Drills Report: Drills for Defensive Backs

The Comback Series Drills
by: David J. Snodgrass
Defensive Backs Coach, Wingate University
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When playing in the secondary, one must understand the thought process of a receiver. A receiver’s stemming throughout a route helps gain leverage on the defensive player. Stemming is the use of angles by the receiver to manipulate the DB into position, where it is difficult to make plays. The stems used by a receiver are utilized for a purpose; that is, what specific route a vertical stem is taken on the DB. The vertical stem will reduce the DB’s cushion and make the DB turn and run. When the DB’s hips are turned the receiver has established some leverage in order to allow himself separation when he breaks off his comeback route.

When understanding that a receiver wants to turn the DB’s hips and then break off his route, a DB must train his hips and footwork in order to open up and break in a smooth transaction in order to play the receivers route the best possible way. As a secondary coach, one of the comeback series consists of when a DB has to open his hips to respect the vertical route and then react and drive on the comeback route by the receiver. When we drill this series of different breaks we use four different types of breaks.

1. Open Hips Break Straight Back.
2. Open Hips Break Back to the LOS at 45 Degrees.
3. Open Hips Break Back Opposite to the LOS at 45 Degrees.
4. Open Hips Speed Turn / Baseball Turn.

We work on opening up to our right and to our left which gives us a total of eight reps using four different types of techniques / breaks. The comeback route is one of the most difficult routes to cover and to make consistent plays on. Doing this drill on a daily basis helps the DB to get used to the movement of opening his hips and breaking multiple ways to cover basically the same route. The reason why drilling the comeback series is so important every day is in order to get the DB’s comfortable with their breaks and to increase their comfort zone with covering a receiver.

The following drills – The Comeback Series – are just shown with the DB opening up to his right and then going through all four breaks.

I. Straight Back (See Diagram 1)

1. DB backpedals on coach’s command.
2. DB opens hips and still works vertical
3. DB then bicycles / steps-and-replaces and drives straight back down the line.

Diagram 1: Straight Back

II. Open Hips Break (See Diagram 2)

1. DB backpedals on coach’s command.
2. DB then opens hips and still works vertical.
3. DB then bicycles / steps-and-replaces and drives opposite back towards the LOS at 45 degrees.

Diagram 2: Open Hips Break

III. Opens Hips Break-Opposite (See Diagram 3)

1. DB backpedals on coach’s command.
2. DB then opens hips and still works vertical.
3. DB then bicycles / steps-and-replaces and drives opposite back towards the LOS at 45 degrees.

Diagram 3: Open Hips Break-Opposite

IV. Speed Turn / Baseball Turn (See Diagram 4)

1. DB backpedals on coach’s command.
2. DB then opens hips and still works vertical.
3. DB then speed turns.
4. DB then drives straight back towards
the LOS at 45 degrees.

Diagram 4: Open Hips Speed Turn

Working this series of drills is beneficial to a defensive back. Understanding and getting comfortable with proper breaks will help increase the interception rate of playing the comeback route of the receiver. The defensive back should not only study and understand his own movements when playing but also understand the intentions / mannerisms of the receiver as well. The ‘Comeback Series’ will help the overall play of a defensive back.

When working the ‘Comeback Series’ it is important to know that proper technique is just as important as repetition. It is vital that one gets accustomed to the proper techniques of the footwork and breaks and being able to do the drill work on a daily basis. This helps the defensive back become comfortable with playing the comeback route. When drilling the comeback series, being able to get in and out of breaks quickly and in a smooth transition will also help increase your interception rate as well.

Wingate’s Defensive Backs Coach and Special Teams Coordinator David Snodgrass completed his second year last fall on the Bulldogs’ staff. He previously coached at McPherson College where he received his undergraduate degree in both psychology and sociology.

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