DEFENSIVE BACK SKILLS AND DRILLS Gene Shulman - Assistant Coach Shawnee High School

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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 DDD DD D DDD DD D C EXPERIENCED DB’S YOUNG DB’S

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 DR MULTIPLE BASEBALL TURN D R ANGLE PEDAL D R POST-CORNER

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

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

D RQB = Radical 2 = Slant 3 = Slant & up ADJUSTMENT DRILL

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

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

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

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

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

R D 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 OPEN FIELD TACKLE

R D C SHED TACKLE RB

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