More on Tackling

Trainemupacademy.org is getting some great publicity for a long overlooked issue. Watch the video after the jump…

Rip Not Wrap!

What can be done to improve on defense this off-season? How can we get better and limit our opponent’s successes? You can always become better tacklers. More after the jump.

Darrelle Revis Playing "Catch Man"

Earlier I mentioned I'd have video of Revis playing his version of "Catch Man". Here, sprinkled among other techniques such as “Bump and Run”, is how he plays it.

Catch Man

It used to be that when you played man coverage, it was required that you adhere to tight or press-man technique and relied on disrupting routes and pressuring the quarterback.  This pretty much meant your defense needed to out-athlete the offense you were facing as well as showing your intentions pre-snap if the offense ever presented a one-back formation. 

Winning Ugly

What to do when your team wins but executes less than expected.

I am Honored!!!

Wow!!!

Game Time Sideline Conduct

On game day everyone on the team has a job to perform and must be mentally prepared to not only support his teammates but also be prepared to enter the contest at any time. Here are some tips to get you closer to the action:

The Wildcat Way...

After the rousing success the LSU drill package created I thought I would add an old favorite. The Arizona DB package of EDDs!

Look Familiar???

Why do your coaches put you through the same drills everyday, day after day? This is a reasonable question. I have a theory about this and it also blends nicely into other areas of my life. I call it the “Unknown, Routine and Innate” theory.

Wide Receiver Releases

How a receiver releases from the line of scrimmage will tell you a lot about the type of play and the route he is running against man coverage. Pay attention to the details and your PBU (Pass Break Up) ratio will rise.

I urge my Defensive Backs to remember these points and review with their personal notes from film work as they prepare for each opponent. 

I want them to see how each release corresponds with different routes receivers run. 

Certain releases are used with certain routes, and the release a wide receiver uses most times will indicate what's coming next.

Route Concepts...China and Verts

I had some unexpected free time so I hammered out the last two route concepts. 

More Route Concepts

Here is the second installment of “Packaged” routes designed to attack the weaknesses of any defensive scheme:

Pass Route Concepts

There are many Offensive Pass Route packages utilized against today’s defenses. They are used to exploit the inherent weaknesses in each pass defense scheme. The more "Concepts" you understand the better you will be at defending your opponent. There are more but these are the most often used. They are categorized by “Concept” and all combinations can be used out of any set. 

DB's vs. Open Field Blockers

There are two ways to deal with downfield blockers…

Break Up the Pass

Most of your success at slowing down explosive passing games has come from your ability to play tight man coverage. The fundamental premise of this style of play is to prevent the completion. I know big hits make the crowd go oooooooh, but you gain nothing by letting him catch the ball!

The following four questions must be answered with all man coverages:

Philosophy and Mechanics of Bump and Run Basics

The following information discusses the different, basic releases that wide receivers use at the line of scrimmage and the routes you will see against man coverage. I ask my defensive backs to compare these points with their film notes as they prepare for each opponent.

Cover 2 Fundamentals

Why is it called Cover 2?

The number of deep zone pass defenders that are deployed will normally determine what a defensive coach calls a defense. In Cover 2 for example, there are two deep safeties that divide the field into halves. If the secondary played Cover 3, three deep defenders would divide the deep responsibility on the field into thirds. If they played Cover 4, four deep defenders divide the deep zone into fourths.

Off Coverage Progression Drill

In order to completely capitalize on training “Route” recognition you must understand what routes are run from what specific QB Drop.

Route Progression Drill

One of the most difficult tasks in coaching Defensive Backs is to acquaint your players with the Route Tree and those routes which can be run from the three primary QB Drops. I have attempted to put together some drills that illustrate all the basic routes and then incorporate those routes into the Pass drop schemes instituted by any QB. The purpose of this drill is to develop route recognition and to utilize the proper cutoff path to the reception area.

Man Versus Zone

There are inherent advantages and disadvantages to playing man coverage. You say to yourself: “Do my corners have enough speed? Are my safeties athletic enough to cover a slot receiver? What about the pass rush schemes? Will the D-line get the sack? Will the Linebackers take their proper blitz lanes? Once you have decided to play man coverage be it in a blitz package or as a standard coverage scheme within the framework of your defense be aware of the risks and rewards of both man Coverage and your favorite zone schemes:

Five Seconds!

Football is a game played in spurts; spurts that last approximately 5 seconds in duration. Kids have short attention spans; spans that last approximately 5 seconds in duration.

Run or Pass?

When the ball is snapped, DBs need 3 things (feet, body position and eyes) to work together as they determine whether the play is run or pass.

Defensive Back Essentials

Good pass defense is a team responsibility and sound Secondary play is an integral part of that success. Defensive Backs will have the most impact on pass defense while in coverage downfield. An aggressive Secondary is important in stopping the run game. You must execute run force, contain and run/pass responsibilities. Every good Defensive player is an excellent tackler. You must be an excellent tackler. Ankle Divers need not apply!

Reading Receivers and Routes is Easy

Increasing your defensive back I.Q. by reading receivers--studying them before games, reading their alignment, and knowing how to recognize the routes they're going to run--is another tool you can use to dominate opposing teams. Film work is crucial for Friday night success!

Receiver and Running Back Routes

The more you know what they run the better you are at stopping what they run!

Playing the Fade Route in Press Coverage

As cornerbacks we often have to play press or bump coverage and we immediately think “Fade” route. Before we even get this far in our processing let’s think like a receiver. To beat your opponent you have to first think like your opponent. When they line up across from you what are they thinking, seeing or preparing for at the snap of the ball?

Man to Man Coverage Tips

It sure is easy playing man to man isn't it? Nobody to help you on your little island of fun and frolic and all of the fame or blame rest on your shoulders. I hope you can handle it because that’s where you are and it is what you have chosen to do. Here are some Man to man reminders:

Darryl Williams

Studying Film Properly Can Pay Huge Dividends

In the NFL, everybody is the best of the best.  What separates the best from the average players are the intangibles. One of the most important intangibles is being smarter than your opponent.  I believe that the best way to accomplish this is to learn the basics of effective football film study.

Here are some things to look out for when studying film.

Man Coverage Reminders

Here is a detailed look at what happens on the field when you play man. This is a breakdown of the key techniques and tips required to play man-to-man coverage:

DB Habits and Philosophy

Habits… We become what we repeatedly do. To perform like a champion…you must prepare and practice like one!! Football is a game of preparation and execution. In order to execute on the field you must prepare properly. 

Assorted DB Drills

And the Drills keep coming! I know that over the years keeping your DBs happy during EDD period can be taxing. Throw in a new drill every now and then and watch them perk up. Also, install a corner blitz package when on the hash and watch them explode! Drills after the jump.

A Whole Bunch of Drills!

I have compiled a mini-library of DB Drills that I glommed off of the internet. These are in addition to my own favorites which I posted earlier:

Pass Defense Route Concepts

Predicting routes through extensive film study and opponent down and distance tendencies allow the Defensive Back the luxury of taking risks where appropriate. With each risk taken is also the possibility of failure. Know when to gamble and when to play dependable coverage. The first step in responsible risk taking (a contradiction in terms if there ever was one) is the recognition of the possible pass routes that can be run in any situation. For example, if the ball is on the opposite hash and #1 to the field is spread wide to the boundary the likelihood of an “out” route is negligible. You must know your opponent’s route combinations and favorite schemes. Start with the basics:

I Love Press and Bail

I love Press Coverage and if it were up to me I would press every play. Receiver’s hate it since they traditionally hate contact and QBs hate it because they read man coverage or 2 Press and then their timing is all messed up waiting for a receiver to get open. The internal clock is ticking away and they throw early or spot throw through their impatience. After the jump I have some details on why I love this scheme:

Field Tendencies

Thinking ahead and observing down, distance and your opponents play calling based on field position is an integral part of playing Defensive Back. Here is a chart indicating play calling likelihood based on field position:

The Nasty Nine

Here is a set of drills that I have used on numerous occasions…The Nasty Nine!

Master Drill Breakdown

Whenever I start any training session I like to see what I have to work with. Do I have experienced ballers or a smattering of Newbies and those still growing into their athletic frames. For me, it all begins with good feet. i am a stickler with good feet. I also like athletes with little or minimal wasted motion. That being said, as coaches we coach em' all up and not just the starters! Everyone has things to work on and improve at. I like to review each player's stance and move on from there. Here is my drill program:

My Coaching Philosophy

”If you don’t invest very much, losing won’t hurt too much and winning won’t be very exciting”

Many people want to know if I coach like I outwardly appear to be which is assertive, aggressive, energetic and effusive. Many times I have been called a straight shooter. Some act like that is a bad character trait. I feel it is better to deliver honest news and clear and concise assessments rather than wishy-washy blather meant to assuage an individual’s self esteem. For being myself, I have often been castigated. That’s fine with me. I have big shoulders and can take it. When given the opportunity I would rather “go through the door than run around the barn”. In other words, I am a direct and pointedly exact individual. I am unique in the respect that I find very few shades of grey in my life and the way I carry out that life. I suffer fools poorly. This all dovetails back to my coaching philosophy.

First Post

Hello and thank you for visiting what I hope will be a long running venture complete with detailed information for those Defensive Backs and DB coaches wishing there was one site from which to glom information. I have a lot of my own writings interspersed among those of others and to be completely honest, I don't know for certain whose is what’s and what is whose so I simply piled it all together into one giant database for all to glean from. 

I hope you enjoy having a one stop shop to gather your Defensive back needs.

Brian