Defensive Backs

Schedule
Week

Skills

Week 1 April 8th

Stance, Start, Backpedal, Breaking, Positions

Week 2 April 15th

Week 3 April 22nd
Week 4 April 29th
Week 5 May 4th, 5th,
& 6th

 Keep it simple!
Fundamentals
Inexperienced players

What is a defensive back?

Defensive backs are the players that cover
the slot backs and wide receivers (the
offensive guys who catch passes)
They are located outside of the defensive
ends and linebackers, as well as behind
them
As a unit, theyre called the secondary
Also called, the last line of defense

STANCE

Stance
It puts us in the best position to be
able to cover the receiver
Stance should be square to L.O.S.
Should be relaxed
Should be comfortable to eliminate
wasted motion and allow us to
maximize our speed to the ball and
the receiver

FEET
Feet positioned approximately shoulder width apart (or
where comfortable)
Staggered stance (Inside foot to QB is up)
Toes forward
Feet should have a heel to toe relationship
Weight should be on the inside ball of the front foot, never
on the heels (75% of weight on the front foot)

Coaching note:
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:
The bend in the ankle should be slight and allow the feet to support
weight evenly.
Knees:
The knees will be a more pronounced bend. Knees bend to a squat
formation. The bend in the knees must keep the DB low. Knee bend
will dictate transition and leg drive.
Waist:
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
Nose over knees over toes
Shoulders parallel with L.O.S.
Body is relaxed

ARMS, BACK, HEAD

Arms should be positioned at 90 degree bend, but
relaxed. Should be ready to play off blockers or level
receivers. Tense arms will restrict mobility.
Elbows tight to body
Back is straight with a slight arch in the upper and
lower regions
Shoulders should be slightly forward but relaxed to
allow for backward arm swing.
Head is up and relaxed with eyes focused on receiver
Don't force the body to coil down into an unnaturally
low stance.
Relaxed, but ready to go

Wrong Stances

BACKPEDAL

Start
Push off front foot and roll off back
foot (jab step)
Stay on your toes, not heels
Pads low
Arms always pumping
Stay low

Backpedal
Our first step is always back
Quick steps
Drive elbows. Arms are used for balance and control. Keep
them tight to your body
Upper body must be relaxed.
Stay on balls of feet
Keep low center of gravity, low pad level (dont bob up &
down)
Lead with butt, not shoulders
Keep your feet underneath you at all times, less than
shoulder width apart
Head should remain motionless
To be fast, strides should not be large and the feet should
be kept low to the ground. Long strides and high lifts lead to
wasted time. Feet should tickle the grass
Deion Sanders ran the 40 yard Dash in 4.7s

DRILLSFORBACKPEDAL
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Backpedal
Tempo(Pickonefortheday)
ChangeSpeeds
Weave
ZoneFlip(180)
ManFlip(180)
SpeedTurns
3StepBreaks

Wave Drill
Swivel Hips (QB
read / Ball read)
Drill
Back peddle &
Break (Forward,
45 angle,
Retreat) Drill
Reaction Drill

XX
XX
C
XX
XX

THRUTHECONES

W Drill (should
see cones in
peripheral vision)
Bump & Run /
Press Drill
Cover and Attack
(shed WR Block
for run support)

X
X
X
X
X

MAYWIDENCONESTOTHE
EDGEOFTHELINES.

DB Drills:
Weave Drill

WR

Breaks
T-plant or bicycle
Choppy feet - Plant, Point & Drive
Drive off your front foot, called the drive foot. Get it
down as fast as you can and pointed in the
direction you want to go. Your plant foot is the foot
opposite from the direction you want to go.
Keep your feet as tight to your body as possible, &
keep them underneath you. Distance between the
feet is wasted time
Stay low, do not stand up. Pad level should remain
low and over your toes.
Explode out of the break
The break can make the difference between an
average DB and a great DB

Transitions

Pad level must remain low

Prep the opposite foot at a 45 degree angle
Throw the near elbow back
Open hips at 180 degrees
Don't cross your feet
Stay low
Snap hips open
Plant foot should come around to where
you want to go

PLAYING THE ROUTES

Curls/Comebacks
D
5 YDS

R
Coming straight back to the route/ball
Faster developing route

Slants
D
5 YDS

R
Coming on a 45 angle towards the
ball/route
Attack the throw
Fast developing route

Outs/Ins
D

R
Moving laterally at a 90 angle
towards the route/ball

Corners/Posts
D

R
Opening up on a 45 angle
backwards towards the route

Flys/Fades/Verticals

D
R
When the DB begins to lose the 5 yard cushion, they
take the outside foot, away from the receiver, and
inverts it inside the instep of the inside foot.
Then, use the elbow to help gain momentum and turn
the inside foot all the way around until the DB is 180
from his regular position.
Once the transition is complete, the DB continues to run

Drag
D
5 YDS

R
Break on a 45 degree angle
Almost like a slant except you have to aim way in
front of the receiver to catch up
Slow developing route

Hitches
D
5 YDS

R
Breakdown and take the proper angle
towards the receiver
Fast developing route

Star Drill
Break on ball:
Choppy feet, watch for WR to
cut
Watch WR's hips and elbows
T-plant or Bicycle break
Don't bob up and down, stay
low
Changing Direction:
Don't cross your feet
Shift your hips, don't open them

Other Drills
W Drill:

Speed Reaction & Backpedal

Drill:
Set-up a long rectangle, with 4
cones
1 man up at a time
DB backpedals until coach tells
them to turn around (180)
Once turned around, DB sprints to
the back cones

COVERAGES

MAN COVERAGE
Eyes are always on the receiver's hips, NEVER
anywhere else (this is because the quarterback
could look you off). The hips tell you when and
where to make your break. Also, you will not buy
any head fakes made by the receiver
We need to maintain a good cushion or
distance between you and the receiver so that
you have time to react to the routes and wont
get beat
Defend your shade
Know where your help is coming from/ if you
have any
Understand where the receiver wants to go. By
recognizing the route, you will be able to get
good position, make a play on the ball, or make

Hips Drill

D
R

DB covers receiver, and

watches their hips
When the receiver chops
his feet, the DB chops
theirs
Shade does not matter
for this drill, just
remember to switch
sides.

ALIGNMENT
In general, the defensive back stands
in a two point ready position at a point
of alignment defined by the type of
coverage called
DBs are usually lined up 5-7 yards
past the LOS
The stance of a defensive back will
vary depending on which side the
quarterback is on

SHADING
A shade is the position a defensive back
takes on a receiver
The shade is determined by the coverage
Shade is also determined by the
quarterbacks position in relation to yours
Shade is also based on if you have a
safety at 12 yards or not
Don't let WR cross your face

INSIDE SHADE
Your inside foot goes up
Your outside shoulder should align with
the receiver's inside shoulder
The goal is to take away the inside routes
and force the receiver to go outside
You must maintain the inside leverage
throughout the route, as shades are all
about leverage
You need to win the route, no exceptions

OUTSIDE SHADE
Your outside foot goes up
Your inside shoulder should align with
the receivers outside shoulder
The goal is to take away the outside
throw and force the receiver inside
You will have safety help in this
coverage

S Drill

MIRROR SOFTEN

DB

WR

Shading:
Nose aligns with WR's
shoulder
Don't let WR cross your
face
WR jogs in an S
pattern

PLAYING THE RECIEVER Verticals

D
QB

Outside Shade

QB

Inside Shade

Positions

Corners are the furthest away from the box

Halves are inside the corners
Safety is 12-15 yards deep over the centre
First 3 Steps Backwards regardless of
coverage

$
C

H
B

HB

BLACK COVERAGE
Inside shade on the receiver
Reason for this is that there is no
safety help in black, this is why it is
even more important that you must
play the receiver and not the ball
If the receiver catches the ball, the
tackle must be made
Last line of defense

RED COVERAGE
You do have safety help in this coverage, but you are
still manned up with your receiver
Just because you have safety help does not mean you
can look at the quarterback
You must maintain outside leverage throughout the
route
Make sure your hand is on the receiver's inside hip
Lock n swat

Corners cover the widest guy, halfbacks take the next

Cover the man not the pass
When ball is in the air still stay on the player
Safety doesnt let anyone behind them

ZONE COVERAGE
We cover a certain types of routes; not players
Routes are designated deep or shallow (high or
low)
Eyes can look at the QB, but know who's
around you
Stud must stay on top of the routes
Never turn your back to the QB in zone
Keep everything in front of you
If nothing is in your zone, find someone to
cover!

BAILING
The technique used to cover the vertical routes quicker
Allows us to see both the receiver and slot so we can determine
which one is running a deep route (past 15 yards)
Avoids complacency by the defensive back and adds to his
arsenal
Great compliment to playing press (natural disguise).
Take pressure off the defensive back vs. the deep route
Cause confusion for the offense.
#1 reason we bail is to give us an advantage before the snap of
the ball
Good change of pace, gives them something to think about
Corners bail in Yellow, halves bail in YELLOW

BAIL START
START

We do a quick backpedal then open up

our hips and get down the field
Use a pivot on the outside foot.
Get out inside the receivers frame and
with a sense of urgency for the first five
yards. Create a cushion.
Get you eyes on your key (QB or WR) and
play coverage accordingly.

Cover 3 Hold (GOLD)

3 guys deep - CBs, FS
We have zones to cover, not specifically 1 player
Corner, Safety has deep route responsibilities
(Deep 1/3 of the field, 8 yards-deepest receiver)
Halfbacks have all shallow routes (LOS-7 yards,
also called the flats)
If a player comes into your designated zone, pick
them up
Zone is kind of like man, but with flexibility
Do not cover grass!

Cover 3 Hold (GOLD) Continued

If both the WR and Slot go deep, the corner splits the routes, finds
the ball
Safety covers between the hashes, looking for posts, seems
Corners dont bail too early (second color of the cadence. Go! Color,
Number, *start to bail* Color, Number, Set, Hut)
If double vertical routes, split the SB and WR (Split the difference)
Head on a swivel (look at the QB, and the player in your zone)
Dont stare down the QB
Deep players: NO ONE BEHIND YOU! KEEP IT ALL IN FRONT OF YOU!
Once you have identified youre the receiver in your zone, get your
hand on their hip
If the play takes longer to develop, and your identified receiver
leaves your zone, let them go
Which ever side the QB rolls out to, thats the side we roll the
coverage

Cover 3 Cut (CRIMSON)

Is just the reversal of GOLD
Still 3 guys deep, except its now the HBs instead of
the corners
$ still has deep middle
Still designated route areas to cover
Halves, and Stud have deep route responsibilities
(Deep 1/3 of the field, 8 yards-deepest receiver)
Corners have all shallow routes (LOS-7 yards)
If a player comes into your zone, pick them up
Once again: Do not cover grass!
Halfbacks dont bail too early
If double vertical routes, split the SB and WR (Split the
difference)

Cover 3 Cloud (BLUE)

Depends on the strength of the field
We will play GOLD on the Strong side, and
CRIMSON on the weak side
On the strong side, Corners have deep route
responsibility, and Halves have shallow route
responsibility
On the weak side, Corners have shallow
route responsibility, while Halves have deep
route responsibility
Nothing changes for Stud, still deep middle

Cover 4 (GREY)
Weak corner and weak half take deep
responsibility for one half of the field
Stud and Strong corner take deep
responsibility for the other half
Will LB plays the shallow routes
Mac replaces Wills hook/curl zone
This is a coverage designed for long passing
downs, or for preventing the offense from
making up a lot of yardage in a short amount
of time at the end of the game

Cover 2 (WHITE)
When we run this coverage, there will be no safety
in the middle of the field (cover 2 = 2 deep players)
The corners will have deep responsibilities, while
the halves will have shallow
This coverage means that the Stud is playing with
the linebackers in the box, or blitzing
Corners split the field in half, but have much more
ground to cover
This coverage is useful to help get an extra player
in the box, but at the same time keeps us in solid
zone coverage

DB Drills:
QB Indicator

WR

WR
QB

1st Trips Adjustment in GOLD,

CRIMSON & BLUE (GATOR)
HB away from trips stays and lines up 5x5
away from the offensive tackle
HB reads tackle for run. If its a pass, he bails
to the middle of the field
CB & HB to trips side carry out their
assignments for the desired play
$ shades #3 receiver, has deep middle
LB away from trips has 1st back out
CB opposite of trips is manned up with
backside WR

2nd Trips Adjustment in GOLD,

CRIMSON & BLUE (TIGER)
HB away from trips motions to trips side and
takes an outside shade of the #3 receiver
HB then has deep middle to trips side
CB & HB to trips side carry out their
assignments for the desired play
$ stays centre field, helps backside of trips
LB away from trips has 1st back out
CB opposite of trips is manned up with
backside WR

3X2 Adjustment in GOLD, CRIMSON

& BLUE (RAIDER)
HB away from trips stays and lines up
over slot
On the trips side, DBs play GOLD (Hold)
Trips side LB widens over the #3
receiver, reads #3 & soft walls
On the backside of trips, DBs play
CRIMSON (Cut)
Remaining LBs use a gap-gap technique

QUADS Adjustment in GOLD,

CRIMSON & BLUE (TEXAS)
HB away from Quads moves over to
quads side, and takes an outside shade
of #3 receiver
LB to Quads side takes an inside shade
of #4 receiver
$ shades offensive tackle away from
quads to prevent backside fade
CB opposite of trips is manned up with
backside WR

Playing the ball

Catch the ball at the highest point

Look it in (Diamond or Triangle)
If you cant catch it, knock it down
Swat n lock

Closing Drill

WR starts a few yards ahead of DB

Coach throws ball to the second cone
WR jogs to the second cone
DBs Job is to close the gap and
make a play on the ball
Coaching Tips:
Do not want the DB to look at the
ball, eyes on WR
DB needs to keep running to WR
(watch contact), then turn heard
around when you hear a BALL call
Knock down or intercept ball
Run through as you find the ball
(keep feet moving)

*Drill can be modified for different routes

PLAYING THE RUN

 A DBs primary responsibility is the

pass, but we are still required to come
up on a run play and make a tackle
We need to listen for a run or pass call,
because if were in man coverage, we
wont be looking in the backfield
Playing the run is always about winning
1-on-1 battles
You will be competing against the
receiver across from you

Engaging the Blocker

When you hear the Run call, attack your
blocker
Quickness is the key in shedding a block
To engage, get your hands underneath his
shoulder pads and jack him up
In doing so, you will be in prime position to
control the receiver
If the blocker gets his hands out faster, you
have to be able to fight his hands away

Shedding the Block

It starts with your footwork
If you are intending to go around the left side of your
blocker, you need to step forward with your left foot
While doing this, bring your left arm towards the
shoulder of the blocker and club him
Next, bring your opposite foot and your opposite arm
across their body, and underneath their armpit
This is called the club and rip technique
After you have defeated the block, you need to come
out low, so that you can be in a good position to
make the tackle

Other Notes
We always want to fight around the
outside of the blocker, because we
want to force the play to the inside of
us
Reason for this is because if most
running backs hit the sidelines,
theyre gone
You have to attack the blocker, if you
keep back pedaling you will be taken
out of the play

Playing the run

Reaction Against Run:

Tosses, Cracks
Shedding blocks (Rip)
Taking the proper angle
Forcing the ball carrier inside
Getting low when tackling
Defeating the block
1 on 1s

Important things to consider

Deny big plays
No mental errors
Keep the ball in front of us when
possible
Block Destruction
Good Tackling
Takeaways

Extra slides to consider

Practice Plan ABCs

A = Agility Footwork, COD
B = Block Destruction
C = Contact - Tackling
1.
2.
3.
4.

Fundamental Footwork Drills

Tackling Drills
Scheme oriented drills
Ball Drills

FIVE QUALITIES OF A GOOD

DEFENSIVE BACK
1. The number one pre-requisite of any defensive back is speed.
2. Secondly, he must have the ability to react. The ability to react
involves quickness. Quickness refers to the ability to move the
hands and feet in a limited area and is equally important as
speed. Quick hands and feet, good peripheral vision, timing,
and body control are reaction qualities that are necessary for
the defensive back.
3. A good defensive back must have confidence in himself and
proper confidence can only be built through successful
experiences.
4. Defensive backs must be physically and mentally tough. Many
times DBs are put in situations where they are at a size
disadvantage, there is no room for someone meek or timid
when they are the last line of defense.
5. A good defensive back must have a short memory. Everyone
will get beat at some point, the difference between a good DB
and a bad DB is how they choose to react. The most important
play is the next one.

AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT FOR HS

DBs
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Transition Out of Backpedal

Run/Pass Recognition
Pursuit Angles
Understanding Leverage and Cushion
Ball Skills

COACHING PHILOSOPHY
1) You Must Be A Good Teacher.

Your players get better and respond if you are a good teacher and
you dont just yell.
2) Pay Attention To Details, Stress The Little Things.
Always check alignments and make sure guys are reading their
keys. Dont let the players take things for granted.
3) Be Demanding.
You can be demanding and the players will accept it if you are
doing a good job of teaching. If you are demanding but not
showing the kids how to do things they will shut it down.
4) Stay Positive.
We all go through tough times during a season. You must stay up from
week to week and stay positive with the players and other
coaches.
5) Be Honest With The Players.
Tell them what they need to hear, not what they want to hear.
6) You Must Have A Passion To Coach.
You must want to coach. You must constantly want to make yourself
better and to gain more knowledge.
7) Be Consistent.
Regardless of how good or bad things get, you must remain consistent
with your coaching.