Drills Report: Defensive Backs: Footwork, Block Protection, Tackling, and Ball Skills

Our focus on drill work for defensive backs has played a role in our success and paid dividends in the fall. At Villanova, our base defensive front is a 3-3 stack. With five defensive backs on the field in varying roles, we focus our teaching on a select number of skills to best prepare the entire group within our time constraints. Our goal is to spend at least five minutes each practice developing four specific skill categories: footwork, block protection, tackling, and ball skills.

FOOTWORK: REACTIVE TRANSITION
(Diagram 1)

Diagram 1: Reactive Transition

The Reactive Transition Drill, which takes place coming out from the sideline, requires three cones. Start by placing two cones on the sideline, five yards apart, and the third cone two yards from the sideline, halfway between the other two. The coach stands on the sideline facing the defensive back. On the coach’s command, the defensive back will begin to backpedal. A second command will alert the DB to stop his backpedal and transition in the direction of the cone that the coach indicates. The DB must then sprint through the sideline passing just inside the proper cone.

The key coaching points for this drill are a focus on transition steps and vision.

The goal is to get in and out of the transition in two steps. We do not teach a traditional T-step or foot fire when coming out of a backpedal. Instead, we focus on the DB getting all seven cleats in the ground and making sure the plant foot is within the framework of the body. This allows each DB to adjust his transition footwork in a way that makes him feel most comfortable.  Once the DB gets his seven cleats in the ground, he needs to drive his lead knee to the target (the cone on the sideline). This will ensure that his momentum is moving forward.

As the DB begins his transition, his vision should shift from his initial key (the coach) to the cone on the sideline. This allows him to work both zone eyes (on the coach) and man eyes (on the cone) in the same drill. Many of our young defensive backs have a tendency to stare at the QB in man coverage, so this drill is beneficial in helping to discipline their vision.

When the players are adept at and comfortable with the reactive transition drill, we progress by adding a receiver into the mix. In this version of the drill, the defensive back begins his pedal, as the coach – acting as the receiver – jogs toward him from the sideline. The coach then gives the DB a visual indicator by breaking to a cone in one direction or the other. The coach must over-exaggerate his movements, so the DB can read his plant foot and break to the opposite direction of his stick. As the DB transitions and focuses his eyes on the cone, we can also incorporate a ball into the drill.

BLOCK PROTECTION: LOW BLOCK PRO (Diagram 2)

Diagram 2: Low Block Pro

For the Low Block Pro Drill, we use the players as the blockers. The DB aligns on the first blocker in a ready position to take on a cut block. The other two blockers align 5 yards by 5 yards from the blocker in front of them. There will also be a DB in the “on deck” position at the end of the line, as well as a DB serving the role of ball carrier. The player rotation should start with the first blocker moving to the active DB and the rest of the group should move forward one spot. The coach gives the two remaining blockers a signal to either stalk or cut block the DB. This signal is given prior to the start of the drill.

The key coaching points for this drill are to focus on having vision on the blocker, using your hands, and giving ground to defeat the block.

In the Low Block Pro Drill, we preach “see the block to defeat the block”. The DB needs to train his eyes to see the blocker, before looking for the ball. As the DB approaches each block, he needs to move at full speed to simulate a game situation.

To defeat a cut block, which is always the first block in the drill, the DB will start with his knees bent, his feet staggered (outside foot back), and his vision on the blocker’s helmet. When the whistle blows, the blocker will fall forward onto his chest to simulate a cut block aimed for the defender’s outside leg. The DB should give ground, while striking the blocker’s helmet with both hands, pushing the defender’s face into the ground, and clearing his legs of the block.

To defeat a stalk block, the defender should punch the blocker in his chest plate, keeping his elbows tucked in, and his thumbs up. His goal is to stun the blocker and shed the block. In order to shed the block, the DB should give ground, shrug the defender to the ground, and rip his inside arm through the outside armpit of the defender.

TACKLING: FIND YOUR HELP (Diagram 3)

Diagram 3: Find Your Help

To begin the Find Your Help Drill, players will partner up and line up ten yards away from each other. Each group should have five yards separating them from the next pair. Once aligned, each player will lay down on his back with his helmet pointing toward that of his partner.

Only one group will go at a time.

One of the pair will act as the ball carrier, the other as defender, and the coach will play the role of the “help defender.” He stands halfway between the two players, on one side or the other. On the coach’s command, each player will stand up as quickly as possible and get his eyes up. The ball carrier will jog directly at his partner in a straight line. The defender will need to find the coach and execute a fit tackle opposite his help.

The key coaching point in this drill is to properly leverage the tackle based on the location of the defender’s help. In the Find Your Help Drill, the coach can move around and make the defender find him while at the same time finding the ball carrier.

This drill is the direct result of our winter self-scout studies that showed that the majority of our missed tackles in 2012 were due to over pursuit. As a result, this spring we decided to emphasize leverage and redefine tackling fits for our players. If you are classified as a “fit” tackler (DL and LB), you should pursue the inside half of the ball carrier. If you are classified as a “force” tackler (safeties and cornerbacks), you should pursue the outside half of the ball carrier.

The Find Your Help Drill is a good way to teach a DB how to find his help and adjust his tackle accordingly. The players now understand that it is acceptable to miss a tackle as long as they miss on the correct side and ensure that the ball carrier will be funneled back to the rest of the defense. Hence, we have “good misses” and “bad misses” in our defensive terminology.

BALL SKILLS: IN PHASE AND OUT OF PHASE
(Diagrams 4 and 5)

Diagram 4: In Phase

Diagram 5: Out of Phase

For the In Phase and Out Of Phase Drills, we will divide the position group in half so that each DB has an opportunity to work both skills. The In Phase Drill is a partner drill that involves throwing a football. The Out of Phase Drill is also a partner drill, but does not involve throwing a football. It is ideal to have a coach with each drill, but the Out of Phase Drill can be done without a coach because it does not require a ball to be thrown. The purpose of these drills is to give the defensive back a plan once he is down the field and the ball is being thrown in his direction.

The key coaching points for the In Phase Drill are hand placement while running with the receiver and eye discipline. Two defensive backs will be up at a time. The DB closest to the coach will be the defender, while the other DB plays the role of the receiver. On the command, the receiver will begin to jog up the field. The coach will throw the football after the receiver is five yards down the field. We teach the receiver to take 3-4 steps before he looks back to the coach for the football. The DB is already in phase, so he has the freedom to look back for the football. We define in phase as even with the receiver or an arm’s length away. Once the DB locates the football, he should become the receiver and attack the football at the highest point and make the interception.

The first point of emphasis is to make sure the DB does not have his arm extended on the receiver. It is difficult to run with one arm extended as opposed to using good running form and chopping down on the near hip of the receiver in an effort to slow him down. The second point of emphasis is the vision of the DB. He has the freedom to look back for the football. As he turns his vision away from the receiver, we teach him to look up for the football instead of back at the QB. The chances are good that the QB has already released the ball, so the DB will have to find the ball in flight. The third point of emphasis is to have the DB lean into the receiver as he is looking back for the football. This will help the DB leverage the receiver further away from the football, while also helping the DB know where the receiver is because he can feel him. In short, we want the DB to “look and lean.”


The key coaching points for the Out of Phase Drill are eye discipline and ball disruption. Two defensive backs will be up at a time. The DB closest to the coach will be the defender, while the other DB plays the role of receiver. In this drill, the receiver will have the ball in his hands at the start. The DB will begin one yard behind the receiver. On the command, the receiver will jog up the field. After 3-4 steps, the receiver extends his arms (with the football in his hands) as if he is catching the ball. Because the DB is out of phase, he is not allowed to look back for the football. We define out of phase as being more than one arm’s length away from the receiver or in a position that makes the DB uncomfortable to look back for the ball.

The first point of emphasis is to make sure the DB is watching the receiver’s eyes and hands for a visual key for when the ball is about to arrive. This will let him know when to attack the football. The second point of emphasis is how to attack the football once the receiver catches it. We teach shooting the long arm (nearest to the receiver) to separate the ball from the receiver’s hands. Many of our young players want to swat at the ball in a downward motion. This is not useful because it can actually help the receiver secure the ball into his body.

About the Author: David Riede begins his seventh season on the staff of Villanova University this fall, coaching cornerbacks and serving as the assistant coordinator of football operations. He previously was an assistant on the staff of Allegheny College from 2005-2007. As a player, Riede was a two-year letterman at Baldwin Wallace University. In addition to his bachelor’s degree from BW, Riede also holds a master’s degree from Kent State.