BLOG

Know Your DB History: Mel Blount

Mel Blount is a name that will forever be associated with the Pittsburgh Steelers and their success in the 1970s. Widely considered one of the greatest defensive backs in NFL history, Blount’s legacy is defined by his physicality, toughness, and unparalleled ability to shut down opposing receivers. Let’s take a closer look at the career of this legendary football player, from his high school days to his NFL success, including his stats and achievements.

Mel Blount was born in Georgia in 1948 and attended Lyons High School in nearby Toombs County. There, he excelled as a multi-sport athlete, playing football, basketball, and track. It was on the gridiron, however, where Blount truly shone, earning All-State honors as a senior in 1966.

After graduating from high school, Blount enrolled at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he continued to play football. He was a standout player for the Jaguars, earning All-American honors in 1970 and helping lead his team to two Southwestern Athletic Conference championships.

Blount’s college stats are impressive. In 1970, he led Southern University in interceptions with six and punt return yards with 118. He was also a dangerous kick returner, averaging 28.6 yards per return. His outstanding play earned him first-team All-SWAC honors as a defensive back and a punt returner.

Blount was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 1970 NFL Draft. He quickly became a key player for the team, starting at cornerback and earning a reputation as one of the most physical defenders in the league. His 6’3” frame and long arms made him a nightmare for opposing receivers, who struggled to get past his press coverage.

Blount’s early years in the NFL were marked by consistent improvement. In his rookie season, he recorded 3 interceptions and 2 fumble recoveries. By his third season, he had become a true shutdown corner, leading the NFL with 11 interceptions in 1975. That year, the Steelers won their first of four Super Bowl titles in a six-year span, thanks in large part to Blount’s dominant play on defense. He finished the season with 11 interceptions, earning him the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award and a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Blount continued to play at a high level throughout the rest of his career, earning five Pro Bowl selections and two first-team All-Pro nods. He retired after the 1983 season, having played his entire career with the Steelers.

Blount’s stats in the NFL are equally impressive. Over the course of his career, he recorded 57 interceptions, 13 fumble recoveries, and 3 touchdowns. He also made an impact on special teams, returning 7 kickoffs for 156 yards and 1 touchdown, as well as 9 punts for 106 yards. His 57 interceptions are still the most in Steelers history and rank him tied for seventh all-time in NFL history.

Blount’s impact on the game of football extends far beyond his on-field accomplishments. After retiring from the NFL, he founded the Mel Blount Youth Home in Vidalia, Georgia, which provides a safe haven for at-risk children in the area. He also started the Mel Blount Celebrity Roast, an annual event that raises money for the Youth Home and other charities.

Blount’s legacy as a football player is firmly established, but his impact off the field is just as important. His dedication to helping children and giving back to his community is a testament to his character and values.

4 Ways DBs Can Win at Camps

It’s camp season again and that means it’s time to get out on the field and impress people so that you can go where it is you want to go. Outside of the obvious things that coaches and recruiting writers are looking for, in this article, I will tell you four ways you can impress at camp. 

Now we all know that height, weight and speed are the first eye catchers when you are at a camp. For the most part, you don’t have control over those things once you’ve arrived at camp. You are as tall as you’re going to be, as big as you’re going to be, and as fast as you were going to be on that day. So what can you do on the actual day of camp to pull some eyeballs in your direction? Let’s take a look:

FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS

This one is simple, but you’d be surprised how many times guys tank themselves by not doing this one thing. There is nothing more annoying to a coach at a camp than having to explain a drill too many times or have a guy that’s at the back of the line mess up the drill when it’s his turn. Do your best to study the instructions given and watch the guys doing the drill in front of you. They’re either doing it right or they’re doing it wrong. Either way,  that coach is giving out instructions. It’s in your best interest to take notice and not let your mind wander while you’re in the line.

PAY ATTENTION

This is a close cousin of the first one. However, it’s not exactly the same. During a camp, a coach will give out instructions regarding drills. However, he will also talk about some other things that are important for him to get across to you. Some of those things may be the type of attitude you’re going to need to succeed, as well as some things you may need to do in your own time to get better. It is in your best interest to pay attention when the coach is saying those things to you. We pay attention with our eyes. If that coach is talking to you or to the group and you have your eyes down, off in the distance or elsewhere, you are leaving a bad impression on that coach. He only has roughly 2 hours to make an assessment of you. We can argue about whether or or not that is enough time but as they say, it is what it is. Do yourself a favor and lock in every time that Coach is speaking. This way he knows that this DB thing means something to you.

DON’T BE A ONE TRICK PONY

Have you ever gone to a camp and when you go to do 1-on-1s,  the coach says he doesn’t want anyone playing press until he says so? There’s a reason that coaches do this. They really want to separate the guys that are true defensive backs from the ones who just pay one on TV.  Making a DB playoff off the receiver shows that coach who can play for real. Being able to pedal, use leverage and read a receivers body language to break on the ball or cut off routes shows what kind of IQ you have. It also shows that you may have had some training playing the position. Just because you may not have an A+ coach at your school doesn’t mean that you can’t acquire the knowledge. There are good trainers out there and there is a ton of information available online to help you with your game. The All Eyes DB Camp Member’s Area would be a good example of that. Either way, you should do all that you can to learn about the position of DB before you start going to camps. Showing a coach that you can be good off the ball as well as in press situations, will impress that coach, and make him take a long hard look at you.

HAVE A DOG MENTALITY

Perhaps the most overused term in evaluating players is “he has that dog in him.”  Well, what is a dog mentality? In a camp setting,  it is a guy that is not afraid to take reps. I don’t know how many times I’ve seen athletes hiding in the back of the line or on the sidelines refusing to take reps while they’re at a camp. You are not there to be a spectator. While I am not saying that you need to go overboard and be completely annoying trying to take every rep, you should be mildly aggressive in trying to get out there and compete. The other part of this is don’t let getting beat on a play throw cold water on your fire. Real coaches know that you will get beat playing DB. What they want to see is how a guy will react after he takes a L. If losing doesn’t turn you up a notch then you may not be that dog that coaches love to see. Or maybe you are a just dog with no teeth. Win, lose or draw,  you should be looking to compete and doing what you need to do to win every time you lineup at a camp.

So aside from your 40 time and your broad jump and all of the other measurable things,  you now have four solid things that you can work on and present at a camp that could steal a coach’s eyeballs away from the eye candy that may not have these important intangibles.

Boss Unit: 1994 San Francisco 49ers

It has been a while since I posted a boss unit article but I’m back at it again. I have a good one for you and it involves a team that won the Super Bowl. This boss unit is the 1994 San Francisco 49ers secondary.

Everyone knows that the Dallas cowboys were the team of the decade in the 90’s. To get where they wanted to go every year the Cowboys had to go through the San Francisco 49ers. The battles between these two teams during the era were legendary. However, as the early part of the 90s unfolded, the 49ers were finding themselves on the losing end of this clash of the titans. To get things back in their favor, the 49ers had to make a move and they did so in the off-season prior to the 1994 season. Let’s break down one of the all-time great secondaries in the NFL.

Deion sanders – Cornerback

Why even save this one for last. We all know that Sanders was the missing piece and after completing five years with the team that drafted him, the Atlanta Falcons, Sanders hit the open market for all teams to make a bid. Ultimately, as we often find out in professional sports, winning teams do winning things. Signing Deion Sanders in 1994 was a winning thing that paid heavy dividends.

In my opinion, and probably in the eyes of most, 1994 was Deion Sanders’ best season as a pro. Going from a mediocre franchise, like the Falcons to a perennial contender and winner of world championships like the 49ers elevated Sanders as well as those around him. For some godforsaken reason,  opposing teams in 1994 thought it was a good idea to throw in the direction of the future Hall of Famer. Fortunately for Sanders and the 49ers these decisions were made. Prime Time made those opponents pay by intercepting six passes and returning them for a season and career high of 303 yards. Half of those six interceptions went back for touchdowns, including a 93 yarder in his return to Atlanta to face the Falcons. By now you have already seen that play where he looked at the Falcons sideline for about 50 yards and taunted them in the end zone with his famous dance. Along with the interceptions, Sanders dominated his side of the field. When you combine that with the rest of the athletic talent that surrounded him on the defense, it just stands to reason that this unit was going to be a problem and it was. Deion sanders could arguably called one of the best free agent pick ups of all time.  One year later,  he hit the open market again and signed with the Dallas Cowboys.  That’s so Deion.

Merton Hanks – Free Safety

You would think that when a guy gets six interceptions like Sanders did he more than likely lead the team in that category. Well, not on this boss unit. That distinction went to free safety Merton Hanks. Hanks ended the year as the team leader with seven interceptions. He also added, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. Literally, Hanks was always around the football.

While Hanks may have gained more notoriety for having an oddly long neck and performing what became a popular dance after a big play, the truth of the matter is that Hanks was as solid a defensive back as there was in the league in 1994. Though this season saw him reach a career high in interceptions, Hanks had a knack for picking passes off as the rest of his career which show. In a seven year stretch, he plucked 30 enemy passes. 1994 was one of his most productive seasons as a pro and he was rewarded by making the pro bowl at the end of the season.

Tim Mcdonald – Strong Safety

By 1994,  McDonald was in his eighth season in the NFL. The season before he came over to the 49ers from the Phoenix Cardinals. As a cardinal, McDonald had established himself as both a big hitter and ball hawk. He would continue to be those things for the 49ers. While his interception total of two in 1994 was nothing to write home about, Mcdonald made his presence felt in this secondary by laying the wood, covering tight ends and making the tough tackles. He scored twice on defense that year once with an interception and another time on a 49 yard fumble recovery. McDonald’s solid play was rewarded with his fifth selection to the pro bowl in his career.

Eric Davis – Cornerback

When you play cornerback on a team that has Deion Sanders, it’s difficult to get press. Such was the case for Davis, who was a 5th year cornerback from Jacksonville State. Two seasons prior he’d become a full time starter for the 49ers. He had totaled seven interceptions in those two seasons, and had proven himself to be a solid cornerback. That continued with Sanders’ arrival as opponents thought it better to go at Davis when Sanders kept scoring touchdowns against them. While Davis did not rack up interception stats, he proved to be very difficult for opposing quarterbacks to find completions against. Passes defensed was not a stat that was kept back in 1994, but if it was, I am pretty sure Davis would’ve been among the lead leaders. Davis was also a guy who was always around the football in 1994. He forced a pair of fumbles and recovered another two. His numbers were not good enough to get him into the pro bowl but ask any 49er fan or teammate and they’ll tell you Davis was as solid as anyone. After the 1994 season,  Davis had a five year stretch in which he had five interceptions each season. In 1999, the first year that passes defense was a stat, Davis was second in the league with 24.

Summary

There were several other contributors to this 49er secondary. One of those included Dana Hall, a safety who had two interceptions during the year. When all was said and done,  an amazing three out of the four starters for the 1994 49ers secondary were elected to the pro bowl, and one, Sanders, made the all pro team. I had the pleasure of watching this team and its secondary practice for their Super Bowl game against the San Diego Chargers that year. It was easy to see why they were as good as they were. This entire unit had amazing work ethic and practice habits. It came as no shock to me when they destroyed the Chargers in the Super Bowl 49-26. In the game, the Chargers managed to put up 305 yards passing, but that was due in large part to them having to attempt 55 passes . Chargers quarterback Stan Humphreys threw three interceptions in the game. One to Eric Davis, one to Toi Cook  and the last one to Sanders. It was one of the most dominant performances in the Super Bowl. This boss unit led the NFL in interceptions with 23 in 1994. It doesn’t get more boss than that.

 

You Are the Greatest!

We all know the line made famous by boxer and humanitarian Muhammad Ali: “I am the greatest”. For Ali it wasn’t just a quote, it was a lifestyle and it’s one you have to adopt when you’re playing defensive back.

If you want to have any chance at being the best at playing this position you must transform yourself into the mentality of one of the greatest athletes of all time. Sounds like a really big task doesn’t it? Well not really. There will be times when this line of thinking will be challenged as I suppose it was for Ali but if you say it enough,  believing it becomes easy.

Failure as a defensive back is just a part of the game. It’s almost like a baseball player in the batters box. You know there will be times when you will strike out. However, the thought every time you come to the play is that you will get a hit. This is the same mentality when you line up as a defensive back.

Your biggest weapon when you’re out on the field is your confidence. Your confidence unlocks everything else that you have at your disposal. Being confident allows you to operate your physical skills at their maximum. Being confident sets your football intelligence free allowing you to make the plays you need to make. Allow any ounce of doubt to creep into the equation and everything else starts to falter.

It really doesn’t matter what happened on the play before. What matters now is the play that’s in front of you. So whether you got beat for a touchdown or gave up a 50 yard completion, none of that has anything to do with the play that is happening at the moment. If you want to have success on a more regular basis, each time you lineup in front of a receiver, remember that you are the greatest. If you have to say it to yourself then get to talking. Just so you know,  some of the best athletes and performers of our time talked to themselves either before or during their performances. There is a ton of truth in the saying “you have to speak it into existence.”

So at the end of the day, realize that you will win some and lose some but when it’s all tallied up you’ll win a heck of a lot more than you’ll lose if you can keep your mind in the space of you being the best at what you do. If you’re going to play the game you might as well be the greatest.

Get in Phase Drill for Defensive Backs

One of the most feared and dreaded releases by wide receivers is the outside release when you are in press man coverage. Why? Because it just might be that go route. In this article will talk about a drill that you can use to help defend yourself against the outside release.

There was once a time when an outside release basically meant only two routes. You were either getting a go route or a comeback by the wide receiver. That time seems like so long ago. Here’s what an outside release means in today’s game of football. It could mean a go route. It could mean a comeback. It could be a stop route or it could mean a back shoulder fade. Hell, nowadays you can get a dig route from an outside release. So with all these things being at play just off of this one release, it has become more and more important to be in the proper position when this release occurs.

The common term for being in the proper position against an outside release that’s pushing up the field is known as “being in phase“. While being in phase is only half the battle in defending all of the routes that I named, the truth of the matter is that if you aren’t in phase you simply aren’t going to win versus the route. With that in mind, it is important to focus some of your work on just being in the proper position before we get into all of the other factors that would lead to you defending the routes.

Using the Get in Phase drill will provide yourself or the DB that you coach the opportunity to get reps on this critical phase in covering routes that come from an outside release. As I’m sure you are aware of, repetition is the key to automating your moves when you are in competition. When things get hot and heavy, an athlete reverts to his training.

One of the things I like to do in training is run this get in phase drill so that we automate the process of getting in the proper position against the wide receiver when he takes this type of release. The focus in this drill is not on what is happening immediately at the line of scrimmage nor is it about what happens once the ball arrives. The focus is on what is happening in between. Again,  getting in phase is the most important part of defending the routes.

In the Get in Phase Drill, we are working on proper angles versus the wide receiver’s release and working towards getting either hip to hip or slightly up field on the receiver so that we can defend all of the routes that could come our way.

One of the most common mistakes that defensive backs make when in the situation is taking an improper path versus the release.  This puts them at the low hip of the receiver. Or the defender ends up leaving too much space between himself and the receiver leaving him in a poor position to defend the ball when it arrives. The focus in the Get in Phase drill is to take the proper initial angles and then work into the correct positioning on the receiver. This allows the defender to either be in a good position to make a break if necessary or defend the throw with his hands if that is what is taking place.

Take a moment to watch the short clip below from my YouTube channel that shows several reps of this drill. Notice the position that is being taken by the defenders in the drill. Also notice that there is no emphasis on what is happening at the line of scrimmage nor will you see the defenders turning their heads to make a play on a mythical throw. The focus of the drill is the focus of the drill and we have to cut those other areas out. This has been done for a reason. Sometimes in your drill work you really do need a narrow focus. Adding the element of turning the head can take away from the focus on getting in phase.

Feel free to drop a comment below on this article and the video. Thanks for reading the All Eyes DB Camp blog.

What’d He Do Wrong: Overplayed Leverage

A new video in the series of What Did He Do Wrong. This one features something that is a pet peeve of mine when it comes to guys playing press man coverage.

In the video down below,  I break down what went wrong in this press man rep in a game featuring the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers. It is a common mistake made by defensive backs playing press man And using leverage. I see this mistake happening at all levels including the NFL which is featured in this clip.

Pay close attention to what is being said about how you avoid making this mistake and the reasons why you should not want to play press man the way that you see it in this video.

As always, feel free to reach out to me with any questions or comments by either posting it below this article or by sending me an email to cwilson@alleyesdbcamp.com – thank you for being a member.

Defend the Fade Drill

The fade ball is the most feared pass for defensive backs in coverage. It is also the most poorly played pass in football. It is why so many offenses opt to throw it when they see a defensive back in press coverage.

The video that I have posted below shows a great drill to run to help defensive backs in defending the fade ball. One of the biggest issues is how, where and when to look for the ball.  This drill helps with all of that.

Pay close attention to what I say about how to look for the ball. That ends up being everything when it comes to defending the throw.  This is one of my favorite drills to run in my press man sessions.

As always if you have any questions feel free to post them at the end of this article or send me an email to cwilson@alleyesdbcamp.com – thank you for being a member.

3 Things Defensive Backs Must Remember During the Game

Football is a very simple game that can get rather complicated at times. That complication hits warp speed when the bullets are flying and the action is hot and heavy. If you are going while the game is going there are some important things for you to remember as a DB while the game is unfolding.

I’ve definitely been there before. I put a lot of time in to prep and you have a plan in place but once you get out there , things start moving fast so you tend to forget. While there can be a lot of tiny little details that may slip your mind, there are three important things for you to remember while the game is going that will help you make big plays.

(1) Know the down and distance

This seems simple enough but you’ll be surprised how many times guys will get on the field and forget this. I am not just talking about youth and high school football players either. This will also happen to guys playing the pro game. Whatever level you are playing at, you must make it a point to remember this important element. The plays run by the office are dictated by the down and distance, it’s that simple. With that in mind, it stands to reason that you knowing the down a distance can help you determine what may be coming. Of course,  mastering this will require some effort from you in practice. For you coaches out there, you are doing a disservice to your defenders if you do not put some emphasis on the down and distance when you are running scout team plays against them.  For you players out there when you are in the team or 7-on-7 periods of practice,  make it a point to remember to know the down and distance. I’m speaking from experience when I tell you that this will translate to a better game day performance.

(2) Know Where You are on the Field

By this I mean, pay attention to and be aware of what yard line the offense is on. For a majority of the teams that you are playing against,  where they are located on the field determines what plays they will run. A team backed up against their own end zone will have a different set of plays they will run versus that very same team with the ball near midfield. Similarly, there are different plays run from midfield than those run in the red zone.  Offensive coaches’ mindset will change as they progress down the field or get pushed back towards their own goal. Being aware of where you are on the field can help you make a more accurate prediction of what may be coming your way.

(3) Know Who’s in the Game

Players dictate plays. Some teams engage in this practice more than others but almost all teams run plays based on the personnel. Even teams that don’t switch guys out very often will run plays according to where certain players are located. Once you get more comfortable in your skin out on the field and you are able to narrow your focus, one of the things you need to take note of is who is on the field for the offense.  Often times teams will run different plays depending on who is in at running back.  Some teams will run the ball more often when certain receivers are in the game.  Knowing who is on the field and how that matches up with what plays are going to be run will help you make a prediction of what is coming your way.

So if you want to become a consistent play maker and a guy who always seems to be around the football, I would advise you to make it a practice of knowing these three things when you’re lined up on the field.  Of course with each team there are changes so you will need to study film.  However, a lot of what your opponent is going to do can be dictated by the three factors I mentioned in this article. Success is not an accident, it’s a direct result of your preparation.  Put this into practice as soon as possible.

4 Tips with Clips: Beat Before the Snap

By popular request I am going to run this series 4 Tips with Clips in the members area. It’s really simple,  I will break down four clips from games with two being good reps and two being not so good reps.

Of course,  there is always something to learn both from the good reps and the bad reps so take it all in as I breakdown these plays by both corners and safeties in this edition.

One of the things we must be mindful of as defensive backs when we’re playing is that we don’t put ourselves at a disadvantage before the ball is even snapped. That is one of the things featured in this episode of 4 tips with clips.

I hope you enjoy the video and that it is beneficial to you. As always,  if you have any questions,  feel free to post them at the end of this article in the comment section or send an email to me at cwilson@alleyesdbcamp.com – thank you for being a member

Attention Defensive Backs! Stay in Your Circle.

Body control is a must for defense of backs that are looking to stay in and or around the wide receiver that they are covering.  This also applies to guys that are trying to be in the proper area in zone coverage when the ball is thrown.  To do this there is one simple thing that a defensive back must do.

Now that I have you hooked in, it’s time to talk about how we control our body out on the field. If you have ever been to a training session with me you have no doubt heard me say stay in your circle.  It’s a reference to the game Madden and the tight circle that is around the player that you are controlling on screen.  It is typical for defensive backs that are surprised by a sudden change to have their foot work go awry. Typically,  going awry means the defensive back will take wide steps and put himself at a physical disadvantage.

We already know what the deal is when we’re playing defense. The wide receiver knows where he is going and we do not. If you have carefully studied wide receivers, the majority of them are able to have a good balance and drive when they are running their routes.  This is due in large part to them knowing exactly where it is they want to go and because of this they can anticipate the steps they need to take.  As defensive backs,  we do not have this luxury.  So when we are greeted with a directional change it is usually on an emergency notice.

Sudden change can lead to a breakdown in technique.  For defensive backs that usually starts with the eyes and quickly gravitates to the feet.  The major reason why we slip coming out of our breaks is because our feet are landing in the wrong spot in relation to our upper body. When a defensive back sets his feet wide and away from his center of gravity he puts himself at risk to slip.  Furthermore, the further away his foot lands away from his center of gravity,  the less power he will have in his plant and subsequent push towards the direction he would like to travel.  Explosive movement occurs when the foot lands under the hips and can propel the body forward.

Now that we know where the feet need to land,  we must now make plans to have this happen without us thinking about it. Remember, our change of direction typically comes at moment’s notice and as part of a reaction to what a receiver is doing.  Our natural reaction is going to be to spread our feet apart.  We do this because we think it will prepare us for anything.  One foot put far to the left and the other foot put far to the right makes us feel like we’d be ready to go in either direction.  The truth is that doing that puts us in a poor position to go either way.

For us to adopt the skill of planting under our hips whenever we need to make a sudden change we must rep it over and over again.  By doing something repeatedly, we hardwire it into our brains.  Once it’s hardwired into our brains it becomes difficult to do it any other way.  This is essential because while we are playing the game we are focused on either a receiver or a quarterback.  When it comes time for us to react to what the opposition is doing,  we will revert to what is hardwired in our brain.  If spreading our feet wide apart is what we have done the most leading up to that moment then that is what we’ll do.  However,  if through hours of practice,  we have learned to place our feet in our circle underneath our hips then that is what will occur when we are required to change at a moment’s notice.

So, in closing,  staying in your circle means planting your feet under your hips and within the tight circle around you similar to the circle that is found around a Madden player in your favorite game on PlayStation.  Keep that visual in your mind as you practice your drills over and over. Soon you’ll find yourself taking the proper steps,  getting good plants and great drives towards the ball.  It’s only a matter of time before that ball finds itself in your hands on a regular basis.

Page 10 of 24
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24