Back to the Film Room

I was sitting here thinking how best to approach the season coming up and I could think of nothing more important than Film Study. Do you realize that each team has its own idiosyncrasies and tendencies? These repetitive actions are their trademarks and we can all capitalize off of them to our benefit. Why bring it up now Bags? Well... the sooner you get your mind right the better off you'll all be for next season. I can think of no other film analyst than Bill Belichick and he has a great DB film plan. Read it after the jump--->

Who is Doing What and Where are They Doing It?

I am always on the prowl for DB videos, especially those from major college programs. I found a great video from the Georgia Bulldogs. I really love the Corner Blitz Drill and defeating the Stalk Block. Awesome! 

Have Bad Day All Day!!!

Document Drop

Please scroll down to the bottom of this page to find the section titled "Document Drop". This will take you to where I stash articles I have either written or glommed from others over the years.

Take what you like and have a..

Bad Day All Day!!!

Kick Off the Cobwebs!

Shake the dirt clods from your spikes and come prepared to improve! We will be teaching fundamentals of Cover 2 press for corners and Robber Coverage Fundamentals for Safeties. We also will be implementing position specific drills for this years camps.

Honor Abraham Lincoln's Birthday by splitting rails and kicking tails.

Make it a Bad Day All Day!

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.

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. 

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.

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!

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?

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.