at each cone
•Run through
Technique: Star Drill
•Player places left
hand in centre of
bags
•Ball in right hand
•Run through bags
counter-clockwise
•Repeat other
direction
Technique: Step & Plant
•Hip movement while running through bags
•Emphasize control & staying low through bags
•Start slow & progress faster
•Run through