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The Drills Report - West Virginia\'s Defensive Secondary Footwork Drills

by: Wayne Anderson
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This month’s drill was submitted by Coach Tony Gibson, the Defensive Backs Coach at West Virginia University. Coach Gibson is entering his sixth year as a member of Coach Rich Rodriquez’s staff. Coach Gibson has also made stops along his coaching career at West Virginia Tech University, Cumberland University, Glenville State College and Gilmer County High School. While at West Virginia University, Coach Gibson has been part of three Big East Conference Championships (2003, 2004, 2005)  as well as a 2006 Sugar Bowl win over Georgia.

    Coach Gibson will share with us some footwork and net drills that have made the defensive backs an intricate part of the success of the Mountaineers 3-5-3 defense. Their defense in 2005 was 20th in the nation in total defense. In the Big East Conference the Mountaineers were ranked fifth in scoring defense, first in rushing defense and second in total defense. There are four goals in practicing the footwork drills:

•  Developing quick feet and hips.
•  Improving change of direction.
•  Improve breaking on routes.
•  Eye control.

Drill 1: The Box Drill 9 (See Diagram 1)

•    DB will chop feet in the middle of the 4 cones
•    Coach has a ball and points to any of the 4 cones
•      DB will use any of the following movements to get to each cone (open up and run, back pedal, sprint, shuffle)
•      The drill ends with the coach tossing the ball into the air
•      The DB must high point the football

Drill 2: Box and Break (See Diagram 2)

•  The coach throws the ball on each break

We also practice a number of net drills to work on the following:
•  Low pad level
•  Footwork
•  Body control
•  Breaking on routes
•  Teaching man and zone techniques
•  Open hips and running
•  Ball skills

Drill 3: Pedal and Vert (See Diagram 3)

• Back pedal, open up throwing inside elbow     to run with the vertical route (zone turn)
• Back pedal, open up throwing outside elbow to run with the vertical route (man turn)

Drill 4: Pedal and 90 (See Diagram 4)

•    Back pedal, break at 90 degrees on out cut         keeping feet hot
•     Ball is thrown on break

Drill 5: Pedal and 45 (See Diagram 5)

•  Back pedal, break at 45 degrees on the hitch, slant, curl, and out
•  Throw ball on break

Drill 6: W Drill (See Diagram 6)

•  Back pedal at 45 to cone, footfire down hill at 45 to next cone and repeat (creating a W pattern)

Drill 7: Star Drill (See Diagram 7)

•  Back pedal at 45 to cone, footfire down hill at 45 to next cone, change direction back pedalling at 45 back to previous cone and footfire downhill out of net.

    Coach Gibson has had the opportunity to coach five All-Big East conference players including 2005 first round draft choice Adam “Pacman” Jones of the Tennessee Titans. On behalf of AFM, I would like to thank Coach Tony Gibson for taking time out of his busy schedule to share some of his defensive back drills for The Drills Report.
   
Coaches, if you would like to submit one of your favorite drills to be featured in The Drills Report, please contact Coach Wayne Anderson.


Coach Wayne Anderson is the Football Drills Editor for American Football Monthly. Anderson has coached at the high school, collegiate, and international level for 17 years. We welcome your suggestions and comments. He can be reached at WayneAnderson@AmericanFootballMonthly.com






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