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 elses players can do
Drill the techniques that are used in the
coverages you run-dont simply drill
Use a limited number of drills-you dont
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
DBS two best friends on the field DEPTH
and the SIDELINE

4
2

E
S
C

3T

W
S

1- 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

EXPERIENCED
DBS

YOUNG DBS

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

ANGLE PEDAL

R D
POST-CORNER

PLAYING THE RECIEVER

Both of these drills can be
done with or without a ball

D
R

D
QB

CUTT-OFF DRILL

QB
BUTT-BUTT DRILL

PLAYING THE RECIEVER

D
5 YDS

R
D

10 YDS
5 YDS

QB

SHORT MAN

QB
TERMINAL MAN

ADJUSTMENT DRILL

1 = Radical
2 = Slant

D
R

2
1

3 = Slant & up
QB

GOAL LINE MAN

D
R

GOAL LINE

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
Dont try to defend everything

TACKLING DRILLS
Tackle every day dont 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 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

HALF FIELD 7ON7

S

C
$

$
W

R
R

W
QB QB

RB RB