Chad Wilson
August 13, 2025
As human beings, we tend to complicate things. It’s in our nature to believe things can’t be that simple, or to overanalyze in search of an edge.
When you’re on the football field—especially playing defensive back—overanalyzing can neutralize your physical skills. In short, it can make you a slower athlete, and we all know slow doesn’t work at the defensive back position.
While I’m not here to oversimplify playing press man, it’s important to point out that the less you have on your mind while playing the technique, the faster you’ll be able to react. With that in mind, there are three key things every defensive back should remember while playing press technique.
Leverage Is Your Friend
While we often use the phrase “on an island” to give the impression we’re all alone on the field, that’s never truly the case. The football field has boundaries, and the receiver you’re covering must stay within them. Offenses also need a certain amount of spacing between routes for things to work properly. And in all man-to-man situations, a defensive back has help—whether it’s a safety over the top, a linebacker underneath, a relentless pass rush that forces the ball out quickly, or the sidelines/end lines.
Defensive backs who understand where their help is can leverage themselves to take full advantage of it. If a wide receiver is close to the sideline, aligning inside can help you use the sideline as an extra defender. If you have help in the post or middle of the field, lining up outside and maintaining that leverage can squeeze the receiver toward your help. Always know where your help is and align accordingly.
You Win With Angles
Route chasing is for losers. Defensive backs who simply follow receivers in press man coverage have limited success. With proper eye discipline and angles, you can cut off routes, frustrate receivers, and make plays.
Don’t be the DB who chases a receiver to the sideline on his release, only to have him stack you and run past you for the ball. Learn how to widen a receiver’s release, then take the correct angle to stay above or on his hip downfield. Similarly, when breaking on the ball, aim for the receiver’s hip to avoid missing the pass. Remember: the quarterback is throwing to the receiver, not to you. As simple as that sounds, many young DBs forget this basic truth.
If you can anticipate where the route will end, you can take the proper angle to meet the receiver there. As one of my best coaches used to say: “Meet him there—don’t try to beat him there.” Studying receiver routes will sharpen your anticipation and improve your coverage angles.
We’re Playing for the Ball
It’s easy to focus so much on a receiver’s hips that you forget about the most important thing on the field—the football. Far too often, defensive backs fail to look for the ball when in coverage.
If you’ve done the work to alter the receiver’s route, attach to his hip, and mirror his moves, why not finish the job by getting your head around and finding the football?
Many DBs are uncomfortable catching the ball, and that’s a bad place to be. You can’t make a living only breaking up passes by watching the receiver’s hands. Real playmakers get in position, turn their heads, and become the receiver when the ball is in the air.
Work on catching the football until it’s second nature. The more comfortable you are, the more likely you’ll be to turn your head and snatch an interception when the opportunity comes.
In Conclusion
Football moves fast, and nowhere is it faster than on the outside where DBs and receivers battle. Awareness and technique are key, but overloading your mind will slow you down. Remember: leverage is your friend, you win with angles, and the ball is what we’re playing for. Keep those three things in mind, and you’ll be well on your way to becoming the playmaker you’re meant to be.
For more tips on playing defensive back like a pro, pick up a copy of my bestselling book 101 DB Tips. Hundreds of players like you have used it to level up their game and become elite playmakers.
Chad Wilson is the owner of All Eyes DB Camp and author of "101 DB Tips". He played college football at the University of Miami and briefly in the NFL for the Seattle Seahawks. Over his 15 year high school football coaching career, he tutored over a dozen Division I defensive backs and as a trainer has worked with NFL All Pros, first round draft picks, college football All Americans and Top 10 ranked high school football prospects.
