DEFENSIVE BACK SKILLS AND DRILLS Gene Shulman Assistant

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

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

ALIGNMENT VS WING C 6 YDS from LOS Head-on TE C S 9 YDS from LOS over strong side OG 7 YDS 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 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 3 T 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 C D D D YOUNG DB’S

MASS DRILL MOVEMENTS • • Back and up at 45 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 R 2 1 3 = Slant & up QB

GOAL LINE MAN D R D GOAL LINE DB aligns 5 yards 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 & 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 5 yds 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 10 yds apart

SHED TACKLE RB R D C

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