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AFM Magazine


Being in the Right Place at the Right Time

Defensive backfield positioning, alignment and int\'s
Cornerbacks Coach, Western Michigan University
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There are several key points that can be helpful in developing your Defensive Backs. Many coaches have used these ideas and techniques over the years. It is my hope that you will gain something that will help you in some way

1. Stance - Specific Points for Stance:
• Head and eyes should be up
• Outside foot up with a heel/toe relationship on the inside foot
• Knees bent with flexion in the ankles
• Chest high with chin over the knees
• Body should be in what we call a ‘Striking Angle-Z’
• Elbows should be bent, tight against the body, with hands in a
combat position
• Movements for defensive backs are smooth and controlled at times.
At other times, the DB is required to exhibit efficient, explosive movements. Attention to these points will help develop these essential DB movements.

Bump Alignment - Feet should be parallel. The feet should be no more than shoulder width apart. Knees should be bent with hands above the knees at a ready position. The chin should be over the knees. The feeling should be much like sitting in a chair. Be alert to maintain a narrow base. This narrow base allows for better movement.

Normal (Off) Alignment - Feet should be shoulder width apart. Inside foot should be placed on the heel of the outside foot with the hips slightly pointed toward the sideline. Knees should be bent with hands above the knees at a ready position. The chin should be over the knees. The feeling should be like sitting in a chair. Be alert to maintain a narrow base. Head should be turned inside for vision on the QB for three-step read purposes. The DB must have BIG vision. See the QB and feel the WR in the first three steps.

2. Alignment/Position
Bump Alignment - I feel it is best to bump from the inside position to take away the shorter throws by body positioning. The DB should allow the receiver’s inside leg (leg closest to the QB) to split his crotch. When using the Outside Bump Technique, the DB should align on the receiver’s outside leg. Hands should be up near the DB’s chest area. It is crucial that the DB crowds the line of scrimmage. The DB should be no more than two yards from the offensive receiver. He is attempting to align as close as he can without being offside.

Normal Alignment - It is essential to understand that you can align in either inside or outside position. Inside position tells you that the DB will shade the inside shoulder of the receiver. Outside position says that he will shade the receiver’s outside shoulder. Normally, if you have no free safety help, it is better to align with inside positioning. This alignment puts the DB in better position on the quick inside routes by the receiver. There are cases where you can alter this alignment to confuse the offense (for example, have the DB start outside and move inside on the snap of the ball). The DB will align from six to seven yards away from the receiver...not the line of scrimmage. His hips will angle toward the sideline so that he can see the Formation/QB and his coverage responsibility/receiver. The DB will angle his hips the same way for both inside and outside positions.
Coverage is strong against inside routes when the DB aligns inside. Coverage is also strongest against outside routes when we align in outside position.

3. Backpedal

The most important point of the backpedal is to be ready to play before the snap of the ball. The DB must get into position, too, for his coverage so that when the ball is snapped he has already read the QB for route levels.

Inside foot should be placed on the heel of the outside foot. Toes should be slightly turned inward. The DB should be slightly on his toes. Eyes should be focused on the receiver’s inside belt loop. On his movement, the DB should lift his inside foot and step back while pushing his body backward with his outside foot. This gives the DB the ability to run in reverse. Which, simply stated, is what backpedaling is. This movement should be done at slower paces at first until it is well coordinated. Some players will have quick choppy steps and others with have a slower paced backpedal. Neither one is better than the other is. What is important is the amount of distance covered in the shortest time. It is important to realize that this movement requires the DB to keep his chin over his knees, his butt out and his shoulders square. He must have a slight lean forward. The DB must maintain a low center of gravity.
Coaching Point: If the DB feels himself starting to fall backwards in his pedal it maybe because he is too high. Bend the knees more. Make sure the chin is over the knees. Pay close attention to the movement of the arms... Just as in forward running the arms help us to increase locomotion in the backpedal.

4. Drive
Drive is the transition from backpedal to forward motion. It is crucial for the DB to accomplish this movement in the most efficient manner possible. It must be understood that the offensive players know the routes. The success of the defensive back is dependent on his ability to react to these routes as quickly as possible. Careful film study of your opponent will enable the DB learn his movements, therefore allowing the DB to gain an advantage on him because he will react more quickly to his routes. When driving on an outside route the defender will plant on his inside foot, point outside foot toward the intercept point and explode to this point. The opposite is true when driving on inside routes, plant on outside foot, point with inside foot and drive to intercept point. It should be noted that the DB should not look back at the QB until he has reached the Intercept Point. Coaching Point: Many DB’s make the mistake of dividing the feet in the transition from backpedal to forward running. The importance of keeping the body tight with feet under the body should be stressed when teaching this movement.

5. Interception Point

The DB must be sure to break to the point where the ball and the receiver will meet. This point is called the Intercept Point. He must be sure not to overrun the ball. He must also make sure that he does not break behind the ball also. In his drive to the ball the Defensive Back must be sure to close to the point at the proper angle. Never make rounded breaks and drives. The ball should always be caught at the highest point. Defensive Backs must be adept at judging angles so that they are able to meet the ball at the highest point before the opponent is able to retrieve it. Remember that if the DB gets to the interception point and is not able to secure the ball, he must secure the tackle.

The standard that DB’s are measured by is the Interception. “Pick” is the common term used by today’s secondary. Many people feel that the defensive backs’ number one job is to stop the long pass and to make sure tackles on long runs. These are both true to a certain extent. The most important job of any defensive player is to get the ball back for the offense as quickly as possible. Defensive backs have the best chance to cause turnovers because when the QB releases the ball on a pass it belongs to no one. Great Defensive Backs have the mindset that the ball belongs to them. The good ones feel they have just as much right to the ball as the receiver does.

6. Coaching Points for Defensive Backs

• Know your assignments. Know where you play and your responsibilities on all coverages.

• Be ready to play at the snap of the ball. When the offense is at the line of scrimmage we
• Learn to recognize formations. Learn what it means when the offense sets the backs to the TE and what to expect at the snap. Your knowledge of little bits of information about your opponent can only make you a better player.

• The secondary is made up of people who are not afraid to be vocal. Talk. If you are wrong, at least everyone is on the same page.

• When things go wrong, winners pick up the pieces, put what they can together, and keep fighting. Losers stand around and complain about all that has gone wrong. Always be positive and confident in your play, your teammates and the defensive system.

• Defensive Backs must be players who will lay it on the line. Players who will compete and challenge. You will not always be 100% successful but your effort and your will must never waver.

• Never give up on a play. Keep working to rip the ball out just as the receiver goes to tuck it away. Many plays are made at that point.

• Play the game with your eyes. Always keep vision on your responsibility. If the QB scrambles plaster your coverage even more.

• Commit yourself to being the best... Everyday!

Related Videos
American Football Monthly now offers a full line of coaching videos. So, if you enjoyed this clinic article, here are a few videos that you may find interesting:

FV 01782 Footwork Drills for Cornerbacks (Woods)
FV 00048G Defensive Secondary (Oliver)
FV 00421 Drills to Develop Defensive Backs (Darlington)

To find these videos and many others, view our online catalog at www.AFMVideos.com.

About the author

Van Malone

Former NFL player Van Malone joined the Western Michigan coaching staff this past spring after previously coaching wide receivers at North Dakota State. He coached at two Texas high schools – Conroe and Waltrip – after finishing a playing career in the NFL (1993-1998). The Houston native played four seasons at the University of Texas and was named a third team All-America his senior year as a defensive back. You can reach him at van.malone@wmich.edu






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