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Defensive Backs: Drills to Maximize Press Man Technique – Reaction of the hands, eyes, and feet can make the difference between a big play and shutting down a WR.by: Marcus WoodsonDefensive Backs Coach Charleston Southern University © More from this issue In today’s college football, wide receivers and quarterbacks are just too good for a defensive back to sit back and play just one technique or alignment against them all game. Offensive coordinators have become very creative with the variety of passing attacks complemented by the running attacks, or vice-versa. Defenses need to bring a mixture of coverage, disguises and techniques to challenge the offense and create confusion. Most of your success will depend upon your ability to disguise your intentions so that the opponent cannot tell which alignment your coverage will be in. Stopping the run first, putting pressure on the quarterback and playing press man technique with your corners are all great ways to disrupt the timing of an offense. In order to be good at press man technique, a player must be confident but also be disciplined enough to stay fundamentally sound within their techniques. As coaches, we get what we emphasize and I emphasize technique with fundamentals because that is what gives us an advantage when we are in a mismatch. I base my teaching progression off of three phases: phase 1, LOS/release to 5 yards, phase 2, 5 -15 yards, and phase 3, 15 yards to FINISH. I would like to take you through my philosophy and a few drills for inside press man vs. outside releases along with the fundamentals that must be stressed. EYES, FEET and HANDS – I spend a tremendous amount of time working and emphasizing EYES, FEET and HANDS than I do with anything else for press man. I tell my players to focus their eyes to a spot on the top area of his pants to our leverage side so he can key the hips for release. After release, the eyes should stay focused on the receiver at all times. We want to use our feet to maintain frontal position to our leverage side as long as possible and force the wide receiver to release around our framework. This is done with a six-inch shuffle step by staying square and maintaining a good football position. The receiver’s release MUST be challenged and flattened out to get the benefit of this technique. Press technique is won or lost at the LOS. The hands must be up at all times in a position to be utilized quickly. The feet and hands should always work in conjunction with each other. If the receiver releases within the frontal position of his framework, he should use a physical two-hand jam to maintain his base. If the receiver releases outside the framework of the defender, a two-hand jam becomes a one-arm off-hand jam working in conjunction with a shuffle kick step to the side of his release. Confidence, patience, and trust must be developed in drills. Diagram 1 is a great drill that will help your players get better at winning the LOS (See Diagram 1). Once the receiver runs through Phase 1 to Phase 2 (5-15 yards), the DB’s eyes should still be focused on his hips and seeing steps with his peripheral vision so it allows the corner to mirror steps. He should be ready to break back if the receiver chops down. At this point, expect a comeback, out-cut or the receiver trying to get back under the corner on a dig route. The drill I use to help with this phase is what I call the “Trail Drill” (See Diagram 2). (See Diagram 3). |
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