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DB Drill Progression: Structuring a Defensive Back Practice for Maximum Impact

As defensive back coaches, we all know the mantra: “Fundamentals, fundamentals, fundamentals.” But how do you actually build a practice that effectively teaches, refines, and then tests those fundamentals in a game-like environment? It’s not just about running drills; it’s about running them in a progressive sequence that builds confidence, technique, and finally, competitive instinct.

A well-structured DB practice moves from isolated movements to complex, reactive scenarios. Here’s how to build a dynamic practice, from individual drills to the crucial 1-on-1 competition.

Phase 1: Individual Drills – The Foundation (15-20 minutes)

This is where you isolate and perfect specific techniques without the distraction of a receiver or a ball. Repetition is key here, but it must be quality repetition. Focus on one or two key techniques per segment.

Goal: Master the mechanics of each movement.

Key Drills & Focus:

  • Stance & Start:
    • Focus: Weight distribution, knee bend, foot placement (toe-instep), eye level.
    • Drills: Quick mirror steps (vertical & horizontal), sudden bursts from a dead stop. Emphasize explosiveness, not speed.
  • Backpedal & Weave:
    • Focus: Low pad level, short choppy steps, weight over the toes, maintaining cushion.
    • Drills: Linear backpedal, lateral weaves (matching a coach’s movement), backpedal to 45-degree breaks, backpedal to 90-degree breaks. Emphasize quick feet and fluid hip transitions.
  • Hip Flip / Speed Turn:
    • Focus: Efficient hip rotation, staying flat, driving off the plant foot, maintaining speed out of the turn.
    • Drills: W-Drill, Box Drill, open-turn drills from various angles. Emphasize getting your eyes back to the ball quickly.
  • Catching & Attack the Ball:
    • Focus: Tracking the ball, high-point technique, hand placement, strong hands.
    • Drills: Simple jug machine catches, over-the-shoulder catches with a coach, tracking drills (coach throws the ball from various angles).

Coaching Point: Provide constant, concise feedback. Isolate errors and correct them immediately. This is the “grooving” phase.

Phase 2: Group Drills – Adding Reactivity (15-20 minutes)

Now, we introduce a simulated receiver or a more complex movement pattern. The goal here is to make the DB reactive to a stimulus (e.g., a coach’s release, a pre-determined route) while still refining technique.

Goal: Apply individual techniques reactively; introduce route recognition.

Key Drills & Focus:

  • Mirror Drills with a Live Body:
    • Focus: Maintaining leverage and cushion against a non-resisting receiver.
    • Drills: Coach/player simulates a release (no ball thrown), DB mirrors. Start slow, then increase tempo.
  • Route Recognition from Alignment:
    • Focus: Understanding how WR splits, stems, and body language indicate routes.
    • Drills: Set up various WR alignments (tight, wide, slot). Coach runs a pre-determined route. DB identifies and pedals/reacts correctly without full contact.
  • Trail Technique Drills:
    • Focus: Playing “out of phase,” using proper hand placement to defend the catch.
    • Drills: Coach runs a go route, DB practices staying in phase and then trailing, learning to “rake” or “play the pocket.”
  • Pass Breakup Drills (without full contact):
    • Focus: Timing, eye contact with the ball, high-pointing, avoiding interference.
    • Drills: Coach throws deep balls, DBs practice breaking up the pass against a non-resisting receiver.

Coaching Point: Emphasize reading the receiver and QB. Introduce simple concept keys (e.g., “fast route” vs. “slow route”).

Phase 3: 1-on-1 Competition – The Game Test (10-15 minutes)

This is the ultimate crucible. Players are put in direct competition against a receiver, with a quarterback throwing the ball. This is where technique meets competition, and true playmakers emerge.

Goal: Integrate all learned techniques in a competitive, game-like scenario; develop confidence and competitive edge.

Key Drills & Focus:

  • Press 1-on-1:
    • Focus: Physicality at the line, rerouting, staying in phase, playing the ball.
    • Setup: DB in press, WR runs any route. QB throws.
  • Off-Man 1-on-1:
    • Focus: Cushion management, backpedal breaks, burst, playing the ball.
    • Setup: DB 5-7 yards off, WR runs any route. QB throws.
  • Red Zone 1-on-1:
    • Focus: Smaller field, condensed routes, tight windows, high-point and contested catches.
    • Setup: DB/WR in red zone (e.g., 10-yard line in).

Coaching Point: Create a competitive environment, but reinforce technique first. Reward good footwork and eye discipline, not just the pass breakup. Film these sessions for later review.

Bringing It All Together: Practice Flow Example

Here’s a snapshot of how this progression might look in a 60-minute segment:

  • Warm-up/Dynamic Stretch: 10 mins
  • Phase 1: Individual Drills: 15 mins (e.g., Stance & Start, Backpedal/Weave)
  • Phase 2: Group Drills: 15 mins (e.g., Mirror Drills, Route Recognition)
  • Phase 3: 1-on-1 Competition: 15 mins (e.g., Press 1-on-1, Off-Man 1-on-1)
  • Cool-down/Review: 5 mins

Conclusion

A successful defensive back practice is a carefully constructed journey. It starts with meticulous individual skill work, layers on reactive scenarios, and culminates in intense 1-on-1 competition. By following this progression, you not only teach your DBs the techniques they need, but you also build their confidence and competitive drive, turning them into consistent playmakers on the field.

Want to dive deeper into specific drills and coaching cues for each phase? Join the All Eyes DB Camp Member’s Area for a complete vault of training resources, film breakdowns, and practice plans designed for elite defensive backs.

The DB’s Guide to Continuous In-Season Improvement

The off-season is over. You’ve put in the work, you’ve honed your strengths, and you feel ready to dominate. But for elite defensive backs, the work doesn’t stop once the season kicks off. In fact, if you stop improving, you risk becoming a major liability when the games matter most.

I am going to break down why continuous in-season improvement is critical, and how failing to fix your “warts” can be exploited by the competition.

The Danger of the In-Season Plateau

Many players treat the season as a maintenance period, relying solely on the work they put in during the spring and summer. As Wilson warns, don’t think that all of your off-season work is just going to last you for 15, 20, 25 weeks [01:19].

While you should always continue to sharpen your strengths (like a dominant press-man technique) [01:49], you must dedicate time to working on the things in your game that aren’t necessarily that good [02:05].

Why Weaknesses Show Up When It Counts

Your defensive “warts”—the things you struggle with, that your coach keeps talking to you about—really do have a way of showing up in those crucial games [02:46].

These weaknesses don’t just appear out of nowhere; they are deliberately targeted by opponents. Teams are studying you [03:36]. By mid-season, they have had a chance to see you on multiple occasions not being able to do something.

If you have a problem with tackling or getting off blocks, by six, seven, eight, nine weeks into the season, opposing offensive coordinators will realize it. They will say, “We need to attack him… let’s start running some of our screens or toss plays to his direction” [04:06].

If you don’t drop some kind of ointment on those warts, they can get really, really huge at a time you don’t need them to be around—in the rivalry games, the playoffs, or even the championship [03:08].

Your In-Season Checklist: How to Close Out Your Holes

You can avoid a late-season nightmare by spending time pre-practice, post-practice, or even during practice closing out those holes [04:48]. Take a real evaluation and checklist of your game and address these potential weaknesses:

  • Tackling and Getting Off Blocks: If you can’t go full speed in practice, focus on honing your technique, such as using your near leg and shoulder, or perfecting the wrap-up [05:09].
  • Playing the Deep Ball: If you struggle to judge the flight of the ball, you need to start hitting some blind ball drills [05:41]. Make the catch at its highest point [06:30] to ensure a receiver doesn’t go up over you and take the ball off your head [06:42].
  • Off-Coverage Pedal: A lazy or choppy pedal can cause your cushion to close too fast, forcing you to make very difficult breaks on simple routes [07:12]. Five to ten minutes of working on your pedal each and every day will result in better plays and allow you to stay square and get better breaks [07:27].
  • Getting Out of Breaks: If you are “lax” getting out of breaks, if you slip, or if it takes too many steps, you could face a nightmare situation late in the season against a team that runs a lot of short and intermediate routes [08:04].

Finding the Extra Time to Work

The season is demanding, but you can find the five to ten extra minutes needed to improve:

  1. Pre-Practice: Cut down on wasted chatter in the locker room, or lay out your gear the day before so you can get out on the field a little sooner for extra work [08:56].
  2. Post-Practice: Don’t be the first guy into the locker room. Your ride will wait for you. That is where you find the time [09:17].
  3. Downtime in Practice: Utilize any period where the starters are off the field (scout team, special teams you are not involved in) to spend five to ten minutes closing a hole on your checklist [09:28].

The Recruiting Factor: College Coaches Look for Improvement

For underclassmen starting to get recruiting attention, it’s vital to continue improving. College coaches are not just interested in you; they are fully aware that you’ve got two or three more years left to play, and what they definitely want to see is improvement [11:04].

If you look as a junior like you did as a freshman, you will quickly fall off the radar. Coaches forecasted an improved player as a junior or senior [11:31]. If you don’t continue to improve, their thought process flips around to, “that guy peaked as a freshman” [12:17]. Don’t be the player with holes in his game who decided to not try and improve [12:38].

Resource for Coaches: If you’re a new coach who feels overwhelmed, the All Eyes DB Camp members area has resources—quizzes, coverage explanations, technique breakdowns, and strategy sessions—to help you get your guys in the right position to make plays.

Watch the full video here: How DBs Turn Weakness into Strength •DB Tip Clips

Condensed Splits: Why Offenses Love Them—and How Your DBs Steal the Space Back

Offenses lean on condensed splits—receivers aligned tight to the formation—because they quietly unlock the whole field. From a narrow alignment, a wideout can threaten two-way releases, gain more horizontal room for crossers and deep outs, and manufacture “legal traffic” that turns into natural rubs. If your secondary doesn’t arrive with a plan, condensed quickly becomes easy yards: crossers that run away from leverage, wheels that pop unguarded, and back-shoulders that bait flags.

This piece gives you a simple, portable approach: how to align, what to say, and how to survive the classic route families you’ll see from condensed sets.

What Condensed Does—and What You Must Do

Think about the offense’s leverage math. By tightening the split, the receiver creates more grass to the outside and across the field. Now the QB can hit sail (corner/7), speed outs, overs, and wheels without telegraphing the intent. The tight alignment also shortens the distance for crack blocks and makes short motion more dangerous, turning regular sets into “not-quite-bunch” with the same pick potential.

Your answer starts before the snap. Corners should back off to five or six yards against condensed, not to be passive, but to keep vision and protect against crack-and-wheel trickery. As a default, play outside-in leverage—most teams want the crosser, so don’t gift the inside. Declare your help, align to it, and make the throw live where your overlap players can help.

It helps to talk in divider language. Draw an imaginary line from the receiver to the bottom of the numbers. Your goal is to keep the receiver on or outside that divider by the third step. If he wins across it, alarm bells should ring: you’re getting crosser/sail, so you widen with depth and invite your help to the party rather than chasing blindly across the field.

Your apex/Nickel should mirror that discipline. Align at five to six yards between #2 and the tackle with inside leverage so you’re the first solver on fast 7s and any arc/crack that tries to pull you out of your fit.

The Calls That Travel: Lock, Banjo, and Box

Condensed doesn’t always look like bunch, but it behaves like it. That’s why your communication has to be automatic.

  • Lock (MEG)—“mine everywhere he goes”—is your answer when the split is tight but the route is isolated. Be ready for the back-shoulder if you’re sticky.

  • Banjo (In–Out) lets two defenders trade responsibilities based on release. It’s the antidote to stacks and short motion that manufacture rubs; inside defender owns in-breakers, outside owns out-breakers.

  • Box/Cone (3-over-2 or 4-over-3) brackets the point when it morphs into near-bunch. Assign who is on top/down and in/out before the ball is snapped, so you’re reacting with rules, not guesses.

Motion is where busts are born. Have Push/Slide rules ready so when #2 flies across, everyone instantly knows who is the new “in” and “out” player. Reset the point and keep the language short enough to echo across the secondary.

Beating the Route Families from Condensed

Crossers and Deep Overs. Outside-in leverage at the corner spot forces the route back toward your traffic. If the receiver crosses your divider, don’t panic and chase; gain depth, pass with vision, and let the safety/nickel overlap top-down to the upfield shoulder. The completion you can live with is a contested throw arriving into layered help, not a free runner.

Sail (7) and Speed Outs. The nickel’s job is to collision through 10–12 and stay disciplined so you don’t overrun the break. Corners should “midpoint” the vertical and the 7, playing top-down overlap so you don’t donate a layup to the sideline.

Crack–Wheel. This is the condensed classic. Eyes and leverage save you. If the force player gets cracked, the corner must squeeze and take the wheel; expect the underthrow and play through it. Safeties stay high and late—don’t get suckered down by the crack and vacate the vertical.

Back-Shoulder Fade. Expect it when you’re in phase. Lean to the top shoulder, locate late, and play late hands without wrapping. If you’re trailing, don’t look back—attack the hands through the pocket.

Switches and Double Moves. Condensed plus switch is DPI bait. Use Banjo, play through the near hip, and keep hands last. Your feet win the rep; your hands finish it.

Technique That Survives Condensed

Everything you teach still reduces to the DB order of operations: eyes → feet → hands. Mirror the stem first, then win leverage, then finish. In phase (hip-to-hip), lean the top shoulder and locate late; out of phase (trailing), keep eyes on the hip and play the hands at the pocket. And remember the penalty reality: after five yards, ride with your feet, not your hands. Officials are hunting for illegal contact on condensed routes that cross and collide.

Install It This Week

You don’t need an overhaul—just purposeful reps.

Start practice with five minutes of Banjo vs. stack/short motion. Script in/out, speed-out/over, and quick switches; make the defense call Banjo before the snap and echo it again on motion. Follow with four minutes of crack–wheel exchange so the corner and safety rehearse the handoff under pressure. Close with three minutes of back-shoulder and sail from reduced splits: corners lean/locate late on the go and midpoint the 7; nickels collide then overlap, never undercutting too early.

On film, grade your unit on six things: did we identify condensed and make a Lock/Banjo/Box call; did the corner start outside-in at five to six yards; did we hold the divider by step three; did we Push/Slide correctly on motion; did we finish with the right phase rule (lean-and-locate vs. punch the pocket); and did we avoid illegal contact beyond five yards. Those answers tell you what to fix before the next Friday.

The Bottom Line

Condensed splits are an offense’s shortcut to space. When you counter with clear leverage rules, concise calls, and practiced exchanges, you steal that space back. The rubs stop working, the wheels stop popping, and the back-shoulders turn into PBUs instead of flags. If you want printable call sheets and drill progressions to drop straight into practice, you’ll find deeper installs in 101 DB Tips and inside the All Eyes DB Camp Members Area.

How to Find the Ball in Man Coverage: In-Phase vs. Out-of-Phase Rules

If you play DB long enough, you’ll learn this truth: you don’t “find the ball,” you earn the right to find it. That right is based on your phase—your relationship to the receiver as the route develops. Mastering phase turns panic into poise at the catch point and eliminates flags.

This article gives you a clear decision tree, coaching cues, and on-field drills so you know exactly when to locate and how to finish without grabbing.

The Two Phases (Decide First, Then Act)

In-Phase (Hip-to-Hip / On Top)

  • You’ve closed space and are even or slightly on top of the WR’s near hip.

  • You can control the route: squeeze to the sideline, dictate the shoulder.

  • Rule: Squeeze and locate late. You’re allowed to find the ball because you can still play through the receiver if you miss.

Out-of-Phase (Trailing)

  • You’re behind or separated—no hip control.

  • If you look back, you’ll slow down and lose more ground.

  • Rule: Do not look back. Play through the hands at the pocket and finish the receiver, not the ball.

Fast test mid-route: Can you touch the near hip without reaching?

  • Yes: In-phase → Squeeze & Locate late.

  • No: Out-of-phase → Eyes to hip, play hands through pocket.

The In-Phase Toolkit (Hip-to-Hip)

1) Squeeze & Locate (Late)

    • Squeeze to the near hip to own the vertical stem.

  • Locate late—eyes flash from near hip → near shoulder → ball.

  • Hands last: Don’t start grabbing; you’re in control.

2) Squeeze the Red Line

  • Win outside leverage and compress the WR to the sideline.

  • Reduce the catch window; force a perfect throw.

3) Back-Shoulder Insurance

  • Expect back-shoulder throws when you’re in great position.

  • Keep your top hand free; feel the lean, then snap hands through the near-hand late.

4) Speed Turn (When You Lose Vision)

  • If the WR crosses your face and the ball goes over the top, speed turn and re-enter in-phase.

  • Reattach to the hip before you attempt to locate.

In-Phase Cues

  • “Top shoulder!”

  • “Squeeze—locate late!”

  • “Hands last!”

The Out-of-Phase Toolkit (Trailing)

1) Eyes to Near Hip

  • Eyes on the thing that can’t lie: the hip tells you breaking point and speed.

2) Play the Pocket

  • When the WR’s hands flash to the ball, punch through the triangle—near-hand through the catch pocket, far-hand ripping down the elbow/forearm.

3) Never Look Back Early

  • Turning your head = braking. You’ll invite DPI and lose the race to the catch point.

4) Run Through the Catch Point

  • Don’t slow to “time” your punch. Run through the near shoulder while attacking hands.

Out-of-Phase Cues

  • “Eyes—hip!”

  • “Hands, not head!”

  • “Through the pocket!”

Route-Specific Tips

Go / Fade (Wide Split)

  • In-phase: Squeeze near hip (your hips into this), squeeze the red line, locate late. Expect back-shoulder—keep top hand free.

  • Out-of-phase: Eyes to hip; punch through pocket when hands flash.

Back-Shoulder

  • In-phase: Don’t over-rotate your head inside. Feel the slow-down, pin to sideline, play late hands.

  • Out-of-phase: Anticipate the stop; run through near shoulder and rip the pocket.

Slant / Quick Game

  • Win the first two steps. If trailing, don’t look—attack hands through the frame and finish on the upfield shoulder.

Deep Over / Post

  • Re-attach before you locate. If you can’t, eyes stay on hip; play hands late.

Penalty-Proof Technique (Keep the Flags Off)

  • Within 5 yds: Hand fight is fine—mirror with feet, strike late.

  • After 5 yds: No riding. If you’re grabbing, you’re out-of-phase—fix your feet or recover, don’t clutch.

  • At the catch point: Contact is legal while playing the ball or the hands. Sell the story with your eyes and hand placement.

Officials see: early head turn with contact (DPI risk), extended jersey, arm bars, and through-the-back hits. Your counter is late eyes, near-hand through pocket, and shoulder-through finish—not body-through.

The Decision Tree (Memorize This)

  1. Where am I?

    • Touch the near hip without reaching? Yes → In-phase. No → Out-of-phase.

  2. In-phase plan:

    • Squeeze → Squeeze near hip → Locate late → Near-hand through if needed.

  3. Out-of-phase plan:

    • Eyes to hip → Do not look back → Punch pocket on hand flash → Finish through upfield shoulder.

  4. If you lose vision:

    • Speed turn → Reattach → Resume the correct plan.

Practice Menu (10–12 Minutes Daily)

1) Squeeze-and-Locate (In-Phase) — 3 min

  • Coach stems vertical. DB hip-to-hip, squeeze near hip, flashes eyes late.

  • Coaching points: Don’t drift under; locate late, hands last.

2) Punch-Pocket (Out-of-Phase) — 3 min

  • DB trails. Coach throws at varied heights. WR flashes hands.

  • DB runs through near shoulder and splits the triangle.

  • Coaching points: No head turn; full speed through catch point.

3) Back-Shoulder Read — 3 min

  • WR subtly throttles. DB in-phase squeezes to sideline, keeps top hand free, plays late hands.

  • Coaching points: Don’t wrap; attack wrist/elbow, not the chest.

4) Speed-Turn Reattach — 3 min

  • WR crosses face; DB speed turns, re-attaches hip, then either lean-locate (if back in-phase) or punch pocket (if still trailing).

  • Coaching points: Turn the eyes first, then shoulders; re-square before locate.

Film Checklist (Self-Scout)

  • Phase ID: Did I decide in-phase/out-of-phase by the 3rd step of the vertical?

  • In-phase: Did I squeeze and lean before locating? Did I locate late?

  • Out-of-phase: Did I keep eyes on hip and play hands only?

  • Finish: Near-hand through; tackle through if completed.

  • Flags: Any jersey, early contact, or through-the-back? Note the cause and the fix.

Common Errors & Fixes

  • Error: Looking back while trailing.
    Fix: Hip test → if trailing, eyes to hip; punch pocket only.

  • Error: Grabbing after 5 yards.
    Fix: Mirror with feet; recover to hip. If out-of-phase, commit to hand-through, not arm bar.

  • Error: Early locate in-phase (losing speed).
    Fix: Squeeze first, then locate. “Lean-locate-late.”

  • Error: Slowing at catch point.
    Fix: Run through near shoulder; don’t “time” the breakup.

For Coaches: How to Install This Fast

  • Language: Keep it to three words per situation—“Top shoulder! Locate late!” vs “Hands! Pocket!”

  • Echo rule: Corner calls phase; safety/nickel echo.

  • Chart it: Practice report tracks phase decision, finish, and penalties—not just completions.

Dialing in phase is the fastest way to cut flags and create takeaways. Teach the decision first, then the tools. When you know which world you’re in—in-phase or out-of-phase—the catch point stops being a guess and starts being a plan.

If you want more on defending the ball in these situations, check out 101 DB Tips withe more in-depth tools and strategies for deep ball defense. Check it out here.

Your 10 Year Old Son Doesn’t Need a DB Trainer

It happens to me at least once a week. I get a call from a father whose son is between the ages of eight and eleven. The young tyke is playing defensive back in little league, and dad wants to get him some training to improve his performance. This is 100% logical and noble, but it’s also the wrong thing to do.

I’ve definitely been there. When your children are this age, you want to do everything to help them succeed and feel good. At this stage of their life, they are really dependent on you to show them the way. Your efforts to get them with a trainer serve two purposes: first, to give them an edge so that they can feel happy at the end of the game; and second, to teach them how to get an edge in life.

The missing part in all of this—something many parents hesitate to admit—is that when the game is over, you want to feel good about your son’s performance too. After all, what he does is a reflection of you. You want to feel proud like some of the other dads whose sons ripped up the Pee Wee football field. I’m telling you from experience: don’t get caught up in that.

We’d all love for our young children to become prodigies in whatever they pursue. It’s great to get a head start in life and be out in front of the pack. A small percentage of kids are just born with it, while others have to do the work. If your son is born with it, you’ll know it. Some parents, though, get fooled. Their sons may show dominance early because of physical advantages or because they’ve had lessons in the offseason. For that latter group, Saturdays are fun—but in reality, they are robbing their sons of their future.

In the early stages of your son’s football career, what’s most important is having fun, becoming a student of the game, and—most importantly—developing into a great athlete.

When the offseason comes, he doesn’t need to see me or any other DB trainer. What he needs is to play other sports and focus on becoming a strong student. Developing into a great athlete comes from participating in different activities that build a wide range of skills.

If he runs track, he’ll develop the physical skill of efficient running and the mental skill of personal accountability. If he wrestles, he’ll learn the physical skills of leverage and balance, as well as the mental skill of endurance. If he plays baseball, he’ll develop hand-eye coordination and the mental skill of patience. Each sport develops a critical physical and mental skill that will give him “superpowers” when he enters puberty.

Sure, if he sees a DB trainer in the offseason, he’ll develop a good backpedal, be able to flip his hips, and play solid press man coverage—as a nine-year-old. But while he’s doing that, he’s missing out on the benefits of track, wrestling, basketball, baseball, soccer, swimming, and more. When he and his peers hit puberty and they’re all learning how to backpedal, flip their hips, and play press man, he’ll be ahead… at first. But eventually, his peers will catch up on technique—and they’ll also have the added advantage of all the physical and mental tools they gained from playing other sports.

When the kids he once dominated in Little League blow past him because they’re more athletic, it can have a profound effect on him mentally. All the advantages gained at age ten will have evaporated. And I haven’t even started on the kids who played defensive back at age ten but grew into defensive ends by age fourteen. How much time did they waste with that DB trainer?

So, to the parents of the ten-year-old: if you really want to help your son and prepare him for the future, put him in other sports when the offseason comes. Later in life, he’ll thank you for the break from football. Encourage him to develop a love for the strategy and schemes of the game. Trust me—that goes a long way in his football career. And make sure he becomes a quality student. While it might seem like education is less of a priority in today’s sports world, nothing will happen in his post–high school career if he can’t handle being a student. Finally, remember: he still needs time to be a kid. He can find that balance now—or he can act like a child later in life because he was never allowed to be one when he was young.

Of course, you can ignore all this and chase the high of being the proud parent of a ten-year-old who snagged an interception against a quarterback barely big enough for his pads—one who most likely will never see a college football field. If that’s what you’re after, there are plenty of trainers willing to take your money. Experience has taught me not to be one of them.

If you want to help your son improve his knowledge of playing defensive back, check out two great resources I have for you. One is my top-selling book 101 DB Tips, packed with information on how to play the position. I also have the All Eyes DB Camp Members Area, where he can learn about coverages, technique, strategy, and more. [Click here to join]

The Art of Disguising Coverage as a DB

Quarterbacks live on information. Every pre-snap look, every defensive movement, and every alignment clue helps them decide where the ball should go. As a defensive back, if you can control what the quarterback thinks he sees, you can control the play itself. This is where the art of disguising coverage comes in.

A quarterback’s first few seconds after the snap are everything. Offenses are built on timing and rhythm, and disguising coverage is how DBs disrupt both. If you give away your coverage too early, you’re playing on the QB’s terms. If you hold your disguise just long enough, you force him to hesitate — and that hesitation is where sacks, incompletions, and turnovers are born.

Building Effective Disguises

The best disguises start simple. Safeties often begin in a two-high look, even if they’re rolling into Cover 3 or Cover 1 after the snap. Corners can help by hiding their leverage and avoiding early tells in their stance or body angle. The entire secondary must work together, because a disguise is only as good as its weakest link. If one DB tips off the coverage, the illusion is ruined. Patience before the snap is crucial; a defensive back who shuffles, creeps, or adjusts too early gives the quarterback exactly what he wants. After the snap, safeties and nickels must rotate with speed and conviction, selling the shift as if it were always the plan.

Common Disguise Examples

There are countless disguises a defense can deploy. A common one is showing Cover 2 before rotating into Cover 3. Another is lining up in what looks like Cover 1 press man before bailing into Cover 2 zone. Defenses also like to begin with a quarters shell and then roll into a Cover 2 look, making a deep shot appear open until the safeties close down on it. These rotations work because they force quarterbacks to hesitate, and hesitation is death in a rhythm-based passing game.

How to Train Disguises

Training to disguise coverage well starts in the film room. Defensive backs must understand how different quarterbacks react to certain pre-snap looks. Some are patient and won’t be fooled easily, while others will take the bait every time. Walk-throughs are also vital, because disguises require precise timing and consistency. Even more important is communication. Safeties, corners, and linebackers all have to be on the same page, or the disguise collapses into chaos.

The Impact of Mastering Disguise

When defensive backs master the art of disguise, they flip the chessboard. Quarterbacks stop trusting their first read. Wide receivers lose rhythm in their routes. Offenses second-guess themselves. That’s when turnovers happen and momentum swings.

Final Word

Great defensive backs don’t just cover — they manipulate. Disguising coverage is about patience, discipline, and teamwork. It’s not enough to simply play the coverage that’s called. You have to sell it, hold it, and then strike at the right moment. If you can do that consistently, you won’t just defend passes, you’ll control games.

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Safeties! Cover Your Man with These Techniques

When most people think of man coverage, the cornerback immediately comes to mind. Hell, we’ve even named their territory “the island.” But make no mistake — man coverage battles aren’t fought only on the edges. Safeties also play a critical role. In this article, we’ll break down safety man coverage techniques that can help DBs win their one-on-one matchups.

When offenses build game plans, after figuring out how to protect the quarterback, they look for mismatches. One of the most common mismatches in man coverage comes when safeties are forced to line up against wide receivers. And in today’s game, those receivers often include athletic tight ends who are major pass-catching threats.

With safeties being targeted more often in man coverage, it’s essential to master the right tools. Here are three key DB techniques for safeties in man coverage.

Catch Technique for Safeties in Man Coverage

The catch technique requires the defensive back to hold his ground at the snap instead of bailing backward. The goal is to disrupt the wide receiver’s release by striking him, moving him off his line, and then attaching to his hip.

While highly effective, this technique is difficult to execute. Staring down a fast receiver sprinting straight at you while you remain still can be intimidating. Inside the All Eyes DB Camp Member’s Area, I provide drills and breakdowns to help safeties and DBs master this approach.

Catch technique should only be used when the DB is aligned 4–6 yards off the receiver at the snap. Closer puts you in no man’s land, while deeper allows the receiver too much time and speed.

  • Best Coverage Fits: Cover 1 (with potential help from another defender).

  • Risky Situations: Cover 0 (except in the red zone) or Cover 4 against a slot receiver — both can be dangerous with this technique.

Scooch Technique: Man Coverage for Defensive Backs

The scooch technique involves the safety giving up a little ground at the snap while staying square. The aim is to slowly invite the wide receiver into your space, then make contact to alter his route. This is often the go-to method for DBs who struggle with the catch technique. A full tutorial is available in the All Eyes DB Camp Member’s Area.

Key detail: the staggered stance does not mean opening your hips and giving the receiver a free run. Stay square, strike when possible, and control the release.  Scooch technique can be used when you are aligned at 4-8 yards off.

  • Best Coverage Fits: Cover 0, where safeties can still play semi-aggressive in an aggressive call.

  • Other Uses: Cover 1, but be ready to break quickly on slants, hitches, and quick outs.

  • Use With Caution: Cover 4 — only if you’ve truly mastered the technique, since the receiver has more space to reach max speed.

Pedal Technique in Quarters and Zero Coverage

Some call this old school, but pedal technique is a core DB skill. It involves using your backpedal and weave to maintain an over-the-top relationship with the receiver while staying square. This gives the safety the ability to break in any direction with discipline and control. Inside the All Eyes DB Camp Member’s Area, I show safeties how to refine their pedal to match modern offenses.  Pedal technique is best used when you can get closer than 8 yards off of the receiver you need to cover.

  • Best Coverage Fits: Cover 0 (backpedal buys time for the rush and prevents giving up the deep ball) and Cover 4 (common when matched against a slot receiver with no help).

  • Not Ideal For: Cover 1 — since you already have help over the top, pedaling just gives the receiver extra room.

Executed well, pedal technique restricts space, alters routes, and puts you in position to play the ball instead of chasing it.

Conclusion: Stay Square, Stay Disciplined

Whether you use catch, scooch, or pedal technique, the key for safeties in man coverage is discipline. Don’t open your hips and give the receiver a free release. Stay square, apply the technique suited for the situation, and refine it through consistent reps. Over time, these tools will sharpen your ability to neutralize mismatches and cut an offense’s passing game to pieces.

Resources for Defensive Backs

How DBs Improve Tackling Angles to Win in the Open Field

When people talk about defensive backs, the conversation almost always leans toward coverage ability, ball skills, or raw speed. What often gets overlooked, however, is tackling. For DBs, tackling isn’t just about making the hit — it’s about angles. The wrong angle can turn a routine five-yard gain into a touchdown. The right angle, on the other hand, erases explosive plays and proves to coaches that you can be trusted.

Angles matter even more for defensive backs because you usually start the play ten to fifteen yards away from the ball. That distance means you’re often arriving late to the play and don’t always have the clearest picture of the ball carrier’s path. More importantly, you’re often the last line of defense. A linebacker can miss and still have help behind him. If a DB misses because of a bad angle, it usually results in points for the offense.

There are several tackling situations that DBs face, and each one requires precision with angles. The open-field tackle is the one-on-one matchup most players fear. When a wide receiver catches a hitch or a running back bounces outside, it’s you against him. If you come in too fast and too high, he’ll cut underneath you and you’ll be left out of position. The correct approach is to close ground quickly but under control, then break down a few yards away so you can react to his move while staying square.

The alley tackle is another important situation, especially for safeties and nickels. If you aim directly at the ball carrier, you’ll almost always give him the edge. The proper angle is inside-out, forcing him back toward your help defenders who are chasing the play. That way, even if you miss, you’ve done your job by funneling the ball carrier into the pursuit.

Sideline pursuit is another angle DBs must master. When the ball bounces wide, you can’t take a straight line to the runner or you’ll get outrun. Instead, you have to run to a spot ahead of the ball carrier and cut him off. By doing this, the sideline becomes your ally. It acts as a twelfth defender, leaving the runner with fewer escape routes and forcing him into your tackle or into pursuit help.

Improving tackling angles comes down to control and leverage. You can’t sprint full speed blindly at the ball. As you close in, you must break down, shorten your stride, and keep your feet active so you’re ready to adjust. Your head and shoulders must be in front of the ball carrier, not trailing behind him. If you’re the force player, you must maintain outside leverage and keep your outside arm free. And above all, you have to trust that the rest of the defense is running to the football. Taking poor angles for the sake of making a highlight hit often does more harm than good.

To sharpen tackling angles, there are several effective drills:

  1. Angle Tackle Drill: Start ten yards away at a 45-degree angle while the ball carrier runs downhill. Work inside-out and strike through the hip.

  2. Sideline Leverage Drill: Have the ball carrier run along the sideline while the DB tracks from depth. The DB must cut off the angle before the sideline closes.

  3. Mirror and Breakdown Drill: The DB closes space on a stationary target, then mirrors the target’s side-to-side movements before finishing the tackle under control.

Coverage will always attract the spotlight, but coaches value DBs who can be counted on to make tackles. If you consistently miss because of poor angles, you won’t stay on the field. If you consistently show sound angles and finish plays, coaches will trust you in big moments. Mastering tackling angles prevents touchdowns, builds trust with your teammates, and sets you apart as a complete defensive back.

Coaching Takeaway

Tackling angles are a difference-maker for DBs. Close space under control, use inside-out leverage in the alley, and run to a spot instead of chasing directly to the ball. Rep it in practice with angle and sideline drills until it becomes second nature.

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3 Key Things to Remember in Press Coverage

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.

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